Most drone companies are one pilot and a marketing site. Productions find out which is which on the day.
Between O'Hare and Midway there is not much of Chicago that sits outside Class B, and the lakefront and park locations add Park District approvals on top of the City film permit. A drone company working here needs both the airspace authorization and the local permissions handled as one process.
CineDrones has been a working aerial department since 2013, with the depth to put multiple units on a show and the insurance and permitting infrastructure a studio production office needs before it can hire you at all. We handle it end to end: airspace authorization, permits, the shoot itself, and delivery in whatever format post is expecting.
The Chicago Film Office handles City permitting, and lakefront and park locations carry their own approvals through the Park District. Aerial work downtown routinely requires coordination beyond the base film permit.
Chicago is squeezed between O'Hare and Midway, both Class B, with the lakefront offering the one clean approach into the skyline. Wind coming off Lake Michigan is a genuine operational factor rather than a footnote, and downtown creates canyon effects that punish crews who have not flown it before.
We shoot the Loop, the lakefront, the river, and the neighborhoods — and we travel. CineDrones works nationwide, so if your production is basing in Chicago and shooting somewhere else entirely, that is a normal week for us.
DRONE COMPANY — OTHER MARKETS: Albuquerque Atlanta Austin Las Vegas Los Angeles Miami New Orleans New York Salt Lake City
Get ready to elevate your production to new heights with CineDrones! Operating in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York, Albuquerque, Austin, Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, Salt Lake City, and New Orleans, we bring the power of cutting-edge drone technology to every project. Whether you're capturing breathtaking aerial footage, thrilling FPV shots, or immersive drone-based virtual reality, our expert teams of FAA-certified pilots, aerial camera pros, and drone techs have you covered. From inspections to mapping, even drone deliveries—CineDrones does it all. Fully compliant with Part 107 regulations and protected by a $5M aviation liability policy, we guarantee precision, safety, and creativity. Plus, with Local 600 union and non-union crews available, we’re ready to deliver jaw-dropping results wherever you need them!