FAQ
WHY HELICOPTER NOT DRONE?
Advantages of using a helicopter:
1) Our helicopter is able to fly in areas drones are not allowed into. When it comes to drones, the air traffic control will either prohibit or deny access to airspace near airports for safety reasons.
2) We can often get sites approved because of our working relationships with air traffic control.
3) We can fly higher to show proximity to amenities in the area such as the Las Vegas Strip, major road access, shopping, schools, etc.
4) Although drones are great for low altitude shots (ie. to show storefronts, rooftops etc.) they are limited by lower altitudes due to not being able to show much proximity to important amenities, roads, freeways, etc.
WHY DOESN'T SKYLAB USE DRONES?
We explored the drone market several years ago and found out we can provide a better product by using helicopter or fixed wing aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has created “no-drone zones” that do not allow drones to operate in certain areas - you can only access these areas with helicopters! The FAA mandates drones to remain below 400' and "no-drone zones" include the Las Vegas Strip, Downtown Las Vegas area, and near any of our 5 airports - Harry Reid International, North Las Vegas, Henderson, Nellis AFB, and Boulder City.
WHAT IS THE TURNAROUND TIME?
The FAA requires that we file a flight plan with them to get approval to fly in their airspace. We can get most jobs done within one week depending on FAA approval, weather, and current scheduling.
WHAT IS THE COST?
Pricing for each job is determined by physical location, altitude, and number of sites.
(Please call or email for details)
WHO OWNS THE COPYRIGHT ON THE IMAGES?
Skylab retains ownership of images we produce. Our customers have unlimited usage for the images they purchase excluding resale.
WHAT ABOUT WEATHER?
Weather conditions are extremely important. Here is Las Vegas, we are fortunate to have 294 sunny days per year on average. During summertime, we experience extremely hot temperatures of well over 100 degrees. Some days are very pleasant at ground level but may not be a great for shooting aerial photos. Heat and wind are our main safety concerns when we do our flight plans. Another weather challenge is caused by the cumulus (rounded and puffy) clouds. These types of clouds create shadows on the ground that greatly effect our photos. Smoke and haze also come into play making for poor visibility and not so great photos.