Car mounts on a Plane

[Andrew Ganzon]

Has anyone tried use a car mount rig on a single prop plane with a DLSR. What kind of rigging is necessary to rig a DLSR to a single prop plane? how safe and what are the limitations of the process. I have a shoot coming up with this on mind and was wondering if it has been done successfully. If not, what other way is there to strap a camera to a plane.

[John Sprung]

I did once rig an Arri II-C to a Cessna, but we didn't have any car mount gear. This was about 35 years ago. I made an aluminum plate matching the top of the Arri Hi-Hat adapter and some clamps and stuff, got it level and clamped onto that diagonal brace under the wing. The pilot and director were the only ones in the plane, the director used the plug into the battery for run/stop.

 

They got the shots, but the Friendly Airplane Agency had words with the pilot when they landed. Today, I wouldn't do anything like that without asking the FAA first.

 

 

 

 

-- J.S.

[Martin Hawkes]

I wouldn't do anything like that without asking the FAA first.

 

 

 

 

-- J.S.

Word

[Phil Rhodes]

Mounting cameras on aircraft tends to involve quite a bit of this.

 

 

[Brian Drysdale]

I hope you're not planning on using a bonnet/hood mount!!

 

Even fitting the mount to the plane needs to be done by a qualified technician.

 

I expect if you check around the specialist aerial camera work companies they'll have suitable aircraft mounts.

 

If you don't want the paperwork etc, the only way is to handhold.

[Warwick Hempleman]

Andrew,

 

Rigging to planes is serious stuff. Don't do anything that is not approved by the FAA, the pilot, and your insurer. If any of these give you any reply less than "OK" in writing, do what they require for approval. When in doubt get a qualified person to perform the procedure. Like Brian said, the best thing in your case will probably be handheld and INSIDE the plane.

 

Warwick Hempleman

[Andrew Ganzon]

Thanks for the tips guys. I didn't know that there will be more paperwork to deal with.

[Deniz Coker]

As a pilot I agree with everyone above. Rigging something to any plane is risky. You have vibrations, the plane's airfoils and just maneuvering could shake that cam loose. Wind speeds and such are pretty intense in the sky so it would be easy to underestimate the power of something coming loose. Plus like everyone said the FAA wouldn't be too happy with something non-aviation related hanging off a plane from a device that isn't quite aviation grade. Always use caution when working with planes, even though the smaller props may seem safer and slower they're still no less risky. Do everything in your power to get the shot from inside the cabin from a safe area. I haven't rigged stuff to planes so I'm sure someone can do it safely but again, it's a big FAA hurdle. If that camera falls and lands on someone, that wouldn't be too great for them or your camera. Wouldn't be good for the pilot either.