Indoor Drone Flying: A Technically Demanding Alternative

When we talk about drones, we often imagine spectacular aerial shots, captured outdoors, as a modern and more accessible alternative to the helicopter.

However, drone operators are well aware that flying a drone outdoors comes with many constraints. Since airspace is regulated, obtaining specific authorizations is necessary, with a waiting period of at least six days. Additionally, night flights are strictly prohibited without special exemptions.

Today, however, drones are also proving to be a viable solution for indoor filming, enabling stable shots and smooth movements. This alternative opens up new creative possibilities, although the challenges differ from those encountered outdoors. Indoors, pilots can no longer rely on GPS-assisted flight systems, as satellite signals are unavailable. This means no flight assistance is possible, making piloting significantly more technical and demanding.

Under certain conditions, magnetic fields emitted by machines or certain equipment can even disrupt the drone's positioning system, making flight even more difficult. This requires a perfect mastery of piloting and sometimes the use of adapted drones, designed to evolve in confined spaces.

A striking example of this trend is FPV (First Person View) flight, which uses small fast drones, offering total immersion and impressive dynamic movements. This type of shooting is particularly popular in environments such as factories, workshops or exceptional heritage places, by producing particularly dynamic images.

For a long time, DCOMDRONE (a member of the Hosiho network) has been incorporating this approach into its productions. As part of tourism-related projects for the Watch’Mcard brand, several indoor drone missions have been carried out. Thanks to this, some of France’s architectural heritage gems can now be seen from a “bird’s-eye view,” including the Basilique Sainte-Thérèse and Saint-Pierre Cathedral in Lisieux, as well as Saint-Ambroise Church in Paris.

Saint-Ambroise church

More recently, a German event company entrusted DCOMDRONE with the realisation of drone shots broadcast live during a seminar in a large Parisian hotel: a high-precision mission that required many hours of training.

Indoor drone filming now offers new opportunities to captivate audiences who are always seeking fresh and innovative content. When mastered correctly, this approach allows for the creation of spectacular and unprecedented visuals.