Drone shows are utterly captivating digital performances that thrill audiences around the world.
But as drones become more prominent, people are rightly questioning the safety of hundreds of drones coordinating in the sky.
Drone safety is integral to how we work here at Celestial, and we uphold the highest of safety standards to ensure our shows are completely safe as well as beautiful works of art. From the very beginning of our design process to the final stunning show, we keep safety at the heart of everything we do.
Matt Tipper, our Flight Administration Lead & Compliance Coordinator, says: “At Celestial, safety is of paramount importance. We continuously update and evolve our hardware, software, and operational procedures, leveraging our years of experience in the drone show industry to ensure our audiences are kept as safe as possible.”
How We Adhere to Drone Safety Laws
Partnering With the FAA
Here at Celestial, we partner closely with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ensure we are up to date with the latest drone safety laws and regulations. The FAA exists to regulate users of US airspace, including drone regulation in the US and keep our audiences at drone shows safe, and we’re proud to work so closely with them.
To further our dedication to safety, each of our drone pilots is extensively certified, not just in the US, but with bodies in Europe and Australia. We perform drone light shows around the world, and so invest a lot of time into ensuring we are on top of safety standards in every country.
Extensive Testing
Each drone show we craft is meticulously planned, reviewed and refined before the night of the performance. The software we use allows us to virtually simulate each show in each venue to check for any anomalies that need correcting before the day of the performance.
Additionally, each of our drones are outfitted with two radio control systems, each one using a different frequency. In the very rare instance that one of the control systems fails the second system will seamlessly take over so we remain in contact with each drone throughout the entire performance.
Plus, if something does happen, each drone has a return-to-home command programmed so they will return to the launch zone, preventing problems before they arise.
High Quality Drones
We use only the best technology to craft our shows, including the best, most widely used light show drones on the market. As we fly hundreds of drones for each unique piece, our drones and software they implement have to be up to standard to create the stunning visuals we provide for our clients.
Each drone is checked before each flight and the whole fleet goes through regular cycles of stringent preventative maintenance to make sure they are safe to fly. Unlike traditional fireworks, drone shows don’t rain debris onto the ground, and don’t produce any by-products that contaminate the air or soil.
Flight Path Mapping
A key cornerstone of drone safety here at Celestial is our flight path mapping. When we start creating a show, we have to consider where each drone will sit in the sky and how they will move when we transition visuals.
We test each of our drones extensively before they fly, and keep a permanent airfield where we can review our flights and ensure they are fully safe and effective.
As per CAA drone regulation, we ensure we have a ‘sterile’ area around the display itself where no members of the public are allowed.We take this into account when crafting our drone show plans, and will inform you well ahead of time where this area will be for when you are planning your event.
Our system also utilises multiple layers of geofencing, an invisible fence in the sky which prevents the drones from flying anywhere they shouldn’t and keeping them a safe distance away from the audience.
Discover More About Celestial Drone Shows
Drone safety is an integral part of every show, and as we continue to improve and enhance them, we’re keeping safety constantly in mind.
Ready to discover more about our shows? Get in touch with our team today to learn more about our process and work with us to create your very own drone show.
FAQs
What Are The Risks of a Drone Show?
Drone shows have a very limited number of risks, and Celestial takes extensive steps to negate them before they even arise. As our drones don’t fly over crowds and we keep a sterile area to further safety precautions, we limit risks as much as possible for the safety of our clients and the crowds who watch our performances.
Do Drones Fly Over People and Crowds?
No, our drones don’t fly over the crowds during events. In the interest of drone safety, we take preventative measures so if the worst does happen, no accidents or injuries occur.
Are Drone Shows Safe When It’s Raining?
Yes, our drones are incredibly high quality and can fly in the rain. It isn’t recommended to fly in high winds or stormy conditions, but with the proper planning and contingency plans that Celestial provides, weather isn’t a barrier.