Overview
Hields Aviation provides one of the most cost effective solutions for rapid response aerial video in the UK.
Since 2002 Hields Aviation has been providing the TV & Film industry with helicopters for aerial filming and photography. GO-TV-EYE (call sign G-OTVI) is a purpose built TV video helicopter permanently rigged and always ready to fly! Forget shaky handheld camera work, shoot it with gyro stabilisation!
We can also provide Robinson R44 helicopters for door off aerial photography; bring your own equipment and take your own photographs or book our professional photographer to take them for you.
Contact us to discuss your plans for aerial video tasks or photography requirements. Explore the links on the right to view our show reel videos, to view a list of TV programmes with our footage, and for detailed technical specifications.
Aerial Video
Since 2002 Hields Aviation has been providing the TV & Film industry with helicopters for aerial filming and photography.
We now have a purpose built Robinson R44 TV helicopter permanently rigged with a gyro stabilised broadcast quality camera and advanced video & audio equipment, ready to fly anytime, anywhere, call sign G-OTVI.
Forget handheld camera work! G-OTVI is rigged with a super steady, gyro stabilised camera pod to provide the smoothest video shots.
G-OTVI is faster and cheaper than other options, better value for your tight budget.
- 130mph cruise speed
- Up to 3 hours duration with full crew
- 44x zoom lens
- gyro-stabilised Ikegami nose-mounted camera
- 3 fixed onboard cameras (1 tail mounted, 2 internal)
- full sound mixing & recording
- seat for Presenter/Director/Producer/Reporter
- 16:9 PAL digital SDI
A dedicated machine designed to give you the highest quality shots & sound with minimum hassle.
Aerial Photography
We can provide helicopters for door off aerial photography.
You can bring along your own camera equipment and after being suitably & safely harnessed, we can then fly you to your chosen location to take stunning aerial photographs.
Alternatively we can provide a photographer and take photographs as per your detailed brief.
Please contact us to discuss your requirements or ideas.
Video Equipment
G-OTVI TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Robinson R44 Raven II ENG 130mph helicopter
- 3 hours duration before refuel
- 3 seats; pilot, producer, camera operator
- Nosed mounted Cineflex gimbal camera mount
- Gryo-stabilized gimbal, continuous rotation
- Ikegami HL59WNA high performance digital camera
- 520,000 pixel 2/3 inch image sensor
- 720 x 576 pixel anamorphic widescreen resolution
- PAL Digital SDI or Composite video output
- Default aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 on request
- Canon J22 x 7.6–168mm broadcast quality zoom lens
- 2x lens extender for 44x zoom
- Optical filters 3000K, 5600K, 5600K + 1/32 ND
- Laptop control console with X,Y,Z joystick control
- Ikegami RM11 camera controller
- Transvideo 8 inch 805 main monitor
- Transvideo 5 inch Rainbow II VTR monitor
- Transvideo 5 inch Rainbow II Presenter monitor
- Elmo micro cameras, 2 interior and 1 tail mounted
- Kramer VS55 5 way video switcher
- Geneva 12 channel audio mixer system
- Audio mixer per seat, selectable sources
- Sony DVW 250P Digital Beta video recorder
- GPS navigation with moving map display
Certified by the CAA/EASA
Quite simply, the Robinson R44 delivers the performance of an expensive turbine helicopter at an affordable piston price. Its sleek design, impressive speed, and unparalleled reliability give it the competitive edge in today's fast-paced environment.
G-OTVI was purpose built at Robinson’s California factory, where the video components were integrated with the airframe to provide a stable vibration-free camera platform. Robinson have delivered more than 8000 R22 and R44 helicopters world wide, an amazing aviation industry record, and continue to be in high demand.
R44's have twice lapped the globe and flown to the North and South pole successfully, a feat not matched by any other helicopter in the world!
Recent Clients
- BBC Look North, traffic chaos
- ITV Emmerdale, 500th episode
- ITV Calendar, houses collapsing into Cayton Bay, near Scarborough
- ITV Police Camera Action, most dangerous UK roads
- ITV Total Emergency, Sheffield
- BBC2 Sound, Kaiser Chiefs live in concert at Elland Road
- BBC Look North, truckers M62 fuel protest
- ITV Calendar, truckers M62 fuel protest, with John Hill
- CH5 Vets In Action
- ITV Calendar, Bridgewater Place and La Lumiere
- Leeds Metropolitan University, Graduations 2008
- Network Rail, track surveillance
- ITV Calendar, Rossington Eco village, with Michelle Gee
- BBC Helicopter Heroes
- BBC Survivors, Doncaster Earth Centre and Manchester Augusta 109
- BBC One Show, Stanage Edge rocks
- ITV Krypton Factor
- BBC Midlands Today
- BBC Crimewatch, Claudia Lawrence
- BBC Inside Out, Coal Industry
- ITV Country Road 999: Tonight with Trevor McDonald
- BBC Inside Out, 50th anniversary of the M1
- ITV Grimefighters
- Sky Sports 2 Moortown Centenary Golf
- BBC Look North Leeds Festival
- ITV Calendar Leeds Festival
- NME Leeds Festival
- Reader's Digest DVD Ffestiniog Railway
- BBC Inside Out Faldingworth Airbase
- BBC Inside Out Bradford Westfield Project
- BBC Look North M18 Accident
- ITV The Lakes
- BBC Inside Out Helicopter Safety
- BBC Inside Out Sports Car V Racing Pidgeon
- Sky News Cockermouth
- BBC Countryfile Cockermouth & flooding
- ITV Coastal Cops, Scarborough & Whitby
- BBC Look North Tan Hill Pub in the snow
- BBC Inside Out Snow
- BBC Blue Peter, Blackpool Tower
- HCA Entertainment, corporate video for Balfour Beatty
- BBC Newsnight, "What's wrong with Britain"
- ITN News, Julie Etchingham, York Minster
- BBC Newsnight, Donnington Park Services
- BBC Politics Show with Tim Iredale
G-OTVI Aerial Video Prices
Charges vary depending on how many hours are booked per day.
Prices include everything necessary to operate the helicopter.
For example; insurance, pilot, camera operator, fuel, oil, and tapes are included. Rates are from £510 per hour to £795 per hour on task.
The minimum charge is £795 for up to 1 hour’s flight time. Subsequent time is billed in tenths of hours used however the more time you book the cheaper it gets.
For example, the daily rates for hours booked on task are:
- 2 hours £1490
- 3 hours £2085
- 4 hours £2580
- 5 hours £2975
- 6 hours £3300
- 7 hours £3570
Helicopter positioning rates to and from locations:
- £450 per hour for crew only and we’ll meet you near your location
- £500 per hour includes a seat for director/reporter/observer on route
DISCOUNT is available for multiple days or regular work.
Landing fees at other airfields are chargeable at cost. Prices do not include VAT.We are certain we have a price plan to suit your needs so call us to discuss your ideas.
FAQs
Are there any age limits?
There’s no upper age limit and as long as you are reasonably fit & well. Flight training can begin at 14 years old but solo flights cannot be undertaken before the age of 16 years. You need to be 17 years old to gain a pilot’s licence.
Are there any height or weight limits?
As long as you can reach the pedals if you flight training then height isn’t a big problem. Ideally in the Robinson R22 you will probably need to be under 6’4” (1.9m) and no heavier than 17 stone (108kg). The Robinson R44 can accommodate taller and heavier persons but no heavier than 21 stone (134kg) per seat. For the 4 seat Robinson R44 helicopter the average weight per person for 3 passengers and pilot would be about 14 stone (about 200kg).
Is it safe?
Our instructors and commercial pilots are trained to CAA standards, and are fully CAA licenced & approved. They undergo annual safety checks and medicals for fitness to fly as well as having many 100’s, and often 1000’s of hours experience. Our AOC licence from the CAA commits us to very stringent safe working methods of operation and our aircraft undergo regular compulsory safety checks and maintenance. The maintenance has to be done at an approved maintenance organisation. Should an engine failure happen then pilots are trained to glide the aircraft to a safe landing called an auto-rotation. So you can see we take safety very seriously, ensuring that pilots and aircraft are fit for purpose. Sherburn Airfield is a CAA licenced airfield; pilot training must be undertaken from a licenced airfield.
How many hours does it take to get a pilot’s licence?
The CAA minimum is 45 hours. The UK average is about 65 hours however at Hields Aviation the typical time taken to obtain your licence is about 55 hours.
Exams worry me, are they difficult?
All the written subjects use multi-choice tests where the pass mark is 75%. As long as you have read & understood the course books and completed sample questions then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t pass the tests first time. You can study for as long as you need to and then take a particular test. Our experienced instructors are always willing to assist your studying, and are happy to answer questions.
Do I need to pass a medical?
You only need to be reasonably fit and healthy to be a passenger. For obvious reasons a pilot needs to pass some basic medical checks. A Class 2 medical is required for a private pilots licence and a Class 1 medical is required for an instructor or commercial pilots licence. Certain conditions like epilepsy or anything causing blackouts would unfortunately bar you from becoming a pilot. However we can put you in contact with CAA approved doctors in your local area who can issue medical certificates. If in doubt then please consult your GP in the first instance for advice.
How long is my licence valid for?
Your pilots licence needs to be validated every year for each type of helicopter that you are rated on. You need to fly a minimum of 2 hours on each type per year. You need to keep your medical certificate current – the period between checks being dependent on your age and licence type.
How do I get started for a pilots licence?
The best way to experience helicopters is to book a trial lesson with us. We’ll brief you about the helicopter and you’ll experience the controls one by one to learn their effects. If you like the thrilling experience, and we are sure you will, then it’s just matter of booking lessons on the formal course and doing them as regularly as you wish.
How much does it cost?
The following are typical examples prices only and the final cost can be much cheaper depending on how much time you book.
| Robinson R22 flight | £230 per hour |
| Robinson R44 flight | £375 per hour |
| Robinson R22 self fly hire | £185 per hour |
| Robinson R44 self fly hire | £320 per hour |
| Bell 206B Jetranger self fly hire | £495 per hour |
| LPC check | £150 + aircraft time |
| G-OTVI Robinson TV helicopter | www.go-tv-eye.co.uk |
All prices are subject to VAT
Landing fees at some venues are chargeable
Can the helicopter land anywhere I want it to?
We can land almost anywhere, with some common sense and legal limitations. The CAA is most concerned about safety. They prohibit landing on any area where the landing would represent a "hazard" to persons or property on the ground. However, if you have the property owner's permission, the area is large enough and unobstructed, and has a clear approach, then we can land almost anywhere. Permission is usually required in writing and some venues, such as sporting events, require special permission.
How low can you fly?
It’s about what you are flying over really. Over people & property you should not be any lower than 500 feet. Over a major urban area the basic rule is no lower than 1000 feet but you may need to be higher as the guidance states you need to be able to glide safely to a suitable landing site if the engine fails. Below 500 feet and it’s more about the safety limitations of the aircraft for other than taking off or landing. We’ll explain all this is accordance with your flight.
Are young children allowed on pleasure flights?
Generally anyone can be a passenger on a pleasure flight. Young children should be accompanied by an adult.
Aerial Video & Photography
Air Operators
Certificate Number
GB2183
