Back for its 18th series, the esteemed entrepreneur show on BBC One marks the return of Alan Sugar, Baroness Karren Brady, and Tim Campbell. Viewers can anticipate another captivating season as a new group of aspiring entrepreneurs strive to impress and compete for the chance to become Lord Sugar’s next business partner.

This series will showcase the candidates participating in a range of business-related challenges. The first task will involve organising a luxury corporate hospitality day for clients. Their performance throughout each task will decide their continuation in the series, as they tackle other tasks such as creating a virtual escape room, innovating nutritious cereals for children, a tourism challenge in Budapest, and showcasing their marketing skills in the TV shopping channel challenge.

AERIAL FILMING IN LONDON

Our extensive collaboration with the BBC Creative team spans various projects over the years. Since 2022, we have been working closely with them to capture aerial footage for The Apprentice. The instrumental role played by the GB Helicopters aerial film team’s expertise was evident in producing the aerial footage for Series 18 of The Apprentice.

Similar to the approach taken in Series 16 and 17 of The Apprentice. We engaged in discussions with the production team. During these conversations, they outlined their desires and requirements for the shots. GB Helicopters director and chief pilot Will Banks took flight in one of our twin-engine AS355 helicopters across London and the surrounding areas. Our helicopter was equipped with the state-of-the-art GSS C516 compact lightweight gyro-stabilized gimble and RedEpic camera system. Allowing us to capture the aerial footage to be used within the production of The Apprentice.

Throughout the series, audiences can witness the aerial footage we’ve filmed, seamlessly integrated into transition scenes.

AERIAL FILMING FOR TELEVISION

At GB Helicopters we are no strangers when it comes to Aerial Filming for TV. Our experience includes working on numerous productions, such as Studio Lambert’s compelling psychological competition series, “The Traitors,” spanning both the UK and US productions in series 1 & 2.

We have also been part of the success behind Netflix’s highly popular series “Fool Me Once.” Beyond that, our capabilities extend to helicopter stunts such as skydiving, helicopter jumps, and long-lining (external human underslung). No matter how distinctive your vision may be. Our team at GB Helicopters will work with you to ensure to bring your vision to reality.

Discuss your upcoming production with our specialist operations team and see how you can use our aerial film services. Email them directly at ops@gbhelicopters.com or complete the form below.

The Apprentice is available to watch on BBC One and iPlayer.

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Quay Street Productions’ adaptation of Harlan Coben’s novel Fool Me Once stars Michelle Keegan as Maya Stern, a flight instructor who is dealing with the loss of her husband, Joe. In an effort to keep an eye on her daughter. Maya discovers her supposedly deceased husband in her home after she installs a nanny cam.

Providing Picture Ships

Quay Street Productions contacted our operations team at GB Helicopters.  After initial meetings, and a visit to view the different aircraft in our fleet. Production decided that the AS355 Twin Squirrel met their needs. In terms of the ‘on film’ appearance and the ample cabin space the aircraft offered for the cameraman and director. Using two aircraft maximised the flexibility to the production and have the ability to shoot in two places at once.  Two of our pilots were dedicated to the task, Captain’s Jonny Stocken and Dan Hagan. They both were briefed and carried out various scenes both on and off camera.

During the production of Fool Me Once, our AS355 helicopters were captured in several places and reinforced the helicopter pilot background of lead actress Michelle Keegan.  While filming Fool Me Once, our AS355 helicopters appeared prominently in multiple scenes, enhancing lead actress Michelle Keegan’s portrayal of a helicopter pilot.

Barton Aerodrome was a key location in filming. While briefings occurred on the ground and one aircraft remained stationary, our aircraft seamlessly flew through the captured frames.

Throughout the series, our aircraft appear in several episodes in various phases of flight. Filmed from the ground and from within. One instance includes landing in a clearing in Delamere Forest, following an unexpected helicopter based car chase.

Overall, GB Helicopters played a crucial role in the production of Fool Me Once, providing both aircraft and pilots for the filming process.

GB Helicopters Operations for Fool Me Once

As part of our risk assessment process, GB Helicopters Director and Chief Pilot, Will Banks, conducted a recce to Delamere Forest.  He travelled by road to verify there was adequate cleared space for the aircraft to land and depart safely. He also checked the suitability of the landing site for the aircraft.

Throughout filming, for this project, we obtained the permissions necessary to allow us to achieve the required footage. This includes landing permissions from Forestry England for Delamere Forest.

The booking of helicopter landings at Manchester Barton Aerodrome was expertly handled by our operations team, who also coordinated with Quay Street Productions ensuring all relevant parties were informed about the necessary filming tasks.

Fool Me Once was released on 1^st January and is available on Netflix.

GB Helicopters – Aerial Filming Enquiry

Our operations team is ready to assist you with any requirements you may have for your next production. You can contact our operations team by emailing them directly at ops@gbhelicopters.com or by completing the form below.

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At GB Helicopters we’re no strangers to receiving both unique and extraordinary helicopter requests. One such request came from Good Relations PR earlier this year. They approached us with an exciting idea: to dangle an enormous Dorito and dip it into a massive amount of cheese. All in the name of setting the world record for the highest cheese pull.  

This aerial stunt was the perfect opportunity for us to showcase our expertise. In addition to flawlessly performing the long-lining manoeuvre. We also branded our twin-engine AS355 aircraft as Doritos, making for a truly remarkable event.

How did we organise to long-line a giant Dorito?

Our operations team were the first point of contact to provide a bespoke quotation and to ensure all permissions were granted by the CAA. Given the complexity of flying with a massive Dorito suspended from the helicopter, extensive planning was required.

At GB Helicopters we hold a fantastic relationship with RJ Signs, who we have returned to each time for each helicopter wrapping request. This project was no different! RJ Signs transformed and gave G-GBTV a crisp new look.

At GB Helicopters, we take health and safety very seriously, especially when it comes to route planning. We made sure to avoid routes that would take us over residential areas while we had the 4ft Dorito suspended from our aircraft. Ground control was also the pinnacle in the safe success of this mission. They ensured the area was secured for our sole use.

Setting the World Record for the Highest Cheese Pull

With all necessary planning and risk assessments taken into consideration, the day finally arrived. On September 12th, Abi, our Operations Manager, and GB Helicopters’ Director and Chief pilot, Will Banks, set off from Cheshire to Cheddar Gorge.

As the task got underway, locals couldn’t help but notice a “yellow triangle” dangling from the helicopter. Giving away that something cheesy was afoot. Word quickly spread from curious locals on social media as to what was taking place at the Gorge.

Much to the delight of our client, our helicopter G-GBTV soared over the Gorge with a massive 4-foot Dorito dangling from it. But that was just the beginning of the madness! To take things up a notch, Will flew over an enormous pot of melted cheese, dipping the Dorito into it and creating the world’s highest cheese pull.

Social media star and Hits Radio Presenter Sam Thompson was also participating in the record-breaking day. Take a look below at how GB Helicopters helped Doritos break the World Record for the highest Cheese Pull.

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During the week of June 19th to 26th, GB Helicopters’ entire twin-engine fleet was in high demand. Two of the years’ events, popular for private helicopter charters happened simultaneously, Royal Ascot and Glastonbury.

Our helicopters were busy flying clients from various locations across the country to the events. Our pilots transported the elegantly dressed racegoers to Ascot. And music enthusiasts to the Glastonbury festival in one of our finest aircraft.

Aerial Utility Works  – Traffic Management

GB Helicopters was ahead of the game at Glastonbury 2023. Our team arrived in Somerset on Monday 19^th June, two days before the festival gates opened. We’ve been working with the festival organisers for ten years. Providing them with expert aerial traffic management solutions and we were excited to continue with this partnership.

On the first day of action, we focused on rigging our AS355 – G-GBTV, complemented by our SWE 4 in 1 camera system. The system was a game-changer. Providing the traffic control room with a live download link of aerial shots that displayed congestion in the surrounding areas. This allowed the ground to identify traffic hotspots and implement diversions to maintain a steady flow of traffic.

Our live footage was a success, providing an aerial perspective of the roads and the festival itself.

Aerial Filming with the Red Arrows

The most exciting role GB Helicopters took on for Glastonbury 2023, was liaising with the RAF Red Arrows. Our operations team, camera operations and pilot communicated with the festival organisers and with the RED Arrow pilots themselves. On Saturday 24^th June the RAF Red Arrows treated the crowds of Glastonbury to a surprise flyby.

GB Helicopters had the go-ahead to conduct the aerial filming as the world-famous Red Arrows flew over Glastonbury, impressing the crowds and on-stage acts. 

Helicopters flying over the festival aren’t unusual to hear or see. So when G-GBTV was airborne over the festival, it didn’t alert the crowds about what was to come.

GB Helicopters remain committed to providing exceptional aerial services at Glastonbury. We can’t wait to see what the future holds providing aerial filming and utility services at Glastonbury.

Contact our expert operations team for a bespoke helicopter charter, aerial filming or aerial utility quotation, complete the form below or email us at ops@gbhelicopters.com.

Helicopter Hire Enquiry

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Earlier this year, a large Red Bull hot air balloon was sighted hauling a mysterious object in the air.  Flying above Wiltshire the aircraft and hanging object caused quite a stir across media outlets.  

Speculating across social media, some were convinced it was a ‘hot tub’ or a ‘swimming pool’. Residents with a knack for photography managed to capture the mysterious object floating beneath the hot air balloon. Putting the rumours to rest the images presented a BMX track. The question of why a hot air balloon was transporting a BMX course across Wiltshire went unanswered.

At GB Helicopters, we have previously collaborated with Red Bull, but this time it was something different.

British professional BMX rider Kriss Kyle took up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, performing BMX stunts on the world’s first floating skatepark. From one record to another, to be able to carry the 1.7- ton skatepark as the hot air balloon was six times larger than a typical hot air balloon.

 The reasoning behind this was for BMX professional rider Kriss Kyle to perform an array of BMX stunts for his next ground-breaking BMX film, Don’t Look Down. 

Helicopters and the Red Bull hot air balloon

After learning what and why a hot air balloon was carrying a floating skatepark, there is still the element of two helicopters flying beside them.

Our aerial film services provided Kriss with stabilised UHD aerial footage while he was performing BMX tricks on a floating skatepark.

For this project, we operated two of our twin-engine AS355 helicopters. One helicopter was rigged with our GSS C516, known for its superior stabilisation fitted with our RED Epic camera and 30- 300 lens. Capturing fantastic aerial footage of both the hot air balloon and BMX skatepark bowl.

Our second aircraft had photographer Eisa Bakos on board.  Harnessed to the rear of the cabin with the door open taking photographs of the ultimate record-breaking, event.

Aerial Filming Permissions and Planning

We were in comms with the Red Bull team for 12 months prior to the date of filming. During these 12 months, we waited for the skatepark and hot air balloon to be constructed and passed all required permissions. Since we were exclusively conducting the aerial filming for this project, we required our usual low-level flying permit.

Once we had the go-ahead, we were then relying on the unpredictable British weather. As this stunt required cool, dry and the rare combination of high atmospheric pressures for the hot air balloon we waited for a weather window for the event to take place for ideal flying.

Ahead of filming, we participated in online briefings, leading us to the main event.  Prior to filming our pilots were both briefed as they were operating a helicopter within the same area. Both of our pilots also held a briefing with the hot air balloon pilot to ensure they de-conflicted. To ensure there was communication with ground support, our team used handheld radios while in flight.

If you would like to use our aerial filming services for another pioneering activity contact our operations team today at 0800 030 4105 or email us at ops@gbhelicopters.com.

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Our TSOP specialist operations platform is designed to make helicopter missions easier, safer, and more efficient. Whether you are in demand to use the benches for action, drama or entertainment purposes, the opportunities are endless.

Explore your visions and ensure the final shot of your production provides viewers with exciting and daring scenes. Are you in demand for your cast to perform a special force’s operation? Make use of our specialist operations bench as a sniper platform or complete an enhanced search and rescue mission. Heli-borne snipers can serve as aerial patrols for convoys and raid teams while providing aerial support for missions. While completing courageous operations, create a compelling and thrilling scene for your viewers.

Create a dramatic entrance for presenters, whilst engaging audience anticipation. Provide a spectacular and adventurous opening or closing title, whilst the presenters sit on the exterior of a helicopter as it glides through the sky.

Allow viewers to grasp their seats and set a daring challenge for contestants participating in a reality show. Secure the contestant onto the specialist operations benches and assess their abilities.

Involving the ‘TSOP’ as part of aerial stunts will surely add to dramatic effects. No more CGI or receiving less for the image you initially had for your production. Here at GB Helicopters, we are excited to introduce our specialist operations platform for aerial film and TV uses.

There are countless purposes for the special operations bench, and we are always open to exploring. No matter how adventurous or unusual your requests are we will do our best to fulfil them.

Our specialist operations platform can be paired together with either our H125 or AS355 aircraft.

Time Efficient

Taking only five minutes to install. The benches are externally mounted to the rear of the cabin and fuselage area, with jack points, unique clamps, and brackets.

Safety Measures

Built with an aerodynamic design and provides dual seating. The TSOP allows four individuals to be positioned and secured to the benches. Once installed, the platform allows up to 500 lbs capacity on either side of the platform. The stable platforms have anchor points for a safety harness/belt.

Safety is paramount to us; we will always adhere to safety regulations in line with the CAA.

To use our Special Operations Platform email our operations team at ops@gbhelicopters.com or call us on 0800 030 4105

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At the start of the year, we saw the return of BBC One’s most popular entrepreneur show, The Apprentice. Staring the nation’s favourite businessman, Lord Sugar for series 17.

We saw the candidates sell and run bespoke tours on the magnificent Caribbean Island of Antigua. They have created advertising campaigns for electric motorbikes, and branded and packaged dog food, naming a few of their projects.

The line-up gradually reduced from 18 to the winning contestant.  We witnessed toe-curling negotiations, firings, and a number of disgruntled clients followed by the announcement of who was to become Lord Sugars’ next business partner.

GB Helicopters Tasked with Aerial Filming

Now, we have enlightened you on some of the projects the candidates worked on during the production. Discover GB Helicopters’ involvement in series 17 of The Apprentice.  

In 2022 we collaborated with the BBC Creative team on various projects, including series 16 of The Apprentice. We accomplished and exceeded the producers’ expectations when conducting the aerial filming, and they contacted us again.

Following discussions with the producers, they specified their desired shots.  We were required to capture aerial shots across London and popular landmarks of the city. Our twin-squirrel AS355 helicopter was the ideal aircraft for this project.

To conduct the aerial filming for The Apprentice, we rigged the helicopter with our GSS C516 compact lightweight gyro-stabilised gimbal.  The GSS C516 can be fitted with a range of camera and lens payloads. To carry out the aerial filming for The Apprentice, we paired the GSS with our Red Epic camera and the Canon 30 – 300 lens.

You can watch the aerial footage we shot for The Apprentice throughout series 17 as crossovers between scenes.

Bespoke Aerial Film Services

At GB Helicopters we have provided aerial filming services to the film, TV and commercial industries. Covering a range of aerial film services such as air-to-air filming, live broadcasting and aerial stunts, we’ve covered everything. And if we haven’t already, discuss it with our team to explore your visions. 

Contact our operations team today to use our aerial film services for your next project! Complete the form below and a member of our team will be in contact with you shortly.

Aerial Film Services

The Apprentice series 17 is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

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Ten fresh, famous faces are returning to Channel 4 for the show’s fifth series. Celebrities now known as fugitives are on the run for, Stand Up To Cancer’s Celebrity Hunted. Over the years we have worked on numerous projects with Shine TV and have collaborated with them for both Hunted and Celebrity Hunted. Take a look at our involvement in series 4 of Celebrity Hunted.  

For series 5 of Celebrity Hunted, GB Helicopters were called to conduct the aerial filming, while also helping to track the well-known fugitives.

Conducting the aerial filming

For series 5 of Celebrity Hunted, we operated two AS355 twin-engine helicopters’ to conduct the aerial filming.

On board with the pilot was a hunter tracking the fugitives, coordinating with the ground team to track and capture the celebrities.

Rigged to the helicopter was a state-of-the-art GSS C516, a lightweight and compact gyro-stabilised camera system. To capture the shots for series 5 of Celebrity Hunted we paired our GSS with our RED Epic Dragon.

Shropshire was one of the locations we were tasked to fly to, for series 5 of Celebrity Hunted. This was well documented on social media and media outlets on the day of filming since many spotted our aircraft and shared their sightings.

Flying above Shrewsbury prison we captured shots of the celebrity fugitives escaping the former prison. Using the footage were the professional hunters on board, transmitting the footage to the ground team, and keeping track of the fugitives’ locations.

As documented, this was the start of the celebrity fugitives attempting to remain undetected by the former police and intelligence officials.

Celebrity Fugitives Line-up

The celebrity fugitives taking part and paired together for Channel 4’s Celebrity Hunted are the following.

• Nik Speakman and Eva Speakman
• Ed Gamble and James Acaster
• Katya Jones and Amiee Fuller
• Saffron Barker and Bobby Seagull
• Nicola Thorp and Nikesh Patel

Permissions Required

We obtained the necessary permissions for the aerial filming of series 5 Celebrity Hunted. We utilised our long-standing low-level permit from the CAA to conduct the aerial filming for this project.

Our operations team and pilots boast a wealth of expertise working with producers and directors for aerial filming projects. Please discuss with our team to make your vision a reality with our aerial filming services. Call us on 0800 030 4105 or complete the contact form below.

Aerial Film Services

Celebrity Hunted is available to watch on Channel 4 and All 4.

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With rising energy bills, Guy Martin aims to discover why electricity is costing so much. The former TT racer hosted a three-part series Guys’ Great British Power Trip, which aired on Sunday 12th February at 9pm on Channel 4.

Learning how renewable energy works, Guy goes behind the scenes at the Drax power station in Yorkshire. Inspecting the mills and boilers used to create electricity from wood pellets.

Exploring the National Grids Control Centre, Guy Martin took flight in their helicopter. The National Grid routinely inspect electricity pylons, every day. Capturing Guy and the National Grids aircraft in action, was our team at GB Helicopters.

PREPARATION FOR AIR-TO-AIR FILMING FOR GUYS’ GREAT BRITISH POWER TRIP

In 2020 North One Television contacted us and we successfully provided aerial film services and picture ships for Guy Martins: Battle of Britain. Following this remarkable production, they approached us again! This time it was to conduct the air-to-air filming for the production of Guys’ Great British Power Trip.

Our team was delighted to be working with North One and Guy again. After corresponding with North One Television producers and coordinators at National Grid. Abi, our operations manager, identified filming locations in order to plan for any refuelling stops.

Before flying out to the Drax power station, one of our AS355 twin-engine helicopters was fitted with our GSS C516 camera system. We paired the GSS camera system with our compact, lightweight Sony P1 camera. The Sony P1 is a high-definition compact camera, with the flexibility to film almost anywhere making it the perfect match for this project.

While Guy and the electrical transmission team were on board the National Grids helicopter conducting power line inspections over Nottinghamshire.  Our experienced pilot followed them, flying in our AS355 helicopter, capturing the aerial footage.

Take a look at some of the aerial shots we took for Guys’ Great British Power Trip.

PERMISSIONS REQUIRED

We obtained the necessary permissions for Guys’ Great British Power Trip, allowing us to perform aerial filming for this project at our long-standing low-level flying permit.

If you are looking for an aerial cinematographer for your next project. Complete the form below and a member of our operations team will be in contact with you shortly. Alternatively, you can call us on 0800 030 4105 or email us at ops@gbhelicopters.com.

Aerial Filming services

Guy’s Great British Power Trip is available to watch on All 4.

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The Traitors is the UK version English of the Dutch reality show “De Verraders”.  It is a psychological competition where contestants decide whom they can trust. In the Scottish Highlands, at a remote castle, Claudia Winkleman welcomes 22 strangers. They begin a psychological battle in the new BBC reality competition series. To win a cash reward of up to £120,000, the competitors start the ultimate game of deception, betrayal, and trust.

Disguised amidst the 22 participants are those known as Traitors, individuals hand-picked by Winkleman at the beginning of the series at ‘the roundtable’. The remaining members are referred to as the ‘Faithfuls’.

The Traitors’ mission is to assassinate one of the other players every night while avoiding detection from the Faithfuls. Before they become the next victim, the Faithful role is to detect who the traitors are and banish them from the game.

The competitors are given challenges to complete as a team, whether a Traitor or a Faithful. These challenges allow the contestants to build a total cash prize of up to £120,000. By the end of the game, the surviving Faithful has the chance of winning the life-changing sum. But if the Traitor goes unnoticed, they can take it all. 

How did GB Helicopters participate?

For this project of The Traitors, we conducted many of our services from aerial filming and helicopter stunts. Working with Studio Lambert and the BBC, we made their vision a reality as we perform many services under our umbrella of aerial filming services. Our expert team at GB Helicopters do their best to exceed producers’ vision for their projects.

Flying over the Scottish Highlands in our AS355 helicopter rigged with our Red Epic Dragon camera to capture the picturesque views. The footage provided the series with aerial shots of the scenery and castle used within the production. The shots taken are seen throughout the series as crossovers.

The production team requested footage of the Jacobite Steam Train crossing The Glenfinnan Viaduct, renowned for its appearances in the Harry Potter blockbusters. The train travels from Fort William to Mallaig twice daily. We examined the train schedule to ensure we were airborne ahead of time to capture the incredible shots. The opening title of the series includes this footage of the Jacobite Steam Train.

Who doesn’t get excited about an aerial stunt?

At GB Helicopters we are well-known for carrying out aerial stunts for TV productions. You can see our previous aerial stunts in various productions which aired last year such as Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars, and RTEs Ultimate Hell Week. Studio Lambert and the BBC took the opportunity to put our aerial stunt expertise to the test.

Well, for The Traitors the stunt selected by the production team was the popular heli-jump. Over the bitter Scottish lake, our chief pilot and director Will Banks flew the contestants in our AS355 helicopter before they plunged into the intensity of the water. This was filmed by drone pilot Steve Peters.

Permissions required?

Throughout the filming, for this project, we obtained the permissions necessary to allow us to achieve the required footage. To enable us to conduct the aerial filming for this project we operated at our long-standing permit for low-level flying. When conducting the aerial stunts for The Traitors we obtained a permit from the CAA to allow for jumps into the cold waters.

The Traitors is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

Complete our enquiry form below to contact our operations team to use our aerial filming services for your next production.

Take a look at more of our aerial film projects.

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It was great to be working alongside director Marcus Liversedge at ITV’s Creative team again for The Peoples Postcode Lottery. We previously collaborated with him at last year’s Brit Awards, where we flew the legendary Liam Gallagher to the award show as part of his stage debut.

Collaborating with ITV’s Creative production team and The People’s Postcode Lottery, our team was tasked to conduct aerial filming for this project. Aiding to produce the 2022 Christmas edition of the advert.

Our Involvement and equipment

The spectacular red aircraft, supplied by us! Perfectly complemented the production of the Peoples Postcode Lottery advert, as it paired with their brand colours. Our chief pilot and director of GB Helicopters Will Banks was the pilot of this aircraft. Performing low-level flying, Will soared above The Peoples Postcode Lottery’s red lorry, following along its path.

To acquire productions required footage for this project, putting his pilot skills to the test. Will ensured to keep the aircraft at a minimum of 10 metres apart from the lorry as he flew along the lorries route.

We handed the task of capturing shots of the red picture ships to one of our experienced pilots. Flying in one of our twin-engine AS355 helicopters, rigged with our GSS C516 system fitted with our Red Epic Dragon to conduct the aerial filming.

To achieve incredible shots of the helicopter and lorry in a single frame, the pilot shadowed both the red aircraft and the lorry. The twin-engine pilot flew above both, capturing fantastic shots of the picture ships in a single frame.

Permissions required

We hold a permit from the CAA to conduct low-level flying. The aircraft operated at a low level no closer than 10 meters from the lorry. While ensuring the shot of the helicopter and lorry was possible in a single frame. The 10 meters from the lorry and red helicopter included all aircraft parts, including the rotors. Our AS355 aircraft remained a minimum of 200’ separated from the red aircraft and lorry throughout production.

Aerial Filming Services

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Helicopter Charters

Last year saw a rise in demand for our private travel services, and our calendars for helicopter charters have been as busy as ever. The demand was definitely real over the summer months, we provided the most charters we have ever completed. Events such as Glastonbury and Silverstone’s Formula 1 Grand Prix, broke records with the number of charters arriving and departing.

We are looking forward to this year’s events, as dates are already filling up.

In keeping with private leisure charters. In the early summer months of 2022, we successfully completed a private charter to LEGOLAND Windsor. This opened a door of wonderful opportunities. The LEGOLAND team contacted us after the incredibly successful arrival and departure of the guests, to inquire about future helicopter charters to the attraction.

No matter the requests from our clients, at GB Helicopters we do our utmost best to ensure we can exceed their wishes. So, contact our operations team if you want us to take you on your next holiday, sports or music event. They are the ones who truly make the magic happen.

GB on TV

Aerial Filming

In 2022, we covered an array of aerial filming for both live and pre-recorded entertainment.

Our annual partnerships continued with the likes of the BBC and Dragonfly working on the production of Ambulance series 9 and 10. Working alongside ITV and Raw TV GB Helicopters produced the aerial footage for Heathrow: Britain’s Busiest Airport.

In May, football fanatics saw Manchester City win the UEFA Championships. GB Helicopters were following the victory winners and fans, providing live aerial footage of the parade in Manchester. As part of Her late Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, ABC Studios approached us. We had a journalist onboard the aircraft who was broadcasting live to Good Morning America with aerial views of London.

Channel 4’s Celebrity Hunted returned to our screens after two fallow years. We were provided an aircraft for the former military agents to track the celebrity fugitives. Working again with the BBC and Studio Lambert we were excited to be part of the production of The Traitors starring Carol Winkleman. For this production, we flew over areas of the Scottish Highlands to allow the series to use aerial transitional scenes.

Although I’m a Celebrity returned to Australia last year, our relationship with ITV continued for the production of the People’s Postcode Lottery advert. Seen across December during the I’m a Celebrity ad breaks. GB Helicopters provided the project with a picture ship aircraft in addition to conducting the aerial filming.

Aerial Stunts

One of the most exciting ventures GB Helicopters took last year in regard to aerial filming, was becoming the first in the UK to own a ‘Special Operation Platform’. With the special operations platform, helicopter missions will be easier, safer, and more efficient. Allowing cast members to take a seat outside a helicopter, perfect for performing special forces operations. Both our H125 and AS355 aircraft can be fitted with the platforms.

The platforms made their debut featuring within RTE’s Ultimate Hell Week: The Professionals. The former special force agents completed their grand entrance attached to the platforms preparing to ambush celebrity recruits. This production was exciting to be part of, the use of the platforms had never been done by us before. We saw a gap in the aerial filming market for UK productions which can be revolutionary for both us and productions. Saying goodbye to CJI and special effects for helicopter missions our special operations platform provides for all.

On BBC One, Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars featured the use of our aircraft. We saw Gordon Ramsay appearing nonchalant as he perched on the edge of the aircraft before he plunged out of the helicopter into the bitter Cornish waters performing the aerial stunt as his grand entrance. GB Helicopters performed numerous heli-jumps on TV last year, from Celebrity Hunted, Ultimate Hell Week to The Traitors.

GB Helicopters’ services do not end with private charters and aerial filming; our aerial utility works projects had a variety of tasks.

Aerial Works Projects

In addition to helicopter charters, last year we worked closely with the events management team at Glastonbury. Flying one of our twin-engine aircraft rigged with a camera system, we filmed and transmitted footage to the ground team. The team then analysed the live footage of congestion to decide how and where to divert traffic to ease congestion.

Our aerial works projects didn’t stop there! Over in Wales, we were approached to conduct an aerial thermal survey. Using a high-specification 4-in-1-camera system rigged to our aircraft to conduct the thermal survey. We flew over and around the areas and documented sightings to assess the population of wild boars.

Overall, 2022 was a fantastic year for GB Helicopters, we continued to expand in each sector in which we provide our services for. As demand for our services has increased, GB Helicopters sees no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Keep an eye on our social media pages to keep updated on our latest projects.

• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

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Following series 9, BBC One Ambulance returns for its tenth series, focusing on the North East Ambulance Service. Since 2018, our crew has been performing aerial filming for the production of Ambulance. For series ten, we followed our amazing ambulance and paramedic crews from the sky across the North East. Series 9 and 10 are the first time BBC Ambulance has focused on the North East Ambulance and emergency response team.

How did GB Helicopters’ participate in the production of BBC One’s Ambulance?

Flying overhead in one of our AS355 twin-engine helicopters, we followed the emergency response teams to significant incidents across the North East. We equipped our twin-engine aircraft with our cutting-edge GSS C516 lightweight camera system and our RED Helium camera to capture the required footage.

Combining our ultra-high-definition camera systems, we flew overhead convoy with several emergency response vehicles and filming crew. This allowed us to capture the required footage of the North East ambulance service attending emergency scenes.

Additionally, we filmed overhead views of the Tyne River, Tees Transporter bridge, and scenic views. This footage captured can be seen throughout the series as transition scenes.

This series shows us a small fraction of what our paramedics attend to at heart-wrenching scenes. 24 hours 365 days a year.

Production and permissions required

GB Helicopters collaborated with Dragonfly Television and the BBC who produced the BAFTA Award-winning documentary series Ambulance.

The permissions required for this production were covered under the permit we hold from the CAA permitting us to fly at low levels.

Ambulance Series 10 air’s every Wednesday on BBC One and is available on iPlayer.

Contact our operations team to use our aerial filming services by completing the form below.

Aerial Filming Enquiry

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Throughout the series we will see a variety of tasks set, challenging the contenders whilst highlighting each of their weaknesses. Each entrepreneur must prove to the formidable chef that their food and drink business is worth the investment. Gordon Ramsay puts his contenders straight to the test, as their first task was to do a ‘leap of faith’ off the cliff edges in Newquay.

The candidates run a business within the catering industry. We meet Amit who has created bottled Indian sauces from family recipes, Matthew who is establishing a zero-waste restaurant. Jen’s business, which comprises of low-sugar bottled cocktails, are examples of diverse and unique backgrounds the entrepreneurs come from.

What was our involvement in Future Food Stars?

One of our twin-squirrel AS355s was flown by Dan Hagan during Gordon Ramsay’s grand arrival. At Lust Glaze Beach in Newquay, Gordon leaps from the helicopter into the sea performing an aerial stunt. This foreshadowed what was to follow for his candidates.

Together with LecPark, we captured the required shots using their camera system and drone. As a result, we were able to film Gordon Ramsey’s stunt whilst also providing us with aerial shots of our aircraft.

Required permissions

To perform the stunt we were required to be granted special permission from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). As with all our stunt work, we always ensure we have the appropriate permissions from the CAA before the project begins.

FFS airs weekly on Thursday nights on BBC One.

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The series began with high expectations from the entrepreneurs as they boarded a cruise ship in Portsmouth. The contestants’ initial task was to create a marketing campaign for an upcoming cruise line.

As the tasks and series progressed we watched the contestants deal with a variety of tasks. The final task before the interview stage, Candidates were required to create and brand, a new baby food, then pitch and sell it to leading retailers.

Last Thursday, we saw Lord Sugar decide who will become his next business partner. Harpreet Kaur and Katheryn Burn were the final candidates, paired with former competitors who returned to assist them in presenting their business ideas. 

GB’s Involvement

Our line pilot Ian Smith took flight in one of our Twin Squirrels. We rigged our helicopter with our GSS C516 nose-mounted camera system. We also used in conjunction with the GSS camera system, our Red Epic Dragon camera and 30-300mm lens.

GB’s contribution to the production of The Apprentice Series 16 was to film aerial shots over London. Popular London landmarks such as The Gherkin are among the aerial shots we filmed for the series. You can watch the aerial footage we filmed in between scenes of Series 16.  

The Apprentice series 16 is now available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

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Former police officers, intelligence agents and military personnel make up the team of hunters who used their expertise to hunt down the celebrity fugitives.

The celebrities who appeared in season 4 were:

Permissions requested

A requirement for this project was to submit a filming application to the National Trust. Successfully obtaining these permissions allowed us to complete the required shots by production teams. The permissions from The National Trust allowed us to film aerially above Formby Beach in Merseyside using one of our Twin Squirrels. 

Our participation

For episode 6 of the series we had a hunter on board our aircraft who was coordinating with the on-ground team, in attempt to track down the fugitives. We followed and captured shots of the Huey Heli taking off and in flight as part of the production had on board hunters on route to track down the celebrity fugitives.

Our Twin Squirrel aircraft was equipped with our nose-mounted GSS C516 camera and a Sony P1 HD camera paired with a 30-300mm lens to film aerial footage of the fugitives. The camera systems were rigged to our aircraft.

Celebrity Hunted Stand Up for Cancer is available to watch on My4.

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Written by Tony Schumacher a former Merseyside police officer. Tony used his experiences from his time as a first responder to write the gripping police thriller TV series. With first-hand accounts where good, hard-working people are being stretched beyond belief.

The Responder explores the emotional difficulties of life on the front lines, which British Policing face. Starring Martin Freeman as Chris Carson, a morally compromised first responder. Carson tackles a series of night shifts on the beat on the streets of Liverpool. Consequently, officer Carson becomes stretched to the point of mental exhaustion as a result of countless ‘on-the-job’ scenes. His duties require him to attend to emergency calls, which can include anything from recovering body parts from road traffic accidents to neighbour disputes. He parades across the city of Liverpool, amidst the hustle and bustle.

Along with dealing with the mentally demanding activities officer Carson encounters daily. Carson’s professional life starts to influence his personal life, causing his mental health to deteriorate after many years on the force. As a result of this, his marriage suffers. As the series progresses, Chris begins to wonder what is right.

How was GB involved?

To complete the required filming shots for this project we used one of our As355 Twin-engine helicopters. Filmed with our GSS nose-mounted camera system, which we paired with our Red Epic Dragon camera and a 30-300mm lens. We used our equipment to film and collect extracts providing aerial footage for the series.

The 5 part series aired in January on BBC One and is available to watch on iPlayer.

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The previous series saw a massive 11.7m viewers watch us fly in the celebrities in five helicopters for the opening episode. For the 2021 series we didn’t only film the arrival of the celebrities. This time Ant and Dec also got in on the action with a flight in their very own helicopter.

Before the show aired, the public had the chance to vote for who would take part in the first challenge.  Six celebrities were chosen and then split into two teams.

Each team flew in one of our AS355s, either OLCP or VGMC. Both helicopters feature complementary paint schemes, making them perfect as matching picture ships for productions. The celebrities flew to their first challenge. And like in 2020, it was a test of how they deal with heights.

Ant and Dec, were provided with VIP treatment and flown in by our AW109SP luxury helicopter. They looked right at home in their leather seats, in sharp contrast to the conditions the celebrities were about to endure for the next three weeks.

Providing the aerial filming for the celebrities’ arrival, and for Ant and Dec’s travels, was another of our twin squirrels. Mounted with our GSS C516, we filmed air-to-air in addition to flying the celebs to their destinations.

Months of preparation and hard work went into making the first episode happen it was a spectacular watch. We hope you enjoyed it. The show airs every evening at 9pm on ITV.

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The new series shows the immense challenges faced by the North West Ambulance Service during the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. Taking the viewer to heart of the NHS are the courageous frontline paramedics, as they respond to emergencies across the North West.

Series seven will concentrate in and around the cities of Liverpool and Blackpool. Covering an area of more than 5,400 square miles, they respond to an average 4,000 emergency calls every day. It shows in detail the harsh reality of the shifts of the call-handlers and ambulance dispatchers as they make decisions in the highly pressurised environment of the control room.

While the crews are accompanied by the production team on the ground, we provide a sense of scale from above. Capturing wide aerial shots of the city and iconic landmarks to close tracking shots of the emergency vehicles as they hurtle through the city.

Equipment

For this project we flew one of our AS355NP’s rigged with our GSS C516 gyroscopic camera system. For shooting during the day, we used our RED Epic Dragon camera with the Canon 30-300mm telephoto lens. At night, we switched to the Sony P1.

Produced by Dragonfly Television and the BBC, it was first broadcast on BBC One in 2016. Since then it has proved to be very successful, winning a BAFTA for ‘Best Factual Series’ in 2018 and receiving several National Television Award nominations.

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Our Airbus AS355 twin-squirrel helicopter,  carried out the filming using our GSS C516 camera system. Due to the unpredictable time of day an emergency can happen, we film both day and night shoots. Filming takes place with the Red Epic Dragon during the day and the ARRI Alexa Mini or Sony P1 at night, all fitted with a 30-300 Canon lens.

Following in close proximity to the air ambulance as it lands and takes off from various sites around Yorkshire, including helipads at hospitals, is a key part of the filming for Helicopter ER. The CAA have granted us a long-term certificate for low-level flying permission, which is perfect for productions as it enables us to get closer to the action.

Created by AirTv, Helicopter ER is broadcast on the Discovery Networks channel, Really. The latest series, 6, aired back in January 2021 and is available to watch on the Discovery+ website.

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Produced by Air TV, the first episode of the new series features a WWII Hawker Hurricane. Modified into the world’s only two-seater version of the aircraft. After months of painstaking restoration work, the experienced warbird pilot Anna Walker, flew over the countryside around Biggin Hill with its first passenger. We followed in our AS355 helicopter, equipped with our GSS camera system, capturing the magnificent machine’s return to the skies.

We then had the privilege of filming Guy Martin training and flying this wonderful machine for his new two-part series, Guy Martin’s Battle of Britain. The show would see Guy undergo similar training to RAF pilots before the Battle of Britain.

The Hawker Hurricane is now available for you to experience for yourself down at Biggin Hill. With flight times ranging from 30 to 75 minutes, you can feel the raw power of a historic WWII fighter plane and even take the controls! (if the pilot allows it). You can read more about this on their website.

The fourth episode features the restoration of a 1930’s Morane-Saulnier MS.315. However, it ran out of fuel resulting in an emergency landing on a pebble beach. The plane was taken to a wartime bomber base in Lincolnshire and after the restoration was completed, we were there to film its first 40 minutes test flight.

You can watch the first and second series on the UKTV website.

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The 39-year-old from Grimsby was named after Guy Gibson, a distinguished RAF bomber pilot who became the first Commanding Officer of No. 617 Squadron. This squadron led the famous “Dam Busters” raid during WWII, so it is no surprise that he already has a couple of documentaries involving military aircraft. Those being Guy Martin’s Spitfire and Guy Martin: Last Flight of the Vulcan Bomber.

Despite the chaos going on in the world last year, he managed to put together a new ambitious project: Guy Martin’s Battle of Britain. The programme was to see Guy learn to fly a WWII Hurricane against a pursuing enemy aircraft.

Documentaries like this simply cannot be made without aerial filming. Over the years we have become renowned for capturing military aircraft in flight. Our first project filming historical warbirds was the Hollywood blockbuster Dunkirk. Since then, we have worked on some other huge projects such as Spitfire: The Feature Documentary and its upcoming sequel, Lancaster. We have also filmed several episodes of Warbird Workshop and the departure of the Silver Spitfire out of Goodwood, as it started its flight around the world.

Working with warbirds is something we absolutely love doing. So, when we were approached to provide the aerial filming for this project, we jumped at the chance. Capable of a higher top speed, our H125 helicopter would provide the platform for our GSS C516 gyro-stabilised system and Sony P1 camera with a Fujinon 42x lens. This full HD and lightweight setup would be controlled by our expert camera operator Mike Parker.

Flying out of the very familiar Biggin Hill, we would be following and filming two aircraft. The role of the enemy aircraft would be filled by a Buchon ME109 that is carefully and diligently maintained by The Aircraft Restoration Company. It would be flown by its owner, John Romain. Guy Martin would have the chance to fly in the only two-seat Hurricane in the world. The 1942 Hawker Hurricane IIB would be flown by the hugely experienced and talented pilot, Anna Walker. The aircraft is owned and operated by The Heritage Flight at Biggin Hill.

With perfect weather over the former RAF WWII airbase, we took to the air and started filming the Hurricane as it started its engine and taxied to the runway. Once in position and ready to go, Anna throttled-up and the Hurricane tore off down the tarmac. Alongside in the H125, pilot Will Banks put the nose down and accelerated to keep up with the classic warbird. Running perfectly next to the Hurricane, its wheels gently lifted off the ground before it accelerated beyond our top speed.

Once all the aircraft systems checked out, Will rendezvoused with the Hurricane and we began filming the close ups. Flying in close formation at 2,000 ft over Sevenoaks, Kent, we filmed shots of the Hurricane performing various manoeuvres and captured Guy Martin trying his hands at the controls.

As we entered the evening golden hour, Anna and Guy were joined by John in the “enemy” Buchon ME109. Trailing behind the Hurricane, John would now ‘engage’, and Guy would try to lose the Buchon from his tail. The two warbirds accelerated off into the distance as Guy tried to evade and escape the pursuing enemy. They began a dance in the sky, gaining altitude before diving below us, all while Will and Mike filmed from a distance, keeping them both in frame.

When the chase was over and we had completed the shot list, Will followed Guy back to Biggin Hill. With the sun going down, we took advantage of the brilliant light to capture the Hurricane in the warm evening glow. Will then be positioned low at the far end of the runway to capture the Hurricane gracefully touching down to finish off a successful shoot.

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Filming for the Hunted is unlike any other programme we shoot for. The fugitive’s drop-off and extraction locations are known to us in advance, and are filmed like any other TV project. However, due to the nature of the show, any additional filming we do depends entirely on where the fugitives flee to, how they get there and how close the hunters get.

Outside of the opening and final sequences to the series, we’re mainly on hand to assist the hunters in apprehending the fugitives. The contestants can run and hide anywhere in the country, and most of the time, even the fugitives don’t have a set plan of where they’re headed. Because of this, the call for shooting some sequences can come very late, sometimes just the night before. This is where our large fleet of H125 and AS355 helicopters comes in. While we normally have at least one helicopter reserved for aerial filming work, any of our seven single and twin-squirrels can be rigged with our GSS C516 camera system.

Nearing the end of series 5, the location of the extraction point is revealed to the fugitives. This year the remaining contestants had to reach a harbour in Anglesey. A boat would be there waiting to help them complete their escape and hand them £100,000. This information is kept from the hunters, but they’re hot on the heels of the fugitives and so get a rough idea of where they’re headed. With the end in sight, we’re back in the air and aiding the hunters. In our AS355N helicopter, G-CMRA, we pick up renowned hunter Karl Beverly, and race towards Anglesey. After spotting the escape boat that the fugitives are heading towards, we quickly land nearby so Karl can jump out to pursue on foot. We get back in the air to film the dramatic finale as the remaining fugitives attempt to make their escape.

Filming for the Hunted is always an adventure and we look forward to each series to see how our work played out in helping capture the fugitives. The programme is created by Shine TV and is aired on Channel 4.

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His hit US show, Running Wild with Bear Grylls would see him challenge some of the worlds most famous actors and actresses to perform dangerous stunts. From Zac Efron, Channing Tatum, and Ben Stiller, to the then sitting President of the United States, Barak Obama.

For series two, we would assist Bear in putting American actor Michael B. Jordan through his paces in the Welsh Highlands. Flying them both out over the sea in our AS355 Twin Squirrel helicopter, Michael and Bear would rappel out of the hovering aircraft, and then drop into the water before having to swim to the shore.

In series three, in a remote part of Wales, we would lift a jet ski with a twin-squirrel and drop it in the sea for Spice Girl Mel B to swim out to in her final challenge. Earlier in the episode she had to assist Bear with some controversial pain relief, which we will leave for you to look up!

Adventure in the UK

Following its success in the US, Bear would produce a UK version featuring a selection of famous Brits called Bear’s Mission With…. While most of Bear’s programmes see him travel all over the world, this one would take place solely in the UK. We are always eager to get involved when Bear shoots in the UK, so when the opportunity to feature in all five episodes came to us, we jumped at it.

First up was the two-time world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua. Being a world class professional athlete, Bear would certainly have his work cut out giving the boxer a challenge. Anthony would be tasked with climbing Commando Ridge in Cornwall. Getting him to the bottom of this breath-taking cliffside is where we came in. With a rope ladder attached to the belly of our AS355 helicopter, and Bear and Anthony attached to the end of it, we flew them both to the base of the ridge. From there they could tackle the former WWII Commando training ground.

That’s a new one…

Next up was actor and comedian, Rob Brydon. This one started off like any other project. Our task was to fly Rob and Bear over an ice-cold lake, where they both would then jump out of our hovering helicopter into the freezing water below. Nothing out of the ordinary there. However, later in the episode, Rob and Bear spy a sheep trapped in a quarry. After carefully corralling the sheep and fitting it with a harness, we were called in to lift it out to safety. This was definitely a new one for us. While technically it was no different from any other long line work we’ve done, the pilot is normally in constant communication with the person on the end of the line. But not this time.

The third episode would feature the legendary Star Wars and Harry Potter actor Warwick Davis. For his stunt he was fitted with a safety harness before being hooked to the long line attached to our helicopter. We then lifted him into the sky, much like we did with Harry Styles, to finish off the episode.

For the final episode in the Bear’s Mission With… series, England Football Manager Gareth Southgate was to be put through his paces. Taking place in Dartmoor, we flew Bear and Gareth to a remote location in the national park, where he would then rappel out of our hovering helicopter, some 20ft off the ground.

One of Bear Gyrlls’ most recent survival programmes was Netflix’s You vs Wild. The interactive series would see him take on a range of missions where the viewer gets to decide which routes he takes along the way. After we drop Bear off on a beach in Wales, his adventure begins, and you start deciding his actions. Part way through the episode we help extract Bear with a long line stunt. But in order to see this you’ll have to make some wrong decisions and put him in harm’s way.

Outside of his TV programmes we also worked with Bear for the launch of the new Land Rover Discovery. This event saw him rappel out of our hovering helicopter onto the top of a small replica of Tower Bridge made from Lego. Rappels require expert precision while keeping the helicopter as still as possible in a hover. This stunt was made all the more difficult by taking place at night. You can see a small clip of this stunt here.

Most recently we performed a skydive stunt with Bear and his son Jesse for his YouTube channel. You can read more about this stunt here. Our growing experience and safety record is what has kept Bear Grylls coming back to us time and time again. Helicopter stunt work is something we love doing and you can read more about our service here.

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Our Flight Operations Compliance Manager, Abi Hensby, works incredibly hard every year to ensure that we operate at the highest standards possible for our industry and we are very proud of our exemplary record.

These practices and procedures are constantly evaluated and amended as the industry evolves. They are in place not only to help protect the helicopter pilot, crew and passengers, but also to guarantee we deliver the most comprehensive service that is of the utmost quality.

Going Further

Our efforts to improve our services do not stop here. We have worked hard to attain three ISO standards set out by the International Organisation for Standardisation. These include:

• ISO 9001:2015 – for Quality Management Systems
• ISO 14001:2015 – for Environmental Management Systems
• BS OHSAS 18001: 2007 – the British standard for occupational health and safety management

These standards are not necessary to carry out the wide variety of work we provide. However, they are something we have endeavoured to achieve to assist us in delivering a world-class service. These standards contribute from the well-being of the office staff and ground crew to the pilots and aircraft. And this applies across our three sectors of work: helicopter charter, aerial filming and utility works.

Following these advancements, 2021 will see us implement a Carbon Neutral policy to help offset our impact on the environment. This is an important issue that will affect every aspect of our lives. It is vital that we do more to measure the effect we have on the environment. More information on this will follow later in the year.

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Due to this year’s ongoing situation. It was not possible for the show to take place in its usual location of Murwillumbah, New South Wales. Its new home for 2020 would be Gwrych Castle in North Wales.

The opening episode was viewed by a massive 11.7m viewers. Usually, it features half the celebrities making a grand entrance into camp, and this year’s show would be no different. So, ITV went looking for five helicopters for the celebrities and another one to film them. As one of the few aerial filming companies in the country with this number of aircraft, we were ideally suited to fill this role. With all the aircraft and filming equipment in-house, production had the confidence that we could provide everything required without having to rely on third parties.

The show required that the helicopters carrying the celebrities were to be twin-engine, and black. With six of our ten aircraft being twin-squirrel AS355’s, this was fine. However, only one is currently completely black, and that’s G-CMRA. So, in order to meet this requirement, we had four of our helicopters painted black over two days (G-LINE, G-DCAM, G-OLCP & G-VGMC).

Finally, we nailed down the shot list and formations we would be flying to achieve them. Our pilots have a wealth of experience flying in formation with another aircraft when aerial filming but flying as part of a five-aircraft formation was going to be a new experience for a few of them. However, the principals behind this remain the same; so there was little doubt that they’d all excel at the task.

After all the preparation and painting was complete, it was time for the fun part, a practice flight. From our base in Cheshire we got all the pilots, camera operators and ground crew together and lined up the aircraft. Six helicopters, all rotors running and engines roaring, took to the skies in what was an epic display of machines and noise. The I’m A Celebrity production team were going to be in for a treat.

_{Huge thanks to drone operations Lec Park & Andy L for this video}

Next up was rehearsal day, one week prior to showtime. The weather could not have been better for a day in mid-July, let alone in November. Once again, six helicopters took to the skies. Will Banks flying the camera ship (G-TVGB) with DoP Mike Parker. The duo left base armed with the GSS C516 and the Sony P1. They headed to Snowdonia to get shots of the sunrise over the Welsh mountains. Completely still conditions gave perfect views and crystal-clear reflections from the lakes dotted around the valleys.

The first formation flights would take place before heading north and flying over Gwrych Castle and Abergele. The five twin squirrels arrived later, and this caused quite a stir. Reports of helicopters over the I’m A Celebrity castle were everywhere! Photos and videos of us making it to social media and news sites. Speculation went into overdrive and there was a noticeable spike in excitement surrounding the preparations for the show.

The rehearsal had gone perfectly and everyone was thrilled with the results. We now had to do it all over again the following week, on Friday the 13^th, and the weather was looking awful. Anxiety levels were rising as the day approached and the weather hadn’t improved. Then, two days before the shoot, the weather looked to be in our favour. Twelve hours later however, it was back to wind and rain. But with less than 18 hours to go, the weather decided to behave and gave us a weather window of clear blue skies for the shoot. For two days, one week apart, in November, in the Welsh mountains, we had nearly identical weather.

Then came the big day. With the pilots final briefing the night before and a good night’s rest, they were ready to head off. Once again Will and Mike left early to get shots of the sun rising over North Wales, while the main fleet took off to a secret location, ready for the celebrities to arrive. Landing at the site, lined up nose to tail, they waited for this year’s (un)lucky contestants to appear.

One at a time, the blindfolded celebrities where loaded into a helicopter, which then took off and made its way to our camera ship. As each helicopter joined they formed up to allow the celebrities to see each other for the first time. Once all of them were onboard and all six helicopters formed up, they made their way through Wales and Snowdonia. We flew through gorgeous valleys, above lakes and over mountain peaks in various formations. Allowing us to shoot stunning footage as we flew.

The Celebrities were dropped off at a remote location, going straight into their first task. We returned to base for a debrief.

All that was left to do now was put the aircraft away and strip away the paint. While we wait until Sunday to see the results.

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Hosted by Carol Vorderman, the ceremony honours those who have acted bravely or extraordinarily in challenging situations. Usually the event takes place at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, this year however, the show would take place outside London’s Royal Hospital Chelsea. With no audience and just Carol Vorderman hosting the ceremony, celebrities were deployed around the country to surprise and present the awards to the recipients.

For the opening sequence of the award ceremony, we were tasked with flying Carol into London in our AW109SP helicopter. On her journey through London we hovered over hospitals and police stations to pay tribute to those in the emergency services. These fantastic people have soldiered on through everything that has happened this year while putting themselves at risk.

As Carol made her way over the various landmarks of England’s capital, we filmed from our London based AS355 twin-squirrel, G-LINE. Equipped with our GSS C516 and Sony P1 camera, we captured gorgeous footage of our aircraft as it flew over the city and along the River Thames. Working closely with the ITV production team we spent over an hour and half completing the full shot list for the awards opener.

We returned to skies above London a few days later, this time at night to film the BT Tower. The names of those being honoured appeared one by one on the towers 360° LED display for all of London to see. This was only possible as we operated our Day/Night VFR aircraft along with our IFR capable aircraft. Our pilots are also night rated combined with extensive experience flying at night.

Planning for the shoot took place over the weeks prior along with us being granted various permissions to fly and film over London. This included obtaining non-standard flight numbers from NATS that allowed us to access the controlled airspace over the city.

With Carol Vorderman safely at her destination and all the footage in the bag, it was time to return to base and get ready for our next ITV project, I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here.

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The decision to allow us to hover tens of feet over the taxiways of one of the busiest airports in the world was not one that was taken lightly. Months of planning, phone calls and meetings took place in preparation for just two days of filming. We had to demonstrate that we were not only capable of capturing the desired footage, but to do so with complete safety.

The stakes were high. The consequences of an accident could be catastrophic. However, given the low altitude we would be flying at, collisions were a risk. Risk factors included taxiing aircraft and even airport service vehicles going about their daily routines. While these scenarios were very unlikely, many other minor incidents could still have had a severe knock-on effect. Near misses or disrupting the flow of traffic around the airport could lead to significant delays. Delays cost airlines thousands of pounds and disrupt passengers’ travel plans.

Any of those would have obviously been completely unacceptable, so along with diligent planning beforehand, came constant communication between Will and air traffic control during the shoot. Every aircraft arriving and departing were informed of our presence. As our aircraft carefully manoeuvred its way around the taxiways. We were informed of the aircraft around us as we updated them on our actions.

So, there was a lot going on for pilot Will Banks. Communicating with air traffic, keeping complete situational awareness of other aircraft and vehicles around the helicopter, 20ft above the tarmac, all while talking to Mike the camera operator and positioning to get the shots.

The shot list for this project was extensive. And with only a small window of time to acquire them, the pressure was on. Fitted with the GSS C516, RED Epic Dragon and a 30-300mm lens, Mike and Will took G-TVGB and went about capturing everything from wide shots of the airport to closeups of pilots in their cockpits. But with this aerial filming project, there were no staged shots or events to capture. It was entirely on Will and Mike to find the shots they needed.

The result was nearly five hours of stunning footage that was to be used throughout the 12-episode series.

Heathrow: Britain’s Busiest Airport is available to watch on ITVX.

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The release of Harry Styles’ new single last week got us thinking about the music video we played a key role in creating for him. For the then 23-year-olds debut solo single, ‘Sign of the Times’, we were approached with an unusual request; “Can you make him fly?“

We had considerable experience with people abseiling out of our helicopters, however, this had more similarities with our long line lifting work. Transporting heavy loads to hard-to-reach locations. So this would be a first doing this with a human.

For the video, Harry Styles was to soar through the sky, above lush forests and stunning mountains. The former One Direction star was fitted with a harness hidden underneath a large overcoat. A hole cut into the back allowed the line to connect to the harness. The other end is then securely attached to the belly of the helicopter. When it came to flying him through the air, it was relatively simple. Making him run on water, however, required excellent precision and skill.

Two Birds with one Styles

We provided both helicopters for the shoot, which was directed by Yoann Lemoine. One to carry Styles through the air and the other to film it. The two AS355‘s worked in unison to produce some truly beautiful shots. Flown by GB Helicopters Director Will Banks and pilot Hugh Williams, Banks had the arguably better task of flying Harry, while Williams flew the camera ship. Having all the crew from the same team can make a massive difference to a production. Communication and co-ordination are key to an effective aerial filming unit. And a team that knows each other well, produces better shots on fewer takes.

Obviously safety for this project was of the highest priority. Nothing would have taken place if the risks were deemed too high. All equipment, including the helicopter, was thoroughly inspected beforehand and communication between, pilots, ground crew and Harry was paramount. Not just to make sure Styles’ safety was never compromised, but also to achieve the desired shots.

With no green screen and CGI being used (other than to remove the line and harness), it meant that to achieve some of the shots for the video, Styles was flown to a height of around 1,500ft. This might have been a problem, however Harry appeared to thoroughly enjoy the experience. Something which is evident in parts of the video.

The music video would go on to win British Artist Video of the Year at the 2018 Brit Awards and Best Music Video at the 2018 iHeartRadio Music Awards. It was also nominated for Best Pop Video and Best Visual Effects at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards.

You can find more information about our aerial filming services here.

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The 48th edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s Rolex Fastnet Race saw records tumble as unusual winds lead to dramatic racing. The biennial offshore boat race eventually crowned the overall IRC Z winner as US team Wizard. This spelt the end of a French winning streak going back to 2013. Meanwhile Maxi Edmond de Rothschild past Francois Gabart’s MACIF in a nail biting finish, winning by just 58 seconds in the open multihull class.

This year’s race saw the first outing of our new helicopter G-TVGB. The Airbus H125 was fitted with the Cineflex V14 camera system and flown by GB Helicopters owner Will Banks. Heavy weather conditions made for some challenging flying but also led to spectacular footage. In particular as the boats approached the iconic Fastnet Rock, dark and stormy weather provided some of the most dramatic shots of the race. Shortly after the weather relented and the skies cleared to produce a brilliant sunset, finishing off a thrilling second day.

Over the three days the H125 excelled in its aerial filming role, making light work of the difficult weather conditions. G-TVGB is set to take on more aerial filming and utility work in the coming months. It is also available for charter flights in between these jobs so please enquire about its availability.

We’ve put together a short video to show you the work we did on this project. We hope you enjoy it!

Visit our aerial filming page or contact our operations team on 0800 030 4105. You can email us on ops@gbhelicopters.com to speak to our operations team.

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