Phoenix Air Purchases AERIGON and Receives N-number from FAA
See the AERIGON Mk II and DOMINION Controller at NAB 2016, April 18-21, booth C2055DP at the Las Vegas Convention Center
Intuitive Aerial has been granted a Section 333 exemption by the FAA to operate any aircraft on the aviation authority's List of Approved Unmanned Aerial Systems. The makers of the AERIGON pro cinema UAV can now provide live demos to filmmakers, broadcasters, and any other content creators looking for stable aerial footage. Customers without their own FAA 333 exemption can temporarily operate their AERIGON under the Intuitive Aerial exemption using an Intuitive Aerial-certified pilot.
Phoenix Air Unmanned, LLC, based in Cartersville, Georgia, purchased the AERIGON Mk II in 2015. The certified air carrier provides a range of aviation services, including UAVs used in film and video production for movies and TV, aerial surveying, and utility inspection. The company uses the AERIGON Mk II with RED Dragon, ARRI Alexa Mini, and Canon C500 cameras on open-set and closed-set movie productions.
"We chose AERIGON for more than its payload capacity," said Will Lovett, managing director of unmanned systems at Phoenix Air. "After reviewing all the systems out there, we saw it had unparalleled reliability, stability, and redundancy. With 12 motors, even with a malfunction, we can keep the camera in the air."
FAA 333 Exemption and Safety Any aircraft operated in the U.S. needs to be registered and certified by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), be operated by a licensed pilot, and have operational approval. Although certification differs from country to country, UAVs of 55 lbs. or less have to be registered in the U.S. and receive an N number. The exemptions for commercial use are awarded on a case-by-case basis. The FAA 333 exemption gives operators a competitive advantage and, it is hoped, discourages illegal and unsafe operation.
"Phoenix Air went for a broad exemption that defined what we can do and where we can do it," Lovett explained. "We have both a 333 exemption and a certificate of authorization from the FAA to use our AERIGON on closed set and open set filming."
As with any responsible operator, safety is paramount for Phoenix Air. The FAA requires that operators have a pilot's license and a crew of three when using a gimbaled camera: one to pilot the aircraft, one to operate the camera, and an observer.
"Our training includes coordination between the three crew and is complex," Lovett said. "We have a comprehensive 60-page standard operating procedure manual that covers training, safety, and risk management for all our UAVs."
Maximizing the UAV Payload While Ensuring Stability AERIGON, even with 20 lbs. of camera and lens equipment, comes in under the 55-lb. weight limit mandated by the FAA. The AERIGON offers image stabilization technology for full size pro cinema cameras with industry standard lightweight zoom lenses such as the Angenieux Optimo 15-40 mm zoom, Canon CN-E15.5-47, and Zeiss Compact Zoom CZ.2 lenses with complete FIZ (focus, iris, zoom) support using the Intuitive Aerial DOMINION controller.
The AERIGON has been used on a wide range of projects already, including Captain America: Civil War, Spectre, Avengers: Age of Ultron, the documentary film We Are Blood, and shows for BBC Natural World and National Geographic Wild. Thanks to successes such as these, the AERIGON was chosen to help launch the Nokia OZO VR camera.
"It's imperative to have a 333 exemption to operate a UAV on set in the U.S.," said Eric Bergez, vice president of Intuitive Aerial Inc. "We've taken one more step toward empowering filmmakers to take full creative advantage of aerial cinematography without sacrificing image quality."
Visitors to NAB 2016 can see the AERIGON Mk II at the Intuitive Aerial booth, C2055DP in the Drone Pavilion. RED (SL1517), Vislink (C6008), and Angenieux (C6015) will also each have an AERIGON on display. To book a demo of the AERIGON Mk II at NAB 2016, contact Eric Bergez at eric.b@intuitiveaerial.com or 818-495-2230.
LOS ANGELES, CA, April 14, 2016
For further information, please contact:
Scott Fotheringham philpott | communications 8915 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill, ON L4C 0L5 scott.fotheringham@philpott.ca +1 (613) 686-7556
Robin Kahlbom CEO Intuitive Aerial AB (publ) robin.k@intuitiveaerial.com +46 (0)73 070 32 02
The following documents can be retrieved from beQuoted Intuitive Aerial Pressrelease 2016-04-14.pdf Intuitive Aerial Phoenix Air Aerigon.JPG Intuitive Aerial Phoenix Air in flight Aerigon.JPG
About Phoenix Air Unmanned, LLC Phoenix Air Unmanned, LLC (PAU) is a sister corporation to Phoenix Air Group, Inc., also headquartered in Cartersville, GA. PAU operates a fleet of registered unmanned aircraft under FAA Section 333 exemption and certificates of authorization. A wide range of unmanned aircraft services are available that include closed set television and motion picture filming, utility and infrastructure inspection, precision aerial survey, and orthophotography. All PAU flight operations are executed with a dedicated standard of operations (SOP) that places safety as paramount. PAU also operates a dedicated unmanned aerial system (UAS) flight area called Phoenix Air Unmanned Training & Evaluation Center (PAUTEC). PAU flight crews and technical staff work in concert with utility company technicians developing best practice methods in which unmanned aircraft can provide power line damage and right-of- way foliage assessments.
About Intuitive Aerial Intuitive Aerial is an international manufacturer of professional remote camera systems for high-end cinema and broadcast applications. The company makes AERIGON Mk II, the industry's first remote piloted aerial camera platform (UAV) for professional cinema, broadcast, and commercials productions. AERIGON has been trusted to fly cameras for the feature films Captain America: Civil War, The Huntsman, Spectre, Avengers: Age of 2(3) Ultron, We Are Blood, and Into the Woods; the Taylor Swift music video, "Wildest Dreams"; and on broadcasts such as BBC's nature doc series One Planet and Nat Geo Wild. It also manufactures NEWTON, a stabilized remote camera head for broadcast applications. Both remote camera systems are controlled by the Intuitive Aerial DOMINION controller. The company, which has Section 333 exemption from the FAA to operate approved aircraft, provides certification assistance and flight training for its customers worldwide. Intuitive Aerial Inc. is a fully owned subsidiary of Intuitive Aerial AB (publ) and is located in Woodland Hills, CA. Intuitive Aerial AB (publ) is located in Linköping, Sweden. For more information visit www.intuitiveaerial.com .
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