NLDrone footage is only as good as the people holding the sticks. An impressive flying platform is worthless without an experienced pilot who knows how a film set works, understands what a director is looking for, and maintains focus when it really matters. At Drone Department, we have been working on professional film sets across Europe for about 18 years, from feature films and national advertising campaigns to international sports coverage and festival productions.
In this article, we show who is behind the controllers, how we optimize solo operations for the best results, when we deploy our dual-operator system and which certifications and EU licenses we carry to fly your production safely and legally.
Our drone pilots: experience, certifications, and specializations
Drone Department is led by Matthijs van der Velden from the Netherlands. For productions that require extra expertise, he works with a select network of experienced freelancers. Below is an overview of his experience and specializations.
Matthijs van der Velden - Senior Drone Pilot, Safety Manager & Instructor
Matthijs is the founder of Drone Department and a drone pilot at heart. Since 2006, he has been building custom drones and has since accumulated thousands of flight hours on professional film sets. He holds a full EU Specific drone pilot license and an EASA drone instructor license.
On set, Matthijs is the lead pilot and also Safety Manager. In addition to flying, he is responsible for flight safety, contact with air traffic control, and compliance with all EU drone regulations. As a certified EASA drone instructor, he possesses the highest attainable licenses to perform complex operations. His calmness and precision are exactly what you need when flying with heavy cinema drones over a film set. In his free time, Matthijs is active as a drone racer, which means he knows better than anyone how to control an FPV racing drone at high speed.
When to choose dual-operator?
While Drone Department specializes in efficient solo operations, specific shots sometimes require more. For complex movements where the flight path and camera framing must operate independently, we offer a specialized dual-operator setup:
- The pilot focuses entirely on the flight path, speed, altitude, and avoiding obstacles.
- The camera operator independently controls the framing, focus, gimbal tilt, and pan. They monitor via a live 4K DCI monitor and communicate directly with the director.
This dual-operator option makes flight movements possible that are simply not achievable solo. Think of a tracking shot that transitions into an upward tilt while the drone simultaneously makes a turn. Or an FPV fly-through through a building where the camera smoothly looks from one room to another.
When should you choose dual-operator?
Not every job requires two operators. Here is a handy overview:
- Solo operator suffices for: simple orbits, top-down shots, establishing shots, timelapse
- Dual operator is needed for: tracking shots with camera movement, FPV fly-throughs, live broadcast, action and sports coverage, complex gimbal shots with RED or ARRI
Want to know which drone service best fits your production? Feel free to contact us. We are happy to help.
Worldwide drone pilot network: local knowledge everywhere
Not every production takes place in the Netherlands. And even if it does, you might need drone operators at multiple locations simultaneously for a series or film. That is why Drone Department has built an extensive international network of certified drone operators over the years.
What does our network offer you?
- Local regulatory knowledge: every operator knows the specific airspace rules and permit procedures of their country
- Fast availability: for last-minute shoots, we have pilots in all major European cities
- Consistent quality: all operators in our network work to the same Drone Department quality standards and are at least EU Specific certified
- Multilingual communication: our operators speak the local language, which facilitates cooperation with crew and authorities
Productions outside Europe
Our network is not limited to the EU. We have had successful productions in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Montenegro, and various Asian destinations. For shoots outside Europe, we work with local fixers who know the aviation authorities, customs procedures for drone equipment, and local regulations. View our projects page for concrete examples.
On shoot days, we typically work as a solo operator for maximum flexibility and speed. For projects requiring extreme precision or complex cinematography, we deploy a dual-operator setup (pilot and camera operator). This flexible approach ensures we always provide the most efficient solution for your specific production.
Drone Department operates under an EASA EU Specific drone operator license (registration number NLDoyhg6yl91zgtj). This is the second-highest certification level in Europe and grants us permission to fly in scenarios that are prohibited for most operators:
- Within 25 meters of uninvolved persons on a secured film set
- In CTR airspace (think of the direct vicinity of Schiphol, Rotterdam The Hague Airport, or small airfields)
- EVLOS and FPV operations where the drone operates outside the pilot's direct line of sight
- Night flights for film and event productions
- Above events and in locations with high audience density
What does this mean for you as a client?
When you hire Drone Department, you benefit from several concrete advantages over non-certified operators:
- Your production is fully legally covered: we work with an approved safety management system
- You don't have to worry about permits: we handle CTR applications, coordination with air traffic control, and local waivers
- Our license is valid in all EU member states, so you don't need a separate drone company per country for an international production
- Our drone fleet is fully insured for commercial operations
Want to know more about EASA regulations and what they mean in practice? Read our extensive page on drone regulations.
In Short
Choosing the right drone operator is crucial. At Drone Department, we combine 18 years of hands-on film set experience with full EU Specific certification, efficient solo workflows and an optional international dual-operator network deployable at any location in the world.
Whether you are looking for smooth cinema shots with a DJI Inspire 3, lightning-fast FPV footage for a motorsport event, or an immersive indoor fly-through: Drone Department is ready to take your production to the next level.
Want to know which services best fit your production? View our projects or contact us directly for a personal conversation.
