NL
The drone industry never stands still. In a landscape where technological innovations and changing regulations follow each other in rapid succession, standing still means falling behind. Today, we are announcing an important new step in the history of our company. Cineshoots, the brand that for years was renowned for its high-quality drone filming for television and feature films, has ceased to exist following a strategic split. However, this is by no means the end of our mission. As of today, I, Matthijs van der Velden, together with my trusted international team of certified drone operators and camera operators, will continue with full force and a sharpened focus under a new name: Drone Department.
With Drone Department, we are focusing even more strongly on the international market for high-end cinematography, commercials, live broadcasts, and large-scale events. Our passion for capturing breathtaking visual content from the air remains unchanged, but our organization has been optimized to meet the most stringent demands of modern directors, producers, and international regulations. In this article, we take you behind the scenes of this transition, explain what it means for our ongoing partnerships, and clarify the status of our EASA EU Specific category license.
The logical evolution to Drone Department
The decision to split Cineshoots and continue operations under Drone Department is the result of a natural growth process. In recent years, the demand for specialized drone operations has increased exponentially. Where drones were previously often seen as a nice 'extra' on a film set, today they have grown into indispensable tools for complex shots that could previously only be achieved with helicopters or expensive crane systems. This professionalization requires a company that is one hundred percent focused on this niche.
Under the name Drone Department, we can present our services in a new and more modern way. Our focus is entirely on providing an all-in-one solution for producers: from initial flight preparation and permit applications to the ultimate execution on set with the most advanced equipment on the market. We have streamlined our internal workflows and updated our fleet to operate faster and more efficiently on sets anywhere in the world.
Our international team of operators remains on board
One of the most important pillars of our success has always been the human factor. The best equipment is useless without the skills and creativity of the operators who control it. That is why I am proud that our entire, trusted team of international drone operators and camera operators is transitioning with us to Drone Department. This team consists of experienced professionals who have proven themselves in the demanding worlds of feature films, high-end commercials, and live sports and music events.
For our existing relations, this means they can continue to count on the familiar faces, seamless collaboration, and high quality they are used to. Whether it is a certified dual-operator team for a feature film using the DJI Inspire 3, or a high-speed FPV chase drone pursuing a race car at 200 km/h: the expertise remains in-house and is immediately deployable under Drone Department.
EASA EU Specific license officially renamed
Within the European Union, regulations regarding drone flights are strictly defined by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). For operations with heavier professional drones (such as the DJI Inspire 3 or heavy custom FPV drones) near people, in controlled airspace (CTR), or over built-up areas, flying in the Open category is not sufficient. This requires an operational authorization within the so-called Specific category.
We want to reassure all our clients and partners: our full EASA EU Specific license remains unchanged. The permit, originally issued under the name Cineshoots, has been officially renamed and transferred to Drone Department by the Inspectorate for Human Environment and Transport (ILT) in the Netherlands. This means that all our flight exemptions, operational manuals, and operational authorizations carry over seamlessly. We can continue to fly immediately and completely legally at all locations in the Netherlands and the rest of Europe for which we hold permits, without any interruption to our operational capabilities.
Partnerships and operational continuity
For our ongoing projects and future assignments, little will change organizationally, except for the name on the invoice and the email addresses. All our ongoing agreements, quotes, and contracts are seamlessly taken over by Drone Department under the same conditions. Our contact details have been updated: you can reach us from now on via our new email address info@dronedepartment.nl and our new website https://dronedepartment.nl. Our familiar phone number +31 (0)6 10414496 remains unchanged.
Reaching new heights under a fresh flag
The transition from Cineshoots to Drone Department is a milestone that the entire team has worked on with great energy. It allows us to better align our identity with our international ambitions and our specialization in high-end drone operations. We would like to sincerely thank all our clients, partners, and relations for their trust in recent years. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and reaching new cinematic heights together with you under the flag of Drone Department.