FILM CREW
We pride ourselves on having the best aerial film crew in the business with thousands of hours of safe flying experience for aerial filming. Our crew are highly experienced professionals with a genuine passion for filming and will strive to safely deliver the exact shots you require. Our film pilots and aerial camera operators are part of a team comprising of camera technicians film sales specialists, flight operation co-odinators, aircraft engineers, ground support crew and are ready to deliver on your next production.
CAMERA OPERATORS
Mike Penman
Mike Penman
Mike Penman – Aerial Cameraman
Mike joined PLM Helicopters back in 1989 as a member of the ground crew and quickly developed an incredible knowledge of working safely in and around helicopters on all kinds of tasks. Mike has always had a passion for photography so when presented with the opportunity to join the PDG camera system department in 2004 he began ‘learning the ropes’ and acquiring the knowledge and skills to become an aerial camera operator for various types of survey before moving onto broadcast work.
13 years on, Mike is an experienced and accomplished aerial cameraman covering TV shows, sports, live broadcast, commercials and films.
Mike is a trained operator/technician for Cineflex, GSS and Flir camera systems.
Pete Jones
Pete Jones
Pete Jones – Aerial DOP
Pete started operating cameras back in 1994 working in live events, covering conferences, shows and corporate events. After gaining his helicopter pilots license (PPLH) in 1999 he was given the opportunity to operate a gyro-stabilised aerial camera system which he’s developed into a successful career.
20 years on Pete has accrued an impressive list of credits as an Aerial DOP operating many types of gyro stabilised camera systems and mounts on movies, commercials, dramas, documentaries, natural history, live broadcast, music videos and much more.
Pete also works with aerial camera system manufacturers and software companies to develop bespoke aerial camera systems and technology for special projects and has provided training courses for new camera operators on various brands of camera systems.
As well as being head of filming at PDG Aviation Services, Pete is an experienced camera system technician for Flir, Cineflex, GSS and Shotover aerial camera systems and is also an experienced data wrangler.
Dave Baillie
David Baillie
David Baillie – Aerial DOP
David is a Bafta and Emmy award winning DoP/cinematographer for drama, documentaries and commercials. Co-founder of Wildcat Films, one of the UK’s longest established independent drama, documentary and corporate production company. Production experience in over 90 countries and with specialist experience in aerial filming, drones, remote areas, war zones and polar regions. Able to work as a main unit DoP or Director/DoP on 2nd Unit. Conversant with most digital cameras, as well as Da Vinci Resolve, FC Pro, Adobe After Effects, & Avid. Own Arri Alexa camera, lenses, grip, etc.
Occasional broadcaster for BBC’s “From Our Own Correspondent”. Also available for lectures on filming across the globe from wars to wildlife. Delivered the Scott Polar Research Institute Centenary Lecture.
FILM PILOTS
Clark Priestley
Clark Priestley BIO
Clark Priestley – Film Pilot
Clark has been flying in the civil sector since 1999 and to date has flown 6000 hours on twelve different helicopter types.
His flying career has seen him flying in Europe, the Caribbean and the Himalayas. The last ten years have been spent with PDG operating across the British Isles in a variety of roles but it is in the aerial filming tasks that he finds the most satisfaction.
Notable jobs include covering cycling’s Giro D’Italia ‘Gran Fondo’ through Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in 2014. “Getting to film the sprint to the line in the center of Dublin was a real privilege, pressured but very satisfying to do” Clark said. The filming of a Royal Navy nuclear submarine of the Scottish coast was also one to remember. “Been allowed that close to such a vessel was great, they weren’t going to wait for us though! We had to get our shots first time”.
Clark has also worked on various TV, film and music video productions working closely with the producers and directors to achieve their goals, from logistically setting up the site to capturing the shot they want.
Clark is PDG’s Chief Training Captain and is current on the AS350, AS355 series and the AS365 Dauphin aircraft. He has worked with various camera systems from Tyler side mounts right through to the latest Shotover gyro-stabilised systems.
David Blane
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David Blane – Chief Pilot
David began his flying career as a British Army door-gunner in the mighty Westland Lynx, serving several tours overseas and in Northern Ireland before applying for and being selected for flight training in 2001.
He flew single and multi-engine helicopters in the Security and Utility roles in various theaters by day, night and on NVG before leaving the Army in 2007 to join PDG.
In the last 10 years, David has filmed live broadcast events, news, documentary, television and film with PDG and 3rd party camera operators using various camera systems from handheld cameras to gyro-stabilised IMAX systems.
John McKenzie
