The Apprentice Series 18
Aerial Filming for The Apprentice Series 18
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@gbconcierge.co.uk or complete the form below.
The Apprentice is available to watch on BBC One and iPlayer.
Helicopter Picture Ships for Fool Me Once
Netflix - Fool Me Once
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 1st 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@gbconcierge.co.uk or by completing the form below.
Special Operations Platform
Film and TV purposes
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@gbconcierge.co.uk or call us on 0800 030 4105
Series 17 The Apprentice
The Apprentice
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.
Series 5 Celebrity Hunted
Stand up 2 Cancer - Celebrity Hunted
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.
Guys’ Great British Power Trip
GUY MARTIN INVESTIGATING UK POWER SOURCES
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@gbconcierge.co.uk.
Aerial Filming services
Guy's Great British Power Trip is available to watch on All 4.
The Traitors
What is BBC One The Traitors about?
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.
Ultimate Hell Week - The Professionals
RTE's Ultimate Hell Week
Ireland’s most brutal reality TV show returned to our screens. Participating in the most difficult and physically demanding challenges organised by an elite team of former special forces soldiers for series 5: Ultimate Hell Week. Twenty of Irelands’ most well-known faces, including social media influencers, entertainers, and sporting legends, challenge their minds, bodies, and souls.
Despite getting little sleep each night, the celebrity recruits were put through challenges they could never dream they would ever encounter. Going through the key stages of the special forces highly classified selection process consequently enduring cold-water events, height challenges, claustrophobic obstacles, and various tests of strength, stamina, and resilience.
Whilst the celebrity recruits faced the special forces demanding challenges. GB Helicopters assisted with cold water events and height testing, enabling us to execute aerial stunts.
Save the Aerial Stunts for The Professionals
GB Helicopters are the first and only Helicopter operator in the UK to own a 'Special Operations Platform’. Utilising the platforms spectacularly, this production was an excellent opportunity to introduce them. As the former Special Forces, make their dramatic entrance, they prepare to ambush the celebrity recruits on a bus.
Exposing the celebrities to the bitter waters close to Cork, Ireland. We performed one of our most popular and thrilling aerial stunts - ‘Heli-jumps’. Two celebrities stood directly on the helicopter skids before plunging themselves into the cold waters.
Lastly, our final aerial stunt for this production was to stage a helicopter accident. Our pilot skilfully, stimulated the aircraft to appear it had lost control as it "exploded" into the hills, sending the recruits on yet another overwhelming mission.
Equipment Used
For this production, we used one of our twin-engine helicopters to carry out and perform the aerial stunts. Capturing the immaculate footage was drone operator Lec Park.
For viewers in Ireland, you can watch Ultimate Hell Week - The Professionals on RTÉ One every Wednesday at 21.35.
Have these fascinating scenes inspired you for your next production? Contact us at 0800 030 4105 or email us at ops@gbconcierge.co.uk to discuss how we can assist you with your production.
Aerial Stunts Enquiries
The Apprentice
BBC One’s most popular Series The Apprentice returned for their 16th series with new and exciting entrepreneurs. We have seen many successes and failures by the candidates throughout the series. All 16 candidates hoped to win Lord Sugar’s approval and his investment of £250,000 into their business.
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.
Ultimate Hell Week - The Professionals
One of the toughest reality TV shows around has returned to screens in Ireland. Ultimate Hell Week sees eighteen recruits put through an intense selection course that’s been put together by former members of Ireland’s Special Forces. This time, it’s the turn of the professionals. And taking on this daunting course are some of Ireland’s most well-known faces from the world of sport and entertainment.
Over five days, they will endure rigorous physical and mental tests. Pushed well out of their comfort zone, each recruit will have to complete cold-water events, height tests, claustrophobic challenges and interrogation, alongside demanding trials of strength, stamina and determination.
GB Helicopters was brought in to help carry out the cold-water events and height tests. Producing the incredible footage of the stunts, was drone operator Lec Park.
First up was the ‘Heli Jump’. We performed this stunt recently for Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and on numerous Bear Grylls productions.
Flying low and fast over the waters near Cork, two recruits sit nervously in the back. Accompanying them in the cabin is their course instructor and a camera operator. Ensuring there’s unrestricted movement in the back, both the rear and co-pilot seats have been removed, as have the doors on one side. The camera operator now has the freedom to perfectly capture the raw emotions of each recruit in anticipation of their jump into the cold waters.
The second stunt we carried out is one of our favourites, the ‘Long Line’. Officially termed ‘Human External Cargo’, this stunt involves one or two people being suspended on a long line underneath the helicopter. It is another stunt we’ve done frequently with Bear Grylls. It’s also how we made Harry Styles fly in the music video for his hit single Sign of the Times. No CGI required.
For Ultimate Hell Week, this was performed around the spectacular coastline and cliffs of Mizen Head. We began by flying along the coast before sweeping up to a clifftop, one the recruits had just climbed up. Coming to a hover overhead, two of the recruits were carefully secured to the line below. Once safely attached, we lifted them over the edge of the cliff and out towards the ocean. The incredible vistas making this stunt all the more spectacular. The recruits were then dropped off further down the coast, ready for their next challenge.
For those of you in Ireland, you can watch the whole series on RTE Player.
To find out how these thrilling scenes could be part of your next production, get in touch on 0800 030 4105 or at ops@gbconcierge.co.uk.
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins
Once again we find ourselves hovering over the waters just off the Isle of Raasay. This time, Ore Oduba is onboard, carefully perched on the skid of our hovering helicopter. Facing the instructor inside the aircraft, he’s given his instructions on how to perform the dive into the sea...backwards...from 20 ft. He crosses his arms over his chest, and lets himself fall blindly backwards towards the water below. This is no Strictly Come Dancing.
He is one of the 12 new recruits for the latest series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
One by one each contestant is picked up from the island and taken to the drop point. They are flown in low and fast before quickly coming to a hover, simulating a rapid military insertion. They climb out of the helicopter and onto the skid, before psyching themselves up and blindly dropping into the sea.
The stunt would be carried out in our AS355N twin-squirrel helicopter, flown by GB Helicopters Director and Chief Pilot Will Banks.
As with all our stunt work, special permissions from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) were required. We always work closely with the CAA when carrying out aerial stunt work, and our continued experience and skill in performing stunts for film and TV productions helped us gain this permission.
The third series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins started on Channel 4 on 29th August 2021 and is on at 9PM on Sundays. If you want to catch up on the action, you can do so on All 4.
Ambulance - Series 7
Sweeping down the River Mersey, the iconic Royal Liver Building comes into frame. The sun is rising behind it, bringing an end to a night of frantic activity across the city. Paramedics have been racing to people in need, but their work isn’t done, and the emergencies keep coming. It’s just another 24-hours for the North West Ambulance Service. We were there in the sky above to follow the drama for the seventh series of the BBC’s factual series, Ambulance.
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.
Helicopter ER
Helicopter ER takes you inside the hi-tech cabin of Helimed 98 & 99 of the high-speed, high-stakes world of a rapid response air emergency service. The programme follows the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, who cover 4 million acres and a population of approximately 5 million as they respond to real and extreme emergencies throughout Yorkshire. This gives everyone watching an insight into the amazing air ambulance team, the outstanding doctors and the paramedics that save lives on a daily basis.
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.
Aerial Filming for the Hunted - Series 5
Ten ordinary people are blindfolded, bundled in a van, and dropped off in an unknown location. Their task is simple, evade capture for 25 days, and win £100,000. They are being hunted by a team of former and serving police, intelligence personnel, on-foot teams, and helicopters. Using the same powers used by real security services, their job is to track down and capture the ten fugitives.
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.
Ambulance Series 4
We are delighted to reveal another
exciting aerial filming project that we have had the pleasure on working on
with Dragonfly Film and TV Productions, for documentary series Ambulance Series 4.
Ambulance is a BAFTA Award-winning
British documentary series that follows the Ambulance Services. Series 4 takes a detailed look at day-to-day emergency
responses paramedics attend in the North West as well as a revealing insight
from highly pressurised control rooms to the crews on the street.
WHAT ROLE DID GB HELICOPTERS PLAY IN THE MAKING?
Our operational task
throughout the series was to provide aerial overviews as well as tracking
emergency response vehicles on major incidents throughout the North West, with
the main content captured around the Manchester area.
Combined with one of
our ultra high definition camera systems we were able to fly in convoy with a
number of vehicles and aircraft to achieve the shots required by production. Holding
a long-term low-level flying permission that allows us to achieve these dynamic
aerial footage sequences in Ultra High Definition.
WHAT CAMERA SYSTEM AND AIRCRAFT WAS USED?
All aerial filming was captured on the state-of-the-art GSS C516 nose mounted camera system, which was configured with our Red Epic Dragon, and 30-300 Canon lens. The 30-300 lens was recommended by our aerial cinematographer for the shoot due to the variety of shots production were looking to achieve; including night time scenes.
All filming supplied by ourselves was conducted on an AS355 twin-engine aircraft, which has the correct safety performance and parameters that allow us to fly around the city centre and over built up areas.
Shooting for the series took place back in August 2018 and the series is currently being aired on BBC One.
If you would like to request further information, please do not hesitate to contact our operations team on ops@gbconcierge.co.uk or call 0800 030 4105.
The Hunted Series 4
The hunted is a reality TV series produced by Shine TV where you will see ten ordinary members of the public go on the run, trying to completely drop off the grid for up to 25 days in the chance of winning a cash prize. They will have limited financial resources and must do whatever they can to maintain a low profile against the hunters who will be using every trick in the book to track, find and catch them.
Our task throughout the series was to provide multiple aircraft for the air-to-air footage and aerial views. Using one of our AS355 twin squirrel helicopters we were able to help the hunters as one of their many ways used to track and follow the contestants.
Series 4 aired on 10th January 2019 staring with an audacious speedboat chase through Liverpool docks, as the series progresses you will see exciting vehicle and foot chases while they are on the run.
What Camera system was used?
All the aerial footage was captured with the GSS C516 and Red Epic Dragon camera. This system is renowned for its unprecedented UHD quality when supported with the 50-1000mm Cine lens. The nose mounted camera system was rigged to one of our AS355 twin squirrel aircraft.
Where there any permissions involved?
At GB Helicopters we hold a low-level flying permission which allows us to track and vehicles and people closely achieving the shots required by production teams. As we were flying over Liverpool we liaised with Liverpool air traffic control as we were in their zone.
How do I find out if any permissions are needed for my production?
We understand that each production is completely unique. To discuss what tasks are achievable or simply if you would like any more information on helicopter aerial filming or the camera systems available for TV and Film, please do not hesitate to contact our operations team on ops@gbconcierge.co.uk or calling 0800 030 4105
999 Rescue Squad Series 2
999 Rescue Squad Series 2
We are delighted to reveal another exciting aerial filming project that we have had the pleasure on working on with Air Television, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Ambulance Services.
999 Rescue Squad series 1 and 2 – Is a landmark UKTV original documentary series, where Air Television go behind-the-scenes of HART, The Yorkshire Ambulance Service’s ‘Hazardous Area Response Team”. One of the 15 specialist medical units set up after 7/7 London bombings. Providing unprecedented access, viewers can witness first hand the camaraderie and courage of the men and women who risk their lives to save ours.
What role did GB Helicopters play in the making?
Our operational task throughout the series was to provide air-to-air footage, aerial overviews as well as tracking emergency response vehicles on major incidents.
Holding a long-term low-level flying permission that allows us to achieve dynamic aerial footage in Ultra High Definition throughout the UK. Combined with one of our ultra high definition camera systems we were able to fly in convoy with a number of vehicles and aircraft to achieve the shots required by production.
What camera system and aircraft was used?
All aerial filming was captured on the state-of-the-art GSS C516 nose mounted camera system, which was configured with our Red Epic Dragon, and 50-1000 Canon lens. The system was rigged to one of our AS355 twin-engine aircraft.
When is the series Airing?
Shooting for the series took place back in October 2018 and the series is currently being aired on Channel W.
Every Tuesday, between the 8th January to the 12th March 2019, at 22:00.
If you would like to request any further information on the aerial camera systems available, or aerial filming availability and bookings please do not hesitate to contact our operations team on ops@gbconcierge.co.uk or call 0800 030 4105.
