Helicopter Filming & High-Altitude Aerials Photography in Nepal
Helicopter Filming & Photography in Nepal
Aerial Cinematography Above the Himalayas
There are places in Nepal that reveal themselves properly only from the air. A mountain face that takes hours to reach on foot can pass beneath a helicopter in minutes. A valley suddenly makes sense when you see the rivers, settlements and ridgelines together. And sometimes the photograph you have been imagining simply does not exist from the ground. It requires the aircraft, the right camera, the right position, the right light and a crew that understands how to bring all of those things together.
Location Nepal provides helicopter filming and aerial photography production services for international filmmakers, photographers, broadcasters, advertising agencies, documentary teams, brands, scientific and environmental organisations and professional productions working in Nepal.
We coordinate the production around the aircraft, rather than simply arranging a helicopter and leaving the rest to the creative team.
Depending on the project, this can include helicopter charter, high altitude pilots, camera systems, aerial mounts and gimbals, open door photography, specialist lenses, aerial cinematography, permits, aviation coordination, safety planning, insurance, fuel planning, rescue and contingency arrangements.
We work with helicopter operators and aviation partners to arrange appropriate aircraft such as AS350 and other suitable platforms, including larger aircraft where the production requirements call for them. Camera systems can range from high resolution stills and medium format systems to professional cinema cameras, RED systems, global shutter cameras and specialist aerial imaging systems.
For photographers, Location Nepal can also arrange open door helicopter photography experiences where the aircraft, route, doors, safety procedures, flight profile and photographic requirements are planned specifically around the image making process.
This is particularly relevant to Himalayan photography, where the difference between an ordinary flight and a properly planned aerial photography mission can be enormous.
Gautam Dhimal brings more than two decades of aerial photography experience to this work and has been working with aerial imaging systems in Nepal since 2005. As Executive Producer and Line Producer of Location Nepal, he brings the creative and production sides together, from the first flight plan to the final image.
We do not simply put a helicopter in the air. We build the aerial production around what you need to capture.
Helicopter Filming for Film & Television
When the Story Needs to Leave the Ground
Aerial cinematography in Nepal can be far more demanding than a conventional helicopter flight. The aircraft may need to hold a precise position beside a mountain face, follow a moving subject through a valley, maintain a particular relationship with the sun or return to the same route repeatedly as weather and light change.
Location Nepal works with international film, television, documentary, commercial and OTT productions that require professionally planned helicopter filming in Nepal.
We coordinate the production around the creative brief, aircraft capability and aviation requirements, bringing together the people and equipment needed to capture the shot safely and efficiently.
Depending on the production, we can arrange:
Helicopter charter and aircraft selection
AS350 and other suitable helicopter platforms
Larger aircraft such as MI 17 where appropriate
Professional aerial cinematography systems
RED and other high end cinema camera systems
Global shutter cameras where required
High resolution cinema lenses
Multi axis gimbal systems
Shotover and Cineflex type aerial camera systems
Custom or handheld aerial camera configurations
Camera operators and aerial specialists
High altitude experienced pilots
Aerial route and flight planning
Ground support and production coordination
Aviation permissions and documentation
Safety planning and risk assessment
Weather and light planning
Fuel and refuelling considerations
Backup routes and contingency planning
The camera system is selected according to the shot. A mountain sequence requiring stabilised long lens cinematography is a different technical problem from a documentary crew wanting a more immediate handheld perspective from an open helicopter door.
We can work with your cinematographer, aerial cinematographer or director to determine what aircraft and camera configuration makes sense before the flight is booked.
The helicopter is only the platform. The shot is the production.
International Aerial Crews & Specialist Systems
Bring Your Own Aerial System. We Will Make the Nepal Side Work.
Many international productions already have the aerial cinematographer, camera operator and specialist helicopter equipment they trust. They may arrive with a Shotover system, Cineflex, multi axis gimbal, custom helicopter mount, camera adapters or an entire aerial imaging package. What they often do not have is someone in Nepal who can coordinate everything that needs to happen around that equipment.
That is where Location Nepal comes in.
We regularly support international aerial specialists and production teams who bring their own systems into Nepal and need the local production infrastructure to make the operation possible.
Depending on the equipment and production, we can coordinate:
Temporary import of specialist aerial equipment
Customs documentation and clearance
ATA Carnet or other applicable temporary import procedures
Equipment declarations and supporting documentation
Local customs liaison
Transport of equipment from the airport or point of entry
Secure equipment storage and movement
Helicopter compatibility and technical coordination
Mounting and rigging requirements
Multi axis gimbal systems
Shotover and Cineflex type systems
Camera mounts and adapters
Specialist camera and lens packages
Power and interface requirements
Local technical support
Aviation documentation
Insurance requirements
CAAN and Ministry of Defense related coordination where applicable
Production permits and location permissions
Flight planning and safety coordination
This is an area where a production can lose a surprising amount of time if it is left until the last minute.
Travel, trekking and adventure companies sometimes find themselves handling a high altitude filming assignment for an international client without having the specialist aerial production infrastructure to support it. The aircraft may be available, but the camera system, import requirements, permissions, technical coordination and insurance can become a completely different problem.
We have often been brought into such situations because the production needs someone who knows how to connect all the pieces quickly.
Our role is not to replace the international aerial specialist.
It is to make sure they can arrive in Nepal with their equipment and concentrate on the aerial work while we take care of the local production complexity around them.
Bring the system. Bring the shot. We will help you deal with everything that has to happen in Nepal before it can fly.
Helicopter Photography in Nepal
Photography From a Helicopter Is a Different Kind of Flight
Still photography from a helicopter demands a very different approach from simply taking a camera on a sightseeing flight. The aircraft has to work with the photographer, not the other way around. The doors, seating, flight profile, altitude, speed, direction of travel, lens choice and relationship to the landscape all affect the photograph.
Location Nepal coordinates helicopter photography missions for professional photographers, editorial assignments, advertising campaigns, tourism and hospitality projects, environmental documentation and personal photography expeditions.
We can arrange the production around the photographic objective, including:
Open door helicopter photography
Dedicated photographic flights
High altitude Himalayan photography
Mountain and landscape photography
Commercial aerial photography
Tourism and destination campaigns
Environmental and climate documentation
Wildlife and conservation photography
Architecture and infrastructure photography
Fashion and editorial aerial photography
High resolution still photography
Ultra high resolution imaging
Medium format camera systems
35mm and full frame professional systems
Specialist long lenses
Multiple camera bodies and lens combinations
Flight route and timing coordination
Sunrise and sunset missions
Weather and light planning
Aircraft and pilot coordination
Safety planning and permissions
Gautam Dhimal has been working with aerial photography in Nepal since 2005 and has developed a particular approach to photographing from helicopters, including open door photography in the Himalayas.
The objective is not simply to fly over a mountain.
It is to position the aircraft so the photographer can make the photograph that could not be made from anywhere on the ground.
For serious aerial photography, the flight itself becomes part of the camera system.
High Resolution & Medium Format Aerial Photography
When the Final Image Needs More Than a View From Above
Not every aerial photograph is made for a screen. Some are intended for large format exhibition prints, books, advertising campaigns, scientific documentation, archival collections or images that need to hold extraordinary detail when enlarged. For these assignments, the camera system matters as much as the aircraft.
Location Nepal can coordinate high resolution and ultra high resolution aerial photography using professional 35mm and medium format camera systems, depending on the production requirements.
For specialist assignments, we can work with:
High resolution full frame and 35mm systems
Medium format digital cameras
Ultra high resolution imaging
High resolution prime and zoom lenses
Long focal length lenses for distant subjects
Global shutter camera systems where required
Specialist aerial camera configurations
Multiple camera setups
RAW capture workflows
Large format and exhibition photography requirements
Medium format can be particularly powerful in the Himalayas, where fine detail across enormous landscapes can become part of the image itself. Rock, ice, snow, glacial formations, atmospheric layers and distant ridgelines can remain visible at a level that changes the way the photograph works when printed large.
For commercial and documentary productions, the camera system is selected around the final use rather than simply choosing the highest specification available.
A billboard, a museum print, a coffee table book, an advertising campaign and an archival master may all require different approaches.
We can help determine the appropriate combination of aircraft, flight profile, camera, lens and capture format before the mission begins.
When the photograph needs to survive a very large print, we plan for that before we take off.
Specialist Aerial Systems & International Expertise
When the Equipment You Need Is Not Already Here
Some aerial cinematography systems are highly specialised and are not normally available as local rental equipment in Nepal. That does not mean they cannot be used here. When a production requires a particular gimbal, helicopter mount, camera system or aerial specialist, Location Nepal can coordinate its arrival and integration into the production.
We can source specialist equipment and professionals internationally on a project basis, arrange the logistics of bringing them into Nepal and coordinate everything they need to operate with the selected aircraft and local production.
Depending on the assignment, this can include:
Multi axis aerial gimbal systems
Shotover systems
Cineflex systems
Specialist helicopter mounts
Custom camera mounting systems
Vibration isolation equipment
Professional aerial camera operators
Specialist aerial cinematographers
Camera technicians
International helicopter filming specialists
High end cinema camera systems
RED and other professional camera packages
Global shutter camera systems
Specialist lenses and accessories
Equipment can be sourced and brought into Nepal specifically for the production rather than forcing the creative team to compromise around whatever happens to be locally available.
We can coordinate the process from the international supplier or specialist through temporary import, customs, transportation, insurance, local aircraft integration and the eventual return or onward movement of the equipment.
The same applies to people.
If your production requires an aerial cinematographer, gimbal operator, specialist camera technician or another professional who is not based in Nepal, we can help bring the right person into the production for the required period.
This allows an international production to build the aerial package around the shot rather than around the limitations of the local rental market.
If Nepal does not have the system you need, we can work on bringing the system you need to Nepal.
Aviation Permissions & Aerial Safety
The Flight Plan Is Part of the Production Plan
Aerial filming is not simply a matter of booking a helicopter and choosing a mountain to fly towards. The proposed route, altitude, aircraft, equipment, crew, filming activity and location can all affect the permissions and safety planning required before the helicopter leaves the ground.
Location Nepal coordinates the aviation and production side with the relevant authorities, helicopter operators, pilots and specialist aerial teams so that the creative requirements are considered alongside the operational requirements.
Depending on the assignment, this can involve:
Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal coordination
Ministry of Defense related permissions where applicable
Flight and route planning
Restricted airspace considerations
High altitude flight planning
Aircraft and pilot coordination
Camera and equipment declarations
Aerial filming permissions
Drone and helicopter operations planning
Risk assessments
Weather and visibility monitoring
Emergency response planning
Rescue and evacuation considerations
Fuel and refuelling planning
Alternative routes and backup plans
Ground crew and communications
Aviation insurance requirements
For high altitude work, planning needs to account for much more than the distance between two points. Weather can change quickly, aircraft performance is affected by altitude and temperature, visibility can disappear within minutes and the photographic opportunity may exist for only a short window.
We therefore coordinate the aerial operation around the actual conditions expected for the mission, while the final flight operation remains under the authority of the licensed aircraft operator and pilot.
The creative team should know what is possible.
The pilot should know exactly what the production is asking for.
And everyone should understand the limits before takeoff.
Good aerial cinematography starts with a safe and properly planned flight.
Helicopter Operations for Remote & High Altitude Productions
When the Aircraft Is Also Your Production Base
In the Himalayas, the helicopter can be much more than a camera platform. It may be the only practical way to move a small crew, specialist equipment and essential supplies between locations, or to reach a filming position that would otherwise take days of travel.
Location Nepal can coordinate helicopter operations as part of a wider production plan, working with appropriate aviation operators and local production teams.
Depending on the assignment, we can help arrange:
High altitude helicopter charters
Point to point production flights
Dedicated aerial filming flights
Open door photography flights
Crew and equipment transfers
Remote location access
Mountain landing coordination where permitted
Fuel and refuelling planning
Standby aircraft arrangements where appropriate
Alternative routes
Weather contingency planning
Emergency and rescue planning
Ground transportation connections
Accommodation and field logistics
Local guides and support personnel
Aircraft selection depends on the mission. A lightweight helicopter may be ideal for a specialised photography flight with minimal equipment, while a larger aircraft may be required when the production needs to move more people, equipment or supplies.
We work with helicopter operators to identify an aircraft suitable for the specific production rather than treating every aerial assignment as the same type of flight.
For remote productions, the aircraft can also become part of the wider logistics plan. The flight schedule needs to work with the shooting schedule, weather windows, crew movements, equipment requirements and available landing or access points.
Sometimes the helicopter gets the camera into position. Sometimes it gets the entire production there.
Fuel, Backup Routes & Contingency Planning
Because Mountain Weather Does Not Read the Call Sheet
Aerial production in Nepal needs room for reality. Mountain weather can change quickly, visibility can close in, flight routes can become unsuitable and a planned landing may no longer be possible. A good aerial production therefore needs alternatives before the first flight, not after the plan has already failed.
Location Nepal works with the aircraft operator and production team to build practical contingencies around the aerial mission.
Depending on the project, planning can include:
Fuel requirements and refuelling arrangements
Fuel drops where operationally appropriate
Primary and alternative flight routes
Alternative filming locations
Backup landing and access options
Weather monitoring
Flexible shooting windows
Aircraft availability and standby considerations
Equipment contingency
Crew movement alternatives
Emergency communication
Medical and rescue planning
Evacuation considerations
Insurance and incident documentation
This becomes especially important for productions travelling into high altitude or remote areas where there may be limited infrastructure and very few alternatives once the crew is in position.
We also understand the commercial side of the problem. A helicopter and international crew can represent a substantial daily investment. Losing an entire flight window because one small requirement was overlooked can have consequences far beyond the cost of the aircraft.
That is why we look at the aerial mission as part of the complete production schedule.
The best backup plan is the one nobody notices because the production never has to stop.
Aerial Production for Climate, Science & Conservation
Seeing the Himalayas at a Scale the Ground Cannot Show
Some stories can only be understood properly from above. Glaciers, changing snowlines, river systems, landslides, remote settlements and the relationship between mountains and people become part of a much larger picture when viewed from the air.
Location Nepal supports aerial film and photography for environmental documentation, scientific projects, conservation organisations, NGOs, research teams, broadcasters and institutions working across the Himalayas.
We can coordinate:
High resolution aerial photography
Ultra high resolution landscape imaging
Aerial documentary filming
Glacier and ice documentation
Environmental change documentation
Mountain and watershed imaging
Conservation photography
Scientific and research imagery
Remote landscape documentation
Repeat aerial imaging missions
Fixed route photographic surveys
Helicopter based photography
Drone and aircraft based imaging where appropriate
Secure data handling and delivery
For projects intended to document change over time, the production can also be planned around repeatable routes, camera systems, focal lengths, flight profiles and geographic references so that future missions can be compared with earlier imagery.
This creates something more valuable than a collection of spectacular aerial photographs.
It creates a visual record.
Gautam Dhimal's long experience photographing Nepal from the air has also led to work focused on the Himalayas as a changing landscape, including the wider Until We Act project.
From above, the Himalayas become more than mountains. They become a landscape we can measure, remember and understand.
Until We Act, the Mountains Will Keep Changing
Nepal’s Himalayas deserve to be remembered before they disappear.
The Himalayas are changing faster than many of us can comprehend. Aerial photography gives us a way to see those changes at a scale that ground based images cannot always reveal, while creating a visual record for future generations.
Until We Act is an ongoing visual documentation initiative looking at Nepal’s changing mountains, landscapes, communities and the systems connected to them.
The helicopter is only one of many ways this story can be documented. What matters is building a body of visual evidence that can be seen, studied, shared and remembered
Why Location Nepal for Helicopter Filming & Photography
The Aircraft Is Only One Part of the Equation
Booking a helicopter is relatively easy. Producing a successful aerial shoot in Nepal is a different matter.
The aircraft needs to be right for the camera system. The camera needs to be right for the image. The pilot needs to understand the operating environment. The permissions need to be in place. Specialist equipment may need to come from another country. Insurance, customs, fuel, weather, backup routes and emergency planning all need to work together.
This is where our production experience matters.
Location Nepal brings together the creative, technical and logistical sides of aerial production. We can work with your existing aerial cinematographer or photographer, bring in international specialists when required, arrange specialist equipment on a project basis and coordinate the local production around them.
Our experience covers:
Film and television aerial cinematography
Commercial and advertising productions
Documentary and factual filming
Professional still photography
Medium format aerial photography
High resolution and ultra high resolution imaging
Open door helicopter photography
High altitude Himalayan operations
Specialist aerial camera systems
International aerial crews
Temporary import and customs coordination
Aviation permissions and local authority liaison
Safety and risk planning
Insurance and production compliance
Helicopter charter and logistics
Remote location production
Data management and post production handover
And because we are a production company rather than simply an aircraft broker, the helicopter mission can be connected to everything else your production may need in Nepal.
Locations. Crew. Permits. Equipment. Accommodation. Transportation. Catering. Data. Post production. Local suppliers. Emergency support.
One local production team can coordinate the pieces.
You may only need the helicopter for a few hours. We know how much work it can take to make those few hours count.
From Last Minute Problem to Aerial Production
When the Client Is Already Coming and the Clock Is Running
Not every helicopter production arrives in Nepal with six months of preparation. Sometimes an international client is already travelling, a trekking or adventure company has secured the assignment, an aircraft has been discussed and suddenly everyone discovers that the aerial production requirements are much more complicated than expected.
The specialist camera system is not in Nepal. The aerial mount needs to be imported. Customs needs documentation. A particular pilot or aerial cinematographer is required. The proposed flight needs additional permissions. Insurance needs to be confirmed. The schedule has already been promised.
This is where our experience can make a real difference.
Location Nepal is often brought into productions because we understand how to connect these separate problems quickly. We can step into an existing production, assess what is missing and coordinate the local solution with the client, operator and specialist aerial team.
Depending on the situation, we can help with:
Aircraft and operator coordination
Specialist aerial crew
International equipment sourcing
Temporary equipment imports
Customs and clearance
Camera mounts and gimbal systems
Camera and lens packages
Aviation permissions
Insurance requirements
Safety and risk assessments
Fuel and route planning
Backup arrangements
Local production crew
Ground logistics
Accommodation and transportation
Data and media handling
The ideal time to bring us in is before the problem exists.
But if the flight is already being discussed and something important is missing, call us anyway.
We are used to working out the practical solution when the clock is already running.
Sometimes production magic is simply knowing who to call when everyone else says it cannot be done.
Open Door Himalayan Photography
A Different Way to Photograph the Himalayas
For Gautam Dhimal, helicopter photography is not simply another way of sightseeing from above. It is a way of working with the landscape at close range, with the aircraft becoming part of the photographic process.
Since beginning aerial photography in Nepal in 2005, Gautam has developed a particular approach to open door helicopter photography, creating opportunities for photographers to work directly with the Himalayan landscape rather than photographing it through a conventional passenger window.
These flights can be planned specifically around photography, taking into account the mountains being photographed, direction of light, weather, altitude, aircraft positioning, lens selection and the photographer's preferred way of working.
Location Nepal can coordinate the complete production around the flight, including:
Dedicated helicopter charter
Open door photographic configuration
Aircraft and pilot coordination
High altitude flight planning
Photography permits and permissions
Professional camera systems
Medium format photography
High resolution and ultra high resolution capture
Long lens configurations
Sunrise and sunset opportunities
Weather and visibility planning
Safety procedures
Ground transportation
Accommodation and wider expedition logistics
The experience can be designed for a professional photographer, an editorial assignment, a commercial campaign, a fine art project or a private photographic expedition.
It is deliberately different from a sightseeing flight.
The objective is to give the photographer the freedom, proximity and time needed to make serious photographs from the air while the production team manages everything around the flight.
The Himalayas look different when you are photographing them with the door open.
What We Can Arrange
From a Simple Flight to a Complete Aerial Production
Not every aerial assignment needs the same level of production. Some photographers need a few carefully planned hours in the air. A feature film may require a specialist gimbal system, aerial cinematographer and several days of aviation coordination. A scientific project may need repeatable routes and high resolution imaging over a much longer period.
We can build the aerial operation around what the assignment actually requires.
Aircraft & Flight
Helicopter charter
Suitable aircraft selection
AS350 and comparable platforms
Larger helicopters such as MI 17 where appropriate
High altitude experienced pilots
Dedicated photography flights
Dedicated filming flights
Crew and equipment transfers
Remote location access
Fuel and refuelling planning
Backup routes and contingency arrangements
Cameras & Aerial Systems
Professional cinema cameras
RED camera systems
Global shutter cameras
High resolution 35mm systems
Medium format cameras
Ultra high resolution still imaging
Specialist lenses
Multi axis gimbals
Shotover type systems
Cineflex type systems
Helicopter mounts and adapters
Open door handheld systems
International specialist aerial systems
Production & Permissions
Aerial production management
CAAN coordination
Ministry of Defense related permissions where applicable
Location permissions
Temporary equipment imports
Customs coordination
Insurance coordination
Risk assessments
Safety planning
Local aerial specialists
International aerial specialists
Ground production crew
Transportation and accommodation
Data management and secure media handling
The important part is that these do not have to be sourced separately by the client.
We can coordinate the pieces as one production, including bringing specialist people or equipment into Nepal when the assignment requires something that is not normally available locally.
Tell us the shot you need. We will work backwards to the aircraft, camera and production required to capture it.
How We Plan a Helicopter Shoot
The Best Aerial Images Are Usually Planned Before the Helicopter Arrives
A successful aerial mission begins long before the aircraft takes off. We start with what needs to be captured, then work backwards through the geography, season, light, aircraft, camera system, permissions and people required to make the mission possible.
For a new assignment, we typically look at:
1. The Creative Brief
What needs to be photographed or filmed? Which mountains, landscapes, people, routes or activities matter? Is the priority a single hero image, a sequence for a film, a commercial campaign or a larger body of documentation?
2. The Location
We study the proposed areas, access, altitude, surrounding terrain and practical flight possibilities. Where useful, we can combine satellite research, existing location knowledge and local reconnaissance.
3. The Aircraft
The aircraft is selected according to the mission, crew, equipment, altitude, duration and camera configuration rather than simply choosing the most readily available helicopter.
4. The Camera
We determine whether the assignment calls for a RED or other cinema system, global shutter camera, high resolution 35mm system, medium format camera, specialist aerial package or an open door still photography configuration.
5. The Aerial System
If a stabilised gimbal, helicopter mount, Shotover type system, Cineflex type system or another specialist configuration is required, we can source and bring in the appropriate equipment and technical personnel on a project basis.
6. Permissions & Compliance
We identify the aviation, location, filming, photography and equipment import requirements that apply to the mission and coordinate them with the relevant authorities and professionals.
7. Safety & Contingency
Weather, fuel, route options, aircraft limitations, emergency procedures, rescue considerations and alternative plans are incorporated before the flight.
8. The Flight Window
Mountain light and weather can change quickly. We work with the operator and creative team to identify the most useful flight window and keep enough flexibility for the conditions on the day.
9. The Image
Ultimately, everything comes back to the photograph or sequence.
The aircraft, pilot, camera, lens, permissions and production plan are there to serve the image.
We plan the flight backwards from what you want to see in the final frame.
Frequently Asked Questions
Helicopter Filming & Photography in Nepal
Can you arrange a helicopter specifically for filming or photography?
Yes. We coordinate helicopter charters around the requirements of the production, including aircraft selection, pilot coordination, flight planning, permissions, camera systems and safety.
Which helicopters can you arrange?
Aircraft availability depends on the date, location, altitude, payload and production requirements. Depending on the assignment, we can coordinate platforms such as AS350 and other suitable helicopters, as well as larger aircraft such as MI 17 where appropriate.
Can you arrange helicopter filming for international productions?
Yes. We regularly support international film, television, documentary, commercial and photography productions that need aerial work in Nepal.
Can you arrange professional aerial cinematography systems?
Yes. Where a production requires specialist systems such as multi axis gimbals, Shotover or Cineflex type systems, helicopter mounts or other professional aerial configurations, we can coordinate sourcing and project based import of the required equipment.
Are Shotover and Cineflex systems available for rental in Nepal?
Specialist aerial systems are not necessarily available locally as standard rental equipment. When a production requires them, we can help source the appropriate system internationally and coordinate its temporary import, customs clearance, transport and integration with the aircraft and production.
Can you bring an international aerial cinematographer to Nepal?
Yes. If the production requires a specialist aerial cinematographer, gimbal operator, camera technician or another professional who is not locally available, we can help coordinate their participation on a project basis.
Can our own aerial team bring their equipment?
Yes. We can help coordinate temporary import, customs documentation, local transportation, insurance and other practical requirements for specialist aerial equipment being brought into Nepal.
Can you arrange temporary import and customs clearance for aerial equipment?
Yes. We can coordinate the local process for professional equipment being temporarily brought into Nepal, including the documentation and customs liaison required for the specific shipment.
Can you arrange open door helicopter photography?
Yes. Dedicated open door helicopter photography can be arranged where the aircraft, operator, location and applicable permissions allow it. The flight is planned specifically around the photographer's requirements rather than as a standard sightseeing flight.
Who is Gautam Dhimal?
Gautam Dhimal is a Nepali photographer and filmmaker who has been working with aerial photography in Nepal since 2005. He is also the Executive Producer and Line Producer of Location Nepal and brings both photographic and production experience to helicopter based imaging projects.
Can professional photographers book a dedicated Himalayan helicopter photography flight?
Yes. Dedicated photographic missions can be developed around the photographer's objectives, including aircraft selection, open door configuration where appropriate, route, altitude, light, lenses, safety and wider expedition logistics.
Can you arrange medium format aerial photography?
Yes. Depending on the aircraft, flight configuration and assignment, we can coordinate medium format camera systems for high resolution and ultra high resolution aerial still photography.
Can you arrange 35mm or full frame professional camera systems?
Yes. Professional full frame and 35mm systems can be incorporated into the aerial package according to the photographic or cinematographic requirements.
Can you arrange RED cameras for helicopter filming?
Yes. RED and other professional cinema systems can be sourced or incorporated into the production depending on the required configuration.
Can you arrange global shutter cameras?
Where the production requires a global shutter system, we can help source an appropriate camera package on a project basis.
Can you arrange specialist lenses?
Yes. Lens selection can be planned around the aircraft, distance from the subject, desired perspective and final image requirements. Specialist lenses can be sourced when necessary.
Can you arrange helicopter filming at high altitude?
Yes, subject to aircraft capability, pilot qualifications, weather, permissions and operational limitations. High altitude missions require additional planning around aircraft performance, payload, weather and emergency considerations.
Can you arrange CAAN permissions?
We can coordinate the relevant aviation requirements with the appropriate authorities and aviation operators. Final approvals remain with the competent authorities.
Is Ministry of Defense permission required?
Some aerial operations or locations may require additional government clearance. We assess the proposed route and activity and coordinate the applicable requirements.
Can you arrange aerial safety and risk assessments?
Yes. We can coordinate production specific risk assessments and safety planning with the aircraft operator and relevant specialists.
Can you arrange fuel drops or refuelling?
Where operationally appropriate and permitted, we can coordinate fuel and refuelling requirements as part of the flight plan.
What happens if the weather changes?
Weather contingency is built into the aerial production plan. We can work with the operator to identify alternative flight windows, routes or locations where practical.
Can you arrange backup aircraft?
Where the production schedule and aircraft availability make it practical, standby or alternative aircraft arrangements can be explored. This depends on the location, aircraft type and operational requirements.
Can the helicopter also transport our crew and equipment?
Yes, subject to aircraft payload, passenger capacity, aviation regulations and the operator's assessment. Helicopter transport can be incorporated into the wider production logistics.
Can you coordinate accommodation and ground transportation too?
Yes. Helicopter operations can be integrated with the complete production, including vehicles, accommodation, local crew, guides, permits and remote location logistics.
Can you arrange insurance for helicopter filming?
We can coordinate relevant production and aviation insurance requirements with appropriate insurance providers and work alongside your existing international insurance team.
Can you provide local production crew?
Yes. Depending on the assignment, we can provide or coordinate production managers, assistants, fixers, location personnel, camera support, logistics teams and other local specialists.
Can you work with our existing helicopter company?
Yes. If you already have an aircraft operator or aviation partner, we can work alongside them and manage the Nepal production requirements around the flight.
Can you work with our existing aerial cinematographer?
Absolutely. We can provide the local production infrastructure while your aerial cinematographer concentrates on the creative and technical operation.
Can you handle the entire aerial production?
Yes. We can coordinate the aircraft, pilots, permissions, specialist equipment, aerial crew, production logistics, safety, insurance, customs and local support as required.
How far in advance should we plan a helicopter shoot?
As early as possible, especially for high altitude missions, specialist equipment imports, international aerial crews, restricted locations or productions with fixed shooting dates. Earlier planning gives us more options for aircraft, permissions, equipment and weather contingencies.
Can you help if our helicopter filming requirement is last minute?
Yes. While advance planning is always preferable, we understand that aerial assignments sometimes arrive with very little notice. If you are already facing a difficult production problem in Nepal, contact us and we will assess what can realistically be arranged.
How do we start planning a helicopter shoot in Nepal?
Send us the proposed dates, locations, type of production, number of crew, camera system, aerial requirements and anything already arranged. If you already have an aircraft operator or aerial specialist, tell us that too.
We can then work backwards from the shot and determine what needs to happen on the Nepal side.
Let’s Get Your Camera Above Nepal
From the First Flight Plan to the Final Frame
Whether you are planning a major Himalayan film, a documentary aerial sequence, a commercial campaign, a scientific expedition or a once in a lifetime photography flight, the helicopter is only one part of the production.
Location Nepal can coordinate the aircraft, pilots, permissions, specialist aerial crews, camera systems, mounts, gimbals, temporary imports, customs, insurance, safety planning, logistics and everything else required to make the aerial operation work.
And if your production already has its own helicopter operator, aerial cinematographer or specialist equipment, we can step in on the Nepal side and take care of what needs to happen here.
For photographers, we can also build dedicated open door Himalayan photography missions around the image you want to make, drawing on Gautam Dhimal's experience with aerial photography in Nepal since 2005.
Tell us what you want to capture, where you want to go and what you already have arranged.
We will work backwards from the final frame.
Ready to fly above Nepal?