WIND CEILING
12 mph sustained is the hard limit. Gusts above 15 mph ground the aircraft even if the average reads lower.
AERIAL WORK
DRONE WEATHER POLICY.
Drone photography and aerial video are entirely weather dependent. For safety, legal compliance and image quality, I fly in conditions up to a gentle breeze (Beaufort force 3, roughly 8–12 mph) and no higher.
RAIN & MOISTURE
Drones are not waterproof. Persistent drizzle, wet snow or low cloud below flight height means no flight.
LIGHT & VISIBILITY
Aerials need clear line of sight. Fog, heavy haze or failing light stop the flight regardless of wind.
THE BEAUFORT WIND SCALE.
This is the scale used to assess whether a drone shoot can go ahead. Levels 0–3 are flyable; level 4 and above are not.
| LEVEL | SPEED (MPH) | DESCRIPTION | DRONE BEHAVIOUR | FLY? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0–1 | Calm | Perfect conditions. Ideal for smooth, locked-off aerial stills and cinematic moves. | YES |
| 1 | 1–3 | Light air | Excellent flying conditions — no noticeable effect on stability or image quality. | YES |
| 2 | 4–7 | Light breeze | Still safe and productive. Minor corrections needed, footage remains steady. | YES |
| 3 | 8–12 | Gentle breeze | Our operational limit. Flyable with caution — slower moves, shorter flight time. | AT LIMIT |
| 4 | 13–18 | Moderate breeze | No fly. Gusts destabilise the airframe, drain battery and soften footage. | NO |
| 5 | 19–24 | Fresh breeze | No fly. Unsafe over property, vehicles and people. | NO |
| 6+ | 25+ | Strong breeze or above | No fly under any circumstances. | NO |
HOW RESCHEDULING WORKS
- Forecasts are checked the evening before and again on the morning of the shoot.
- If wind or rain rules out aerials, the ground-based photography still goes ahead as planned.
- The drone element is rebooked for the next suitable weather window — usually within a few days.
- No extra charge for a weather-related return visit for aerials.
- Coastal and high-rise sites are more exposed, so wind limits are applied more strictly there.
WHY THE LIMIT MATTERS
Above a gentle breeze the aircraft has to fight the wind continuously. That means visible drift, micro-jitter in video, uneven exposures on stills, dramatically shorter flight times and a real risk of losing control near buildings, trees and power lines.
Flying inside safe limits is also a condition of operating legally and being insured. Holding the line at force 3 protects the property, the public and the quality of the final images.