BLACKSTAR Helicopters, Inc.

Blackstar Helicopters’ team has years of experience flying all types of camera mounts in all types of situations.  This experience encompasses conventional camera mounts like TYLER Mounts to high-tech externally mounted gyro-stabilized camera systems like Pictorvision, Spacecam, and Gyron.

Choosing the proper helicopter cameraship and choosing the proper camera mount is critical to “getting the shot.”  BlackStar’s experience will ensure all aspects of the shot are discussed with the Aerial DP and make a safe and intelligent choice of helicopters and camera mounts that will achieve the desired expectations.

Whether it’s chasing a car or chasing the sun, John Tamburro is an expert at interpreting the Aerial DP’s or aerial camera operator’s objective and flying the helicopter to get the desired shot.  As camera pilot, John can obtain the Director’s creative vision from the air.

BlackStar’s team possesses special aviation mission capabilities that the average helicopter company does not.  Any non-standard flight operation can be considered a special operation and requires expertise, training and experience to accomplish safely.  Team Blackstar is well versed in all types of special operations missions and has had the privilege to work with some of the best stunt professionals in the motion picture industry.

All stunt activity is well planed out and rehearsed to ensure the greatest degree of safety and mission accomplishment.  Communication is essential for these types of endeavors and BlackStar covers this aspect with experienced and qualified aviation ground safety personnel with ground-to-air radios, in many cases, production pilots.

• Close air-to-air formation flight with multiple aircraft.
• High-speed low-level flight activities (car chases & cameraship operations).
• Stunt transfers from helicopter to ground vehicles or watercraft (and vise versa).
• Safe flying in close proximity to film crews, stunt personnel, pyrotechnics, Musco lights, condor lifts and other production obstacles.
• On camera, on cue timing maneuvers to hit established marks consistently.
• Live-fire gunship operations and airborne use of force missions.
• External Load operations to include flying living persons under the helicopter.
• Fast-Rope, Rappel, Rescue Hoist, rope ladder, and Helo-casting operations.