Airmedia360 adapts its fleet of drones to be able to undertake filming of cinemas in cities after the drastic change in regulations

After making a technical investment of more than 3,500 euros per aircraft to meet the requirements of the new European regulations, Airmedia360 defends its position as the “first operator authorized” to shoot with cinema drones in urban environments in 2026.

The audiovisual sector has faced a paradigm shift: the expiration of the national standard scenario STS-ES-01 on December 31, 2025. This fact has invalidated the previous permissions, forcing operators to migrate to new European scenarios, a process that requires deep technical and administrative restructuring which has paralyzed much of the activity in the industry.

To meet this challenge, Airmedia360 has executed an exhaustive modernization plan in record time. The company has made physical adaptations in each of its aircraft, installing state-of-the-art flight termination systems and parachutes, at a cost that exceeds 3,500 euros per unit. Added to this strong economic investment is the overcoming of the stock crisis of these materials, which keeps many European fleets on the ground due to lack of supplies, and the unlocking of the registration of essential cinema drones such as the DJI Inspire 3, whose legalization suffered delays during the transitional period.

Beyond the hardware, the engineering team at Airmedia360 has completely rewritten his operational security architecture to align with EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency). This has involved the writing and validation of a new operations manual; the presentation of new operational declarations, and the preparation of new EAROS (Aeronautical Safety and Coordination Studies) specific for urban environments and CTRs. This technological and documentary adaptation has been accompanied by a rigorous training plan for the human team.

Fran Salazar, CEO of Airmedia360, highlights the effort made by the company to adapt to this new context: "The entry into force of the 2026 regulations has not been a simple procedure, but rather a brutal entry barrier for the sector. With the fall of STS-ES-01, it was not enough to have good pilots; a capital investment and a complete documentary reengineering with new EAROS and manuals. While other operators continue to look for stock or fight with bureaucracy, we are already rolling in city centers with the fully legalized Inspire 3.”