Wider angle lenses will tend to help problems of unsteadiness or vibration, except that the wider the lens angle, the more restricted the camera moves (e.g. in the open doorway of a Cessna 182, with a 7mm lens designed for super-16mm., you have to lean out quite a long way into the airstream in order to keep the wing tip, wing strut, wheel and tail plane out of frame, and there is therefore no room for moving the camera in shot - the shot has to be flown by the pilot and all the camera operator can do is to hold the camera steady.)
Normal frame speed is 24/25 fps - generally speaking, a higher frame speed will tend to help problems of unsteadiness or vibration. However, if you film everything at 75 fps your 10 minute 400 foot roll will only last 3 minutes and 20 seconds.
The aircraft working environment is a specialised one: the camera operator needs to feel comfortable in it. With the aircraft door removed, and making extreme manoeuvres, with bumpy air, vibration, wind, and cold, you can feel quite exposed. With the proper harnesses for the operator and the equipment, however, you learn to relax. It is, however, very important to have a high standard of self discipline and order in the aircraft: as a camera operator, you are usually on your own in the rear cabin, and the pilot will have his back to you. Loose articles will blow about and disappear out of the door. Very careful thought must be applied before take off so you have exactly what you need within reach and securely stowed until required. And it will be the pilot's responsibility to ensure that you know, before take off, exactly what you must do in the event of any aircraft emergency.
It is important to know the pilot's level of flying experience; some production companies, broadcasting organisations, and production insurance companies, insist that a pilot flying a filming operation should have a minimum of a Commercial Pilot's Licence. Unfortunately, just because a pilot has that level of licence does not mean he/she is going to be any good at flying for filming, which often requires flying at very low levels and in tight places such as gorges or canyons. On the other hand we can often be too critical of a pilot's performance when evaluating footage. The aircraft's own limitations can be a deciding factor under certain conditions, for example high altitude in mountainous areas where the thinner air makes for sloppy aircraft responses; or unusual manoeuvres in a helicopter that is not designed for it. Furthermore, the director or camera operator may be keen to push the limits in order to achieve an amazing piece of footage, but it should be remembered that the pilot must always have the last word in assessing what is or is not possible, in the interests of safety.
