Celesta, a drone show
Celesta, service provider drone shows.
Almost everyone who sells a drone show sells nothing but that. Their answer to the question ‘drones or fireworks displays’ is therefore a foregone conclusion. Celesta operates both with its own teams, and that is precisely why we are able to tell you when a drone is not the right choice.
- Drones and fire – same production control room
- DGAC file included
- Quote within 48 hours
Discipline
A drone show, It is a flight plan rather than an image
A drone light show is a night-time display in which dozens to several hundred light drones fitted with LEDs move in swarms to form patterns in the sky, usually in time with a soundtrack. At Celesta, each drone follows a pre-calculated flight path and is guided by satellite positioning.
What happens in flight was entirely planned on the ground. A pyrotechnician can still fine-tune a launch at the last minute; a swarm cannot.
01
The story first
Images are only worthwhile if they convey something: an identity, a date, a place, or a story specific to the client.
02
Then the distance
A figure is scaled relative to the spectators’ area, not relative to the sky. It is the angle of view that determines the number of cameras.
03
The Wind Last
A swarm has flight limits that cannot be circumvented. Celesta plans the retreat whilst the code is being written, rather than waiting until nightfall.
Arbitration
Drone or fireworks display: The answer depends on your website
Celesta offers both: none of the three answers below will cost us a contract. Here are the criteria we actually apply.
The drone
When it becomes a must
A listed site, stubble fields, a bird sanctuary, a nearby hospital, land under fire alert: wherever fallout and explosions pose a problem, the swarm passes through. It can also write a legible message.
Le feu
When he wins
The drone is silent and far away: there is neither the sound of its engine nor any light flooding the crowd. Given the budget constraints, the fireworks display offers far better value for money. We’ll say it straight.
Both
When they join forces
The format that Celesta most often advocates: the swarm sets the scene, whilst the shot delivers the finale. But they still need to be written together. Entrusted to two production companies, they follow one another without responding to each other.
The regulatory framework
Flying above the crowd is an authorisation, not a declaration
This is the point that organisers tend to discover last, and the one that causes the most projects to fall through. A drone show above a crowd falls within the specific category set out in European Regulation 2019/947, which has been in force since 31 December 2020.
The case, and the responsibility that goes with it
A public procurer doesn’t need to become an expert in aviation regulations just to organise a party. Celesta handles the whole process from start to finish and takes full responsibility for it: it is our name that appears on the application.
- Risk analysis. Prepared in accordance with the SORA method, it describes the flight scenario, buffer zones and contingency procedures.
- Submission to the DGAC. The application for authorisation is made via AlphaTango, and the processing time cannot be shortened by any service provider.
- Local notifications. The Prefecture, the site operator and affected local residents: Celesta coordinates these communications rather than passing them on to you.
- The insurance certificate is automatically included. The certificate is attached to the proposal; you do not need to request it for your application to be processed.
The plots of land
‘A swarm’ isn’t spelled the same way depending on who you ask
The constraints make all the difference: an audience seated facing a stage, a park staging the same show every evening of the season, or a stadium where half-time lasts eight minutes do not call for the same kind of writing. Celesta treats these three contexts separately.
A whole season
Theme parks
The show becomes a fixture: it is performed every evening and is intended to extend the duration of the visit. Celesta’s writing is geared towards repeat performances rather than a one-night-only spectacle.
Go to the page
On a pipe
Concerts and festivals
Here, Celesta’s ensemble does not take the lead; it provides accompaniment. It follows a score written by others, adapts to stage delays and steps back as soon as the action takes centre stage again.
Go to the page
A short window
Sporting events
The slot is short, non-negotiable and is sometimes rescheduled at the last minute. The flight takes off on command, stays within the allocated time slot and vacates the airspace without question.
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Budget guidelines
How much does it cost? a drone show
A local authority finalises its budget well before selecting a service provider, and any missing figure is quickly replaced by an inaccurate estimate. Here is the threshold applied by Celesta, and what causes the quote to increase from that point onwards.
48 h
To request a quote
You will receive a letter of intent and a quote, signed by a Celesta operator rather than a sales representative.
What determines the price
Weight as stated on the quote
Number of devices
Decisive
Content written just for you
Strong
Flight duration
Moderate
Distance from the site
Secondary
Drone light show: from
10 000 €
This threshold does not depend on the size of the client: it is determined by the fleet, the pilots and the authorisation required for a flight. The price already includes the paperwork, the technical inspection, setting up the take-off area, processing the application, operations and restoration. There are no comfort-related add-ons at Celesta.
The timetable
The clock that counts is not ours
It takes a few weeks to write a flight plan and compile it. Obtaining permission to fly over a public gathering takes even longer, and this delay is beyond your control and that of Celesta. It is this factor that determines the date on which you should contact us.
2 to 3 months beforehand
The lead time. This is the period of time required to plan the flight and process the authorisation application.
48 hours later
The time between your call and the first written quotation, signed by a service provider rather than a sales representative.
Two professions
All cutting and sawing work is carried out by Celesta’s own staff, from marking out to dismantling, with no subcontracting.
Just one name
On the application for authorisation, as well as at the bottom of the contract. In the event of an incident, it is clear who is liable without the need for an investigation.
Recent flights
The Skies which Celesta made fly
Each record specifies the location, the flight number and what was deployed during the flight. Please enquire by telephone about upcoming public events.
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Pyrotechnic display featuring drones in Buchy
View the project: Pyrotechnic display featuring drones in BuchyA demonstration to showcase the new hybrid formats In Buchy, Celesta organised a technical demonstration combining a pyrotechnic display and…
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Marly-le-Roi Town Festival: A Drone Show and Fireworks Display
View the project: Marly-le-Roi Town Festival: A Drone Show and Fireworks DisplayA town celebration in the heart of a royal park The Fête de Marly returns every June to the grounds…
Let’s talk about your date
Tell us the website, We’ll let you know if it’s the drone
Please provide us with the venue, date and capacity. Within 48 hours, you will receive a letter of intent and a detailed quote, signed by a Celesta operations manager rather than a sales representative. If a one-off performance would better suit your project than a series of events, we will let you know in the same document.
Before you ring us
The six questions the ones we’re asked most often
How much does a drone show cost?
A drone light show starts at 10,000 euros. This threshold does not depend on the size of the client: it is determined by the fleet, the pilots and the authorisation required for the flight. The cost then increases with the number of drones, which is determined by the distance from the audience and the complexity of the manoeuvres, and further by the duration of the flight and the distance from the venue. The price ranges published by Celesta by local authority size relate to pyrotechnics, not drones.
How does a drone show work?
Each drone is fitted with an LED and follows a pre-calculated flight path, guided by satellite positioning. All the flight paths together form a flight plan that is compiled, checked and finalised before the performance, and triggered by an audio track. Unlike a live performance, nothing is adjusted on the night itself: a drone show is entirely choreographed on the ground.
How many drones are needed?
The number is determined by the size of the viewing area, not by a catalogue. The further away the audience is, the more drones are needed for a formation to remain visible. Celesta determines the size of the swarm following a site visit, ranging from a few dozen to several hundred drones. To give an idea of the scale of the most spectacular displays, on 14 July 2024, 1,571 drones formed Mickey Mouse’s head above Disneyland Paris – a record recognised by Guinness World Records.
What authorisations are required in France?
A flight over the public falls within the specific category set out in European Regulation 2019/947, which has been in force since 31 December 2020. It requires a risk assessment drawn up in accordance with the SORA method and an operating authorisation to be applied for from the DGAC via AlphaTango, in addition to local notifications to the prefecture and the site manager. Celesta drafts, submits and manages this application.
Are drones really more environmentally friendly than a fireworks display?
On site and on the evening itself, yes: no fallout, no combustion residue, no detonation, which makes it suitable for sensitive areas and nocturnal wildlife. The comparison is less clear-cut when it comes to the manufacture and transport of the devices. As Celesta manufactures both, our position is simple: a drone should be chosen to meet a specific site requirement, not simply to ease one’s conscience.
Can we display a logo or a message?
Yes, and that’s what the swarm does best: a shape, a number, a name or a pictogram can be seen from across the square and are clearly visible during filming. It’s also the one thing that a fireworks display can’t do, and often the real reason for choosing a drone.