Live at the Basel Carnival
When the lights go out in Basel at four in the morning and the first piccolo flutes ring out through the dark alleys, one of Switzerland’s most impressive traditions begins: the Basel Fasnacht. For three days, the city transforms into a colorful, boisterous, and sometimes mysterious spectacle that has long been known far beyond the country’s borders.
This year, we had the privilege of being part of it—not as spectators on the sidelines, but from a very special vantage point: from the air.
We produced live drone images for SRF during the Cortège. What often appears calm and matter-of-fact on television is in reality a highly concentrated effort in the midst of one of Switzerland's densest crowds.
Our team consisted of two people: a drone pilot and a spotter. While the pilot steered the drone precisely through the skies above Basel, the spotter kept a constant eye on the airspace, the surroundings, and the people below us. At the same time, we could hear the SRF live broadcast feed in our ears at all times—instructions, requests for specific shots, and changes in direction. A flying camera system integrated into an ongoing live production.
The parade wound its way through the streets: elaborately decorated floats, hundreds of carnival-goers in elaborate masks, drums, piccolos, and thousands of spectators lining the route. Every scene was unique, every moment fleeting.
Such operations are only permitted under very strict conditions. Our flights were conducted under SORA certification for operations over populated areas and crowds. This authorization requires extensive risk analyses, safety plans, and precise mission planning—and it is one of the most demanding operational permits in the European drone sector.
In fact, there are only a few operators in Europe that hold the necessary SORA authorization for flights over crowds.
For us, this project was therefore not just about technical precision, but also about trust—from government agencies, production teams, and event organizers. And at the same time, it was one of those moments when working with drones feels a bit like a little adventure.
While the carnival parade wound its way through the streets below us, the camera hovered calmly above the scene, broadcasting the images live on television.
A quick glimpse of the city from above—and right in the heart of it, a tradition that has been alive for centuries.