Each week, the iDrone team receives dozens of questions about drone shows — from wedding planners, event organizers, brand managers, and marketing executives. Many questions repeat. This article collects the 20 most-asked with honest, direct answers. If your question isn't here, send it to WhatsApp +62 817-771-343 and we'll add it in the next update.
About Concept and Scale
1. What's the minimum drones for an impactful show?
Minimum 100 drones for clear visual impact. Below that (50-80 drones), formations look 'thin' unless for very intimate venues with audiences 10-30 meters from the show point. 100 drones is the industry floor for professional shows in Indonesia.
2. How long does a drone show last?
Standard show 5-8 minutes. Premium shows with complex storylines reach 10-12 minutes. Beyond that is rarely effective as audience attention drops and drone battery approaches operational limits. Pyro drone shows (with fireworks) typically run 6-10 minutes.
3. Can drones form text or numbers?
Yes. Indonesian, English text, or numbers are all possible. Note: for text readable at audience distance, 200-300 drones are needed for sufficient 'pixel resolution'. For simple numbers (anniversary, year), 100 drones suffice.
4. Can it display a brand logo?
Absolutely — this is the most popular use case. For medium-detail logos, 200 drones suffice. For complex logos or tagline text, 300-500 drones work better.
5. Are 3D formations possible?
Yes, modern drones can form 3D objects with depth readable from audience angles. Cars, buildings, product packaging — all formable in 3D. But 3D depth needs more drones — roughly 1.5-2x multiplier compared to the same 2D formation.
About Pricing and Investment
6. What's the cost of a 100-drone show?
Range depends on animation complexity, duration, venue location, and season. Generally, 100 drones sit in entry tier and remain affordable for premium weddings and intimate corporate events. For specific figures, your concept brief will determine an accurate estimate.
7. Why do drone shows seem expensive?
Because you're not just paying for 'drone flying'. Cost components: hardware (drones + ground control station), software programming for custom animation, permits and NOTAM, insurance, equipment transport, ground crew (8-15 people for 200+ drone shows), and rehearsal. A spectacular 5-minute show requires 4-8 weeks of behind-the-scenes preparation.
8. Are there affordable packages for intimate events?
Yes, our 100-drone package is designed for intimate events with simple storylines. Package details can be discussed after brief — we don't have 'fixed packages' because every event is unique.
9. Can payment be split or installmented?
Industry standard: 30-50% down payment at contract, remaining 50-70% before or after show per milestone. Details depend on project scale and sales team negotiation.
About Weather and Safety
10. What happens if it rains on event day?
Drone shows have operational limits: light rain is still possible, heavy rain and lightning are no-go. Every iDrone contract includes weather protocols: delay 10-30 minutes, switch slots same day, or reschedule. Details are written into the contract.
11. What about strong winds?
Operational wind limit is around 10 meters/second (36 km/h). Above that, shows are delayed. For beach or mountain venues, we conduct intensive wind monitoring from D-2 to show time.
12. Can drones fall and hit audiences?
Drone-to-audience falls are very rare due to layered protocols: geofencing, auto-descent to safe zones, minimum 30-meter buffer from audience, and third-party insurance.
13. Are drone shows insured?
Yes. Every iDrone show is covered by third-party liability insurance. Coverage details are defined per contract based on show scale.
About Permits and Locations
14. Do drone shows need special permits?
Yes — required. Commercial drone shows in Indonesia need NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) from AirNav Indonesia, flight permits from Directorate General of Civil Aviation, and sometimes venue/area authority approval.
15. How long does permit processing take?
Minimum 30 days before show. For venues in controlled airspace zones (Jakarta, near airports), it can be longer. We recommend booking at least 45-60 days before event date for large shows.
16. Can shows be near airports?
Depends on distance and altitude. Some areas fall under Aviation Safety Operation Zone (KKOP) with restrictions. We do venue feasibility analysis before contracting — and will decline locations that aren't regulation-feasible, even after pricing is agreed.
17. Can shows happen in Bali, Yogya, Surabaya, or other cities?
Yes. iDrone has operated across Indonesia, including Brave Bintan, PUBG Surabaya MURI 1,500, FINNS Beach Club Bali, and Prambanan Yogyakarta.
About Booking and Timeline
18. What's the minimum lead time for booking?
Ideally 60-90 days for large shows (300+ drones). For 100-200 drone shows with relatively simple concepts, last-minute booking 14-30 days is still possible depending on team availability and permit urgency.
19. Is there a rehearsal before the show?
Yes — for 200+ drone shows, a test flight at the venue is mandatory one day before (D-1). For large shows (500+ drones), test flights can be D-2 for full calibration. This rehearsal also validates GPS coordinates and airspace conditions.
20. What's needed from the client to start a project?
- Target date (definite or 2-3 option range)
- Planned venue (full address or coordinates)
- Estimated audience size
- Initial concept or key message (rough draft is fine)
- Budget range (to recommend fitting drone scale)
- Brand assets (logo, color palette) — for corporate events
With this info, our team returns feasibility analysis and initial estimates within 1-3 working days.
Can't Find Your Answer?
Send specific questions to WhatsApp +62 817-771-343 or email us. The iDrone operations team will reply with technical details matching your event context. Better to ask early than discover obstacles mid-process.
