Drone Light Shows

Drone light shows are the most awe-inspiring spectacle in live events today. Beatrox — through the expertise of Alan Curtiss, owner of Sky Lites Drone Shows — designs and operates custom drone formations in Portland, Oregon and across the country, telling your brand's story in the sky at a scale audiences will never forget.

Why Choose Beatrox

Our Process

1. 01Creative Brief — Story, brand assets, venue, and viewing distances defined
2. 02Formation Design & Pre-Visualization — Your show choreographed and rendered in 3D
3. 03Regulatory Approval — FAA waivers, airspace authorization, and NOTAM filings secured
4. 04Site Survey & Safety Planning — Launch zone, geofencing, and crowd separation confirmed
5. 05Show Operation — Certified pilots execute the choreographed flight live
6. 06Recovery & Review — Fleet recovered, airspace released, and footage delivered

Ideal For

End-to-End Drone Production

From initial concept and 3D pre-visualization to FAA coordination, permitting, on-site setup, and live show operations, Beatrox manages the entire drone show production pipeline. Every formation is custom-designed to your brand, your story, and your event timeline.

FAA Permitting & Compliance

Every drone light show requires FAA coordination. Beatrox handles the entire regulatory process — including Part 107 waivers, airspace authorizations, and NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) filings. We work directly with the FAA to secure necessary permissions for both outdoor and indoor shows, ensuring full compliance with federal aviation regulations. Our team includes certified remote pilots and we maintain comprehensive liability insurance for all operations.

Indoor vs Outdoor Capabilities

Drone shows work in both environments with different considerations. Outdoor shows offer the largest scale — hundreds of drones across wide-open skies with long viewing distances. Indoor shows use specialized drones with protective enclosures and smaller propellers, operating safely in arenas, convention halls, and even atriums. Indoor shows require unique FAA approvals and venue coordination. We assess your space and recommend the optimal configuration for maximum impact and safety.

Weather Policy

Weather is a critical factor in outdoor drone operations. We monitor forecasts beginning 72 hours before your event and make go/no-go decisions based on wind speed, precipitation, and temperature thresholds. Generally, shows proceed in light rain and moderate winds up to 20 mph. Heavy rain, lightning, or sustained winds above 25 mph may require postponement or rescheduling. We build contingency plans into every production and communicate clearly with clients as conditions develop.

Designing a Show That Reads From the Ground

A drone show is a billboard the size of a skyline — but only if it's designed for the audience's vantage point. We choreograph formations around your primary viewing area, hold key brand moments long enough to photograph, and pace transitions so the sky never goes quiet. Logos and text are rendered in perspective-corrected formations so they read clearly from the crowd, and color palettes are chosen against your sky conditions — deep saturation for urban light glow, high-brightness whites for dark rural skies. Every design is reviewed with you in 3D pre-visualization before a single waiver is filed.

Frequently Asked Questions