• In the case of remotely controlled camera helicopters, aircraft can get in closer and tighter confines than full-sized aircraft and can often take the place of ground-based crane and insert car shots in chase sequences.
• Fixed-wing based systems allow for high altitude and high performance aerial cinematography.

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• Systems cannot be mounted into just any commercially available aircraft.
• Aircraft will have to be ferried to the filming location, which can be quite far from its base of operations.
• Often with the system installed, the aircraft can accommodate one extra passenger in addition to the pilots, aerial cinematographer and aerial camera technician.

There exist a handful of aerial cinematographic systems that are of a highly specialized nature. Often these systems are associated with one specially modified aircraft or flown via remote control.

The fixed-wing aircraft systems here allow for high altitude and high performance aerial cinematography.

Both Astrovision and Vectorvision are periscope optics systems which peer through the belly of a Learjet 25B or 35. Both provide pan and tilt capability, but only Vectorvision allows zoom and roll.

JetStills is the only stills system of its kind and mounts in a Learjet 25B. The system can be panned 360° and a tilting mirror provides tilt.

Coptervision is a remotely controlled helicopter requiring a crew of highly skilled technicians and pilots. This system is good for low altitude aerial cinematography where full-sized aircraft would be unable to perform.