The gimbal is situated on the nose of the aircraft.

1/ Pilot does not have to do extreme banking maneuvers to facilitate a vertical shot.

2/ He can fly with the aircraft orientated into the wind for maximum safety because the gimbal can shoot left or right as well as straight ahead.

3/ The crabbing motion (flying sideways) so the rear seated cameraman can get a straight ahead movement is a maneuver that leaves little margin for error. The video gimbal can shoot straight ahead.

4/ Video gimbals are small and have little effect on aircraft performance.

5/ Less fatigue of crew and camera operator as the door is closed.

6/ Faster speeds overall mean less flight time equals savings in charter costs. You pay buy the hour. If the aircraft can fly faster to and from location then you'll save.

7/ The video gimbal is very smooth so shots are hovered up as soon as the camera is pointed in the general direction of the subject. Fewer attempts at a particular shoot and in some cases less flight time, thus lowering accumulated risk when flying low, flying over a built up area or water.

8/ The stabilized system enables longer lenses to be employed so aircraft can be a little higher and with greater separation to the subject. 

There have been three accidents in the UK and others else where in 2004/2005 resulting in death and injury to cameramen hanging out of helicopter or using side mounts. The aircraft flying sideways was a contributing factor in some of these accidents. BBC now stipulates that filming pilots read a BBC document reminding them of the dangers of loss of tail rotar authority.

Can shoot left and right, so direction of action on screen varies.

Good monitoring ensures high quality images

The pictures are extremely stable even in poor weather.

Long lenses can be employed so wide range of shot sizes is possible.

Easy communication within the cabin as the door is closed.

Have to land to clean the lens (can be cleaned by slipstream sometimes)

Rental cost is higher than jumping on board with your own cameraman and camera. But somewhat offset by faster speeds, less flight time.

Not available everywhere, so the cost of getting the system to location is often prohibitive.

General Safety

Accident report in the film industry by US film union. Includes all accidents not only aviation related

Detailed Accident report by TSB into a Canadian helicopter that crashed whilst filming.