Mounting Cameras To Your Aircraft

Last Updated: May 7, 2026  |  By: The E3 Aviation Editorial Team

Aviation camera mounts let pilots capture the view from the cockpit, under the wing, or on the belly of the aircraft — without compromising safety or airworthiness. Done right, a camera setup documents your flights, builds your social media presence, and produces footage that actually shows non-pilots what GA flying feels like. Done wrong, a poorly mounted camera becomes a structural hazard, a loose object in the cockpit, or an FAA problem you didn’t see coming. This guide covers how to mount cameras to your aircraft correctly, legally, and safely.

We’ve installed camera setups across a range of GA aircraft — Cessnas, Pipers, RVs, Cubs, and experimental builds. The principles are consistent: mount security matters more than mount location, aerodynamics matter on high-speed aircraft, and legality is non-negotiable regardless of how good the shot would be.

Aviation Camera Mounts: Types and Best Applications

Aviation camera mounts fall into four categories: suction cup mounts, structural clamp mounts, RAM mount systems, and hardwired permanent mounts. Each has specific applications, advantages, and limitations. Choosing the wrong type for your aircraft or use case creates problems that range from annoying (poor video quality from vibration) to dangerous (camera departs aircraft in flight).

Suction Cup Mounts

Suction cup mounts attach to exterior aircraft surfaces, windscreens, or smooth interior panels. They’re popular because they’re easy to install and remove. However, suction cup aviation camera mounts are temperature-sensitive. Cold temperatures reduce suction adhesion. A camera mounted on the exterior fuselage at standard temperature may release in cold air at altitude. The airspeed-induced load on a camera at 120 knots is significant. Use suction cup mounts on interior surfaces only, or replace them with structural alternatives for any exterior mounting.

GoPro and similar action cameras work well with suction cup mounts on interior windscreens for cockpit-view footage. Mount them below the pilot’s sightlines, away from controls, and test the adhesion thoroughly before flight. Secure the camera with a safety tether to the airframe — if the suction releases, the camera should not become a projectile.

RAM Mount Systems

RAM Mounts are the aviation camera mount standard for interior installations. The system uses rubber ball-and-socket joints to absorb vibration and allow precise angle adjustment. RAM Mounts attach to suction bases, yoke clamps, window ledge clamps, or custom machined brackets. For cockpit camera setups, a yoke-mount RAM arm positions a GoPro or similar camera to capture instrument panel footage without obstructing any controls or the pilot’s view of instruments.

Consequently, RAM Mounts have become the default choice for interior aviation camera setups because they’re secure, vibration-dampening, and easy to reposition. The rubber isolators in RAM ball joints absorb propeller vibration that would otherwise cause significant video blur on non-stabilized footage.

Structural Clamp Mounts

Structural clamp mounts attach to structural tubes, struts, or wing attachment points. They’re used for exterior camera positions — under-wing, on wing struts, or on fuselage attach points. Structural clamp aviation camera mounts require assessment by a certificated airframe mechanic if they’re attached to primary structure. Additionally, any exterior mount that modifies the aerodynamic surface or adds weight to a certificated aircraft may require FAA approval. Don’t guess. Ask your IA before installing anything on primary structure.

Legality: What the FAA Says About Aviation Camera Mounts

The FAA’s position on aviation camera mounts in certificated aircraft is nuanced and frequently misunderstood. For interior mounts that don’t modify the aircraft structure, don’t affect the airworthiness certificate, and don’t obstruct controls or visibility, no approval is generally required. Temporary interior installations with suction or clamp systems fall into this category for most aircraft.

For exterior mounts on certificated aircraft, the analysis changes. Adding an exterior camera mount may constitute a major alteration under FAR Part 43 if it affects the aircraft’s aerodynamics, structure, or systems. A major alteration requires a Form 337 filed with the FAA and approved by a Designated Airworthiness Representative (DAR) or your local FSDO. Specifically, consult your AI or an A&P mechanic before mounting anything externally on a type-certificated aircraft.

Experimental Aircraft Have More Flexibility

Experimental amateur-built aircraft operate under different rules. As the builder/owner of an experimental aircraft, you have more latitude for modifications — including permanent camera mount installations — because the aircraft isn’t type-certificated. However, modifications still need to be documented in your maintenance logbook and should not compromise the structural integrity of the aircraft. Build camera mounts the way you’d build any other aircraft component: with appropriate materials, proper fasteners, and load analysis if the camera will be subjected to significant aerodynamic forces.

Weight and Balance Impact

Every camera installation adds weight. Specifically for exterior mounts, the weight and its arm from the datum affect weight and balance. Update your weight and balance calculations after any camera installation. A small GoPro on a wing strut may be negligible. A larger camera housing with gimbal on the belly of the fuselage may shift CG measurably. Verify your aircraft remains within approved envelope with all camera equipment installed.

Vibration Management: Getting Usable Footage from GA Aircraft

Piston aircraft vibrate. Propeller rotation frequency, engine firing pulses, and aerodynamic vibration all feed into camera footage as jitter and blur. Without vibration isolation, GoPro footage from a Cessna looks like it was shot in an earthquake. Aviation camera mounts need vibration isolation to produce smooth, watchable footage.

Rubber Damping Mounts

The most effective vibration isolation for aviation camera mounts is a rubber damping system between the mount and the camera. RAM Mounts’ rubber ball-and-socket joints provide significant vibration isolation. Dedicated vibration isolation boards — foam or rubber sandwiches — placed between mount and camera can further reduce high-frequency vibration. Sorbothane pads between the mount base and any hard airframe surface dampen structure-borne vibration before it reaches the camera.

For propeller-driven aircraft, the vibration frequency is predictable: at 2,400 RPM, the prop passes each blade position 80 times per second for a two-blade prop, or 120 times per second for a three-blade. Camera frame rates that are multiples of this frequency will produce the stroboscopic propeller-freezing effect some pilots want. Frame rates that don’t align will produce propeller blur. GoPro’s Protune settings let you set frame rate precisely. Experiment before your first flight to get the propeller look you want.

Electronic Image Stabilization

Modern action cameras — GoPro Hero12, DJI Action 4, and others — offer electronic image stabilization (EIS) that significantly smooths footage in post-processing or in real time. For interior shots without exterior airflow distortion, EIS alone is often sufficient to produce smooth footage. For exterior mounts subject to aerodynamic vibration, EIS combined with good mechanical vibration isolation produces the best results.

Top Camera Mount Positions for GA Aircraft

Camera angle determines the story your video tells. Different positions reveal different aspects of GA flying.

Cockpit Forward View (Pilot’s Eye)

The most popular aviation camera mount position is behind and slightly above the pilot, aimed forward through the windscreen. This captures the terrain, the instrument panel in the lower frame, and the pilot’s hands on the controls. It’s the angle that shows non-pilots what it looks like from the seat. Use a RAM mount on the ceiling or a suction mount on the rear window (interior) for this angle. Ensure the mount doesn’t obstruct rear visibility required by FARs.

Instrument Panel Close-Up

A camera mounted on the yoke or aimed at the instrument panel documents avionics operations, approach procedure execution, and navigation. Specifically useful for instructional content and WINGS credit documentation. A RAM yoke mount provides adjustable positioning without obstructing any control movement.

Wing Strut Mount — Exterior

Wing strut mounts — specifically on high-wing aircraft like Cessna 172s or Cubs — provide a dramatic perspective looking either back toward the tail or down at the terrain below. The strut provides a rigid mounting point without requiring attachment to primary structure. However, confirm with your mechanic that any strut clamp does not damage the strut coating, does not create stress risers, and is within the aircraft’s weight and balance limits with the camera installed.

Legal Considerations for Aerial Camera Operations

Before mounting a camera and heading out to shoot, pilots need to understand the FAA’s rules around aerial photography. Under 14 CFR Part 91, compensation for aerial photography work — including selling footage commercially — can trigger operator certificate requirements. Flying your own aircraft to shoot video for personal use is generally unrestricted. Flying for hire, or conducting photography operations for compensation, requires a commercial certificate and potentially an air carrier certificate depending on the operation.

Additionally, camera mounts must not interfere with pilot controls, obstruct the pilot’s view, or compromise the aircraft’s airworthiness. Any permanent or semi-permanent mount that modifies the aircraft’s structure requires an FAA-approved STC or field approval. Always consult your A&P and review the FAA’s guidance before installing any mount that attaches to a structural component of the airframe.

Frequently Asked Questions About Aviation Camera Mounts

Do I need FAA approval to mount a GoPro inside my aircraft?

For interior temporary installations that don’t modify the aircraft structure, obstruct flight controls, or impair required visibility, no FAA approval is generally required. The camera must be secured so it cannot become a loose object hazard in flight. A safety tether in addition to the primary mount is good practice. For exterior mounts or anything attached to primary structure on a certificated aircraft, consult an A&P or IA before installation.

What is the best aviation camera mount for a Cessna 172?

The most versatile setup for a Cessna 172 combines a RAM Mount yoke attachment for instrument panel shots with a suction cup mount on the rear window for the pilot’s-eye forward view. For exterior footage, a strut clamp mount on the front strut provides a distinctive ground-tracking angle. Use vibration isolation pads at every mounting point and secure cameras with safety tethers.

How do I reduce propeller vibration in GoPro footage from my aircraft?

Use rubber-isolated mounts (RAM ball-and-socket systems or sorbothane pads), enable electronic image stabilization in your camera settings, and experiment with frame rate settings. Additionally, shoot in 60fps and convert to 30fps in post — the doubled frame rate gives stabilization software more data to work with. Exterior mounts benefit most from dedicated aviation vibration isolation boards between the mount base and the camera body.

Sources

• FAA Advisory Circular 43.13-1B — Acceptable Methods for Aircraft Inspection and Repair
• AVweb — Aircraft Camera Mounting: What’s Legal?

Post-Processing Aviation Video: Getting the Most from Your Footage

Great aviation camera mount placement produces raw footage. Post-processing turns raw footage into content worth watching. GA video has specific challenges in post — variable lighting as the aircraft moves relative to the sun, cockpit reflections in forward-facing shots, and audio dominated by propeller and engine noise. Understanding these challenges before you shoot lets you capture footage that’s easier to correct in post.

Color Correction for Aviation Video

GA cockpit interiors are significantly darker than the sky outside. Your camera’s automatic exposure will compromise between the bright exterior and the dark interior, resulting in a blown-out sky and an underexposed cockpit or vice versa. Specifically, shoot in a “flat” or “log” color profile if your camera supports it — this captures wider dynamic range and gives you more latitude to balance interior and exterior exposure in post. Additionally, polarizing filters on exterior-facing mounts reduce glare and improve sky contrast, significantly improving color quality in exterior shots without post-processing.

Audio Solutions for Aviation Video

Cockpit audio from a standard action camera microphone is dominated by engine and prop noise. There are two solutions for usable audio. First, record your aviation radio and intercom audio using a recorder wired into your headset audio output — this captures clean pilot and ATC communications without cabin noise. Second, for narrated content, record your narration separately on the ground and add it in post. Many successful aviation content creators use both: clean radio audio from an intercom recorder for in-flight communications, and post-recorded narration for explanatory content. Consequently, most aviation video that sounds professional uses multiple audio sources combined in post, not the camera’s built-in microphone.

Legal Considerations: Privacy and Content Publishing

Publishing aviation video online raises several considerations beyond FAA airworthiness. Privacy considerations apply when footage captures other pilots, passengers, or ramp personnel without their consent. Generally, filming in public airspace and at public airports is permissible, but footage capturing identifiable individuals used in commercial content may have implications depending on your state’s privacy laws. Additionally, publishing footage of your own flights that includes potentially sensitive information — approach briefings that reveal your home base, passenger conversations — requires judgment about what to include.

For content creators using aviation footage commercially or for monetized channels, standard video release practices apply to any passenger appearing on camera. Most aviation content creators use simple liability and release language that they have passengers sign before flights intended for publication. This protects both the creator and the passenger and is standard practice in the GA video community.