Frequently Asked Questions
Find technical answers about airspace coordination, weather management, data tolerances, and project deliveries for aerial surveys in London.
Q:What airspace regulations apply to drone surveys in London?
Most of London is inside controlled airspace due to Heathrow, London City, and London Heliport airports, and is classified as a congested area. Commercial drone operations in these zones are strictly regulated. We handle all clearances, submitting digital flight notifications through NATS and coordinating with local air traffic control before flying.
Q:Are your pilots licensed and insured?
Yes, absolutely. All our drone pilots are fully CAA-compliant, holding active Operational Authorisation for flight safety in congested areas. We carry £5m in public liability insurance specifically designed for commercial UAV operations, meeting all EC 785/2004 requirements.
Q:What is your workflow when weather conditions are poor?
To protect our high-precision cameras and laser scanners, and to ensure data accuracy, we do not fly in rain, snow, or winds exceeding 22 knots. We monitor forecasts closely. If a flight is delayed due to weather, we reschedule for the next clear slot at no extra cost.
Q:How do you calibrate the survey's absolute accuracy?
While we use RTK-GPS drone telemetry, we always verify data using physical Ground Control Points (GCPs). We place coordinate targets across the site and measure them using Trimble survey-grade GNSS base stations. These coordinates anchor the photogrammetry or LiDAR scans, securing horizontal tolerances of ±15mm to ±25mm and vertical tolerances of ±20mm to ±30mm.
Q:What file formats do you deliver?
We export engineering-ready formats that import directly into Autodesk Civil 3D, AutoCAD, Revit, QGIS, and ArcGIS. This includes 2D/3D DWG/DXF files, GeoTIFF orthomosaics, raw point clouds (.LAS, .LAZ, .E57), and gridded elevation models (.TIFF, XYZ).
Q:What are your lead times and pricing logic?
Mobilisation lead times typically range from 2 to 5 days, depending on airspace permissions. Our pricing is determined by site size, terrain complexity, and requested deliverables. We provide upfront, fixed-fee quotes based on your project boundaries.