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Thames Drone Surveys in Kew - UAS London
Thames & River Marine Services

Thames Drone Surveys in Kew

Specialist over-water thames drone surveys at Kew for marine engineering, logistics, and creative media.

We work in Kew regularly, and river operations are the core of what we do. We supply broadcast media, survey data and structural inspection imagery from the same operating base. The river rewards crews who know it; a stranger to this water loses the shot to the tide.

We identify launch and recovery points in Kew that work at the state of tide on the day. Where the shot demands it, we launch and recover from an MCA-coded support vessel. Flights are kept tight, because on the river loiter time costs you the tide rather than buying better footage.

We keep the river authorities informed from planning through to the end of the flight. We can supply method statements for the principal contractor's file where the site requires it. We do not fly outside our permissions, whatever the production schedule says.

Where the tide window is tight, we plan the shot list so nothing depends on a second visit. Tell us what you need on the water and we will come back with options, tides and a price. Tell us the deadline first, because on the river it decides almost everything else.

Marine Specifications in Kew

Comprehensive risk planning and NATS filing
Tide-window scheduling and vessel traffic liaison
VHF marine radio equipped pilots
Full Port of London Authority (PLA) coordination
High-zoom and thermal inspection payloads
High-wind and estuary weather capability

Book River Filming

Drone operations at Kew require Port of London Authority clearance and skipper-coordinated flight paths.

Request River Booking

Thames Operational Specs

  • PLA Coordination Managed
  • VHF Radio Pilot Logs
  • MCA-Coded Support Vessels
  • £10M Maritime Insurance
  • GPS Tracked Over-Water Flights
  • Wind-shear resistant platforms
RegulatoryCAA approved operator
Insurance£10M public liability
Experience1,000+ flight hours in London airspace
AirspaceNATS permissions for central London operations
RegisteredUAS London Limited · 16148461

Frequently Asked Questions

What deliverables can you provide from Kew?

Broadcast-ready video, high-resolution stills, georeferenced orthomosaics of the bank and foreshore, 3D models, or written inspection reports. Raw capture is handed over on the day and processed output follows within 24 to 48 hours.

How do you manage wind and weather on the river?

The Thames corridor funnels wind and can be considerably rougher than the surrounding streets. We work to maritime forecasts and fly platforms rated to around 25 knots, so a marginal day does not automatically cost you the shoot.

Do you need Port of London Authority approval to fly in Kew?

Any professional drone operation on the tidal Thames, including Kew, requires notification to and coordination with the PLA and London VTS. UAS London manages those clearances as part of the service.