Niall has over 10 years' experience operating drones, first being drawn in as a hobbyist by what was then a new and rapidly evolving technology. Over the years that followed, he progressively built the skills, qualifications, and equipment to operate at a professional level.
With a background primarily in military aviation, he is a qualified airplane and helicopter pilot, as well as a military drone operator, pilot, instructor, and examiner. That context shapes how ARD approaches commercial drone work - from pre-flight planning and risk assessment to airspace coordination, with the discipline and attention to detail that every flight demands, whether it's a ten-minute property shoot or a recurring construction site contract.
For several years Niall also worked as a civilian drone instructor with an IAA-approved training body, delivering full theory and practical courses to candidates seeking initial and recurrent drone licences. He additionally developed and delivered bespoke training programmes for a number of major Irish organisations - including Irish Rail, ESB, and John Paul Construction - tailoring course content to the specific operational environments and risk profiles of each.
ARD AERIAL SERVICES was established to bring that standard of professionalism to commercial drone work in Ireland. Drone operations can look simple from the outside, but getting them right - technically, legally, and safely - is another matter entirely. Regulations in this space evolve constantly, and staying ahead of them is as important as the flying itself. That's what we bring to every job.
Niall holds an IAA/EASA Specific Category Licence, which enables some of the higher-risk and more complex drone operations in Irish airspace. This goes beyond the standard Open category registration that many hobbyist and casual commercial operators hold, and reflects the kind of operations - closer to people, structures, and within controlled airspace - that our professional commercial work often requires.
The fleet has been chosen deliberately: the right aircraft for each role, maintained to the highest standards, with the right camera systems to deliver the right imagery rather than just technically adequate footage. We don't cut corners.
If you have a project in mind - or you're not yet sure what you need - get in touch. We'd love to talk through what's involved and advise on the best approach.
