Owner & Operator
Niall has over 11 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 in manned aviation, he has over 3000 flying hours on both airplanes and helicopters, as well as being a military drone operator, instructor, and examiner since 2018. 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 theoretical and practical courses to candidates seeking initial and recurrent drone licences. He has delivered bespoke drone flying training programmes for a number of Irish organisations - including Irish Rail, ESB Networks, and John Paul Construction.
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. 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.