Drones are rapidly becoming an essential tool in modern quarrying, offering new levels of accuracy, efficiency and safety across surveying, inspection and operational monitoring. In this technical presentation, Jim Ixer of the Drone Pilot Academy will explore how UAVs can be integrated into quarry workflows and the practical steps required to deploy them safely and professionally.
Jim will demonstrate how drone technology is currently being used across the extractives industry, highlighting the versatility and operational value of UAVs through real quarry applications, including:
High‑accuracy topographic and volumetric surveying
Face inspection and geotechnical assessment of inaccessible areas
Blast monitoring and fragmentation analysis
Routine compliance checks and operational data capture
Real‑time visualisation and integration with planning and engineering models
Licensing & Regulatory Requirements
The session will also outline the UK regulatory framework governing drone operations, ensuring operators understand the obligations before introducing UAVs onto a quarry site.
Topics include:
CAA drone categories (Open, A2 CofC, and Specific category operations).
Operational Authorisation requirements under the UK‑PDRA01 model.
Risk assessment, airspace awareness and site permissions.
Insurance and documentation needed for commercial use.
This will provide attendees with clarity on what is required to operate legally, safely, and in accordance with current legislation. Training Pathways Jim will explain the training and competency requirements for quarry-based drone pilots, including:
A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CofC)
General Visual Line of Sight Certificate (GVC)
Operational safety and flight planning training
Ongoing competence development and annual currency
Attendees will gain a clear understanding of the training journey from new pilot to competent, authorised UAV operator. Choosing Your Route: Internal Pilot vs. Specialist Consultant.
To support organisations considering drone adoption, the presentation will outline the two principal pathways for integrating UAV capability:
1. In‑house drone operations Ideal for sites that wish to build regular, routine drone workflows. Includes: - What equipment to invest in - Internal skill development and pilot selection - Cost‑benefit considerations - Establishing operating procedures and risk controls
2. Using specialist external consultants Suitable for sites needing advanced surveys, high-precision mapping, or occasional operations. Includes: - When outsourcing is the more efficient option - What to expect from professional UAV providers - How to evaluate service quality and technical capability.
By the end of the session, delegates will understand not only the capability of modern drones but also the practical, compliant pathway to adopting UAV technology either internally or through trusted partners.