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Newcastle engineers invest in drone fleet for use on energy projects

A firm of Newcastle-based engineers that offer services to global oil and gas operators have invested in a fleet of drones to allow them to survey hard-to-reach locations.

MACAW Engineering, based at Quorum Business Park, have bought the drones to use on inspections at production plants, pipelines and other energy facilities.

The ‘Small Unmanned Aerial Systems’ (SUAS) can be equipped with high quality photographic and video technology, and will need to be operated to a stringent set of standards laid out by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Paul Casson, MACAW Principal Engineer, said: “At MACAW, we are committed to embracing the latest technological developments to enhance our services.

“The investment in SUAS will enable us to inspect challenging or previously inaccessible locations, such as bridge crossings and wind farms, in an efficient and safe manner.

“Our reputation has been built on training staff to the highest standards. This philosophy continues with the addition of SUAS to our business portfolio with operators being tutored to very high standards and the strict adherence to Civil Aviation Authority regulations.”

Joanne Leng MBE, deputy chief executive at NOF Energy, the business development organisation for oil, gas, nuclear and offshore renewable sectors, said: “This latest investment by MACAW Engineering is an excellent example of how a technology-focused energy supply chain is helping the UK make its mark in worldwide markets.

“MACAW is already highly respected for its expertise within the energy sectors and the addition of SUAS to its service provision will further strengthen its global position.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .