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FIG.02 SERVICE / TOWER INSPECTION

Tower inspection,
without the climb.

Cell monopoles, broadcast towers, met masts, and amateur antenna installs — inspected from the air at a fraction of the cost and time of a climbing crew. Higher-resolution imagery, no service interruption, and a report you can hand straight to engineering.

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Typical range $250–$2,800
On-site time 45–120 min
Max height 400 ft AGL
Service interruption None required
// 01 — USE CASES

What gets flown.

Standard scopes and where they make the most sense.

01

Cell monopoles

Carrier and tower-co maintenance inspections. Verify antenna tilt and azimuth, check mount integrity, document feeder runs and grounding.

02

Broadcast towers

Guyed and self-supporting structures. Detailed imagery of antennas, beacons, climbing safety hardware, and structural members.

03

Met masts

Meteorological towers for wind energy site assessment. Sensor placement verification and condition checks without de-energizing instruments.

04

Amateur antenna installs

Ham radio towers and rotators. Documentation for HOA submissions, pre-purchase inspections, or post-storm condition checks.

05

Post-event triage

After ice, wind, or lightning events, an aerial sweep documents condition fast — before climbing crews are scheduled or insurance assessments are due.

06

Co-location surveys

Photogrammetric capture for as-built documentation, structural analysis, and tenant load planning.

// 02 — DELIVERABLE

What you get back.

CORE

Structural condition imagery

Full-resolution capture of every face from base to apex. Member condition, paint, corrosion, weld terminations.

CORE

Antenna alignment

Top-down and side imagery suitable for tilt and azimuth verification on cellular and microwave hardware.

CORE

Bolt and weld close-ups

Critical fastener and connection imagery flagged in the annotated PDF, with location callouts on the elevation diagram.

ADD-ON

3D model

Photogrammetric model of the structure for engineering review, capacity studies, and dimensional take-offs.

ADD-ON

Thermal sweep

Identify overheating connections, faulty feeders, or hotspots on active electrical equipment.

ADD-ON

Detailed engineering report

Extended narrative with severity grading, component-level annotations, and reference photos suitable for engineering review.

// 03 — FAQ

Tower inspection FAQ.

Why use a drone instead of a tower climber?

A climbing crew costs more, requires more lead time, and exposes a person to fall risk. A drone captures higher-resolution imagery in a tenth of the time without taking the tower offline. The annotated report is comparable to — or better than — a climber's notes for visual condition assessment.

Can you fly cell towers without taking them offline?

Yes. RF emissions from active cellular and broadcast equipment do not interfere with the drone, and our flight paths maintain safe standoff distances. Most cell monopole inspections are completed live with no service interruption.

How tall can you inspect?

Standard Transport Canada Advanced operations cover routine flights up to 400 ft above ground level. Sheltered operations are flown beside structures up to 200 ft horizontal from the operator. Anything beyond that range is handled with a Special Flight Operations Certificate, which we can coordinate for taller broadcast structures.

Do you provide tower mapping or 3D models?

Yes. Photogrammetric capture produces a measurable 3D model of the structure suitable for engineering review, capacity planning, and as-built documentation. Add-on pricing applies.

// 04 — RELATED

Other services.

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