Pipeline Inspection
VTOL drones inspect oil and gas pipelines in any weather, reaching flare stacks, offshore rigs and leak-prone runs without rope teams, scaffolding or helicopter overflights.
Pipeline inspection used to mean heavy equipment, large crews and real exposure to falls and toxic gas. It also meant downtime, delayed data and blind spots between inspection cycles. Aerial inspection removes the equipment, the exposure and most of the cost, and returns higher-precision data than a manual walk-down.
What manual inspection actually costs
Ground-based inspection
- Large, heavy equipment mobilised to every access point
- Crews exposed to falls from height and toxic gas
- Ropes, scaffolding and helicopter overflights for the hard sections
- Production downtime while inspection is in progress
- Blind spots between cycles, and data that arrives late
VTOL aerial inspection
- Long-endurance flights covering large distances in one sortie
- No personnel in the hazard zone at any point
- Flare stacks, offshore rigs and leak-prone runs reached directly
- Inspection runs while the line stays in service
- Georeferenced, repeatable data you can compare over time
Why the VTOL platform suits this work
Each flagship model is built from high-quality components around the same operating philosophy: long time on station, no specialist pilot, and a payload bay you can reconfigure between missions.
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Operational efficiency
Long-endurance flight cuts the landings needed for battery swaps. LAUNCH ground control software puts a first-time operator in command, so the aircraft does not add a hiring requirement. Manual inspection hours and logistics planning both drop sharply.
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Safety improvements
Leak-prone pipeline sections, flare stacks and offshore rigs are inaccessible or unsafe for crews and heavy equipment. Aerial access reaches them at a fraction of the mobilisation cost, and DGPS navigation keeps the aircraft stable and free of electromagnetic interference.
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Payload versatility
Compatible with EO/IR cameras, LiDAR, gas sensors and HD live video. Swappable payload bays move the aircraft between inspection and delivery tasks quickly, across capacities from 2 kg on the Sky Whale Mini to 15 kg on the Max.
Four roles in oil and gas operations
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Pipeline and infrastructure inspection
A thermal and zoom-capable gimbal detects leaks, corrosion and mechanical failure along the line, wherever it runs. High payload capacity means the right camera goes up, and a single flight covers long distances.
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Environmental and emissions monitoring
Methane detectors, multi-gas sensors and thermal cameras measure emissions in real time, with nobody collecting samples by hand in a toxic environment. The data supports compliance with EPA standards and local environmental regulation.
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Emergency and incident response
After a rupture or gas release, the drone is first on scene. Launch takes minutes and live zoom and thermal footage reaches the control room or a mobile command unit, so decisions and coordination happen before anyone goes near the site.
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Cargo delivery and field logistics
Pipeline crews are usually stationed far from anywhere. Tools, spare parts, sensor kits and emergency medical supplies fly out instead of being driven, which matters most when the terrain is flooded and a vehicle is the slow option.
Sky Whale VTOL models
Four airframes built to industrial standard, differing mainly in payload capacity and how long they stay up. Match the model to the length of the run and the weight of the sensor.
| Model | Power | Endurance @ 2 kg | Max payload | Ingress rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky Whale Mini | Electric | 2.5 h | 2 kg | IP55 |
| Sky Whale Heavy Lift | Electric | 3.5 h | 10 kg | IP54 |
| Sky Whale Max Electric | Electric | 4 h | 15 kg | IP55 |
| Sky Whale Max Hybrid | Battery + petrol | 10 h | 15 kg | IP55 |
Sky Whale Mini
Compact all-electric VTOL built for fast deployment and extended endurance. The lightweight airframe suits light-duty pipeline inspection where the sensor is small and the run is short.
Key specifications
- Up to 3 h with a surveillance camera; 2.5 h with a 2 kg payload
- IP55-rated for varied weather
- Quick-release cargo bay for cameras, LiDAR and mapping equipment
- Video link antenna integrated into the landing gear
- LAUNCH ground control software, no flight experience needed
- Navigation lights controlled from the ground software
- Built-in TOF radar for accurate landings
- Visible to air traffic control systems
- DGPS removes compass calibration and improves stability
- XTurbo intelligent battery, 400+ charge cycles with live monitoring
- 4G/LTE video transmission and follow-me mode
Sky Whale Heavy Lift
Built for demanding missions: LiDAR mapping, long-distance cargo delivery and security overwatch, as well as pipeline inspection with a heavier sensor package.
Key specifications
- 3.5 h with 2 kg; 2 h with 6 kg; 90 min with 10 kg
- Quick-detach assembly and disassembly in under 3 minutes, single operator
- Quick-release cargo bay for cameras, LiDAR and medical supplies
- IP54-rated for varied weather
- Stable in winds up to 13 m/s
- LAUNCH ground control software, no flight experience needed
- Onboard aviation lights for night missions
- Built-in TOF radar for accurate landings
- ADS-B equipped for air traffic control visibility
- DGPS navigation removes compass calibration
Sky Whale Max Electric
A purely electric heavy-lift platform. The combination of endurance and 15 kg capacity is aimed at comprehensive inspection missions where the full sensor suite goes up at once.
Key specifications
- 4 h with 2 kg; 2 h with 15 kg
- Dedicated gimbal compartment allows target search during heavy-payload missions
- Anti-water fuselage, IP55-rated for rain
- Quick-detach assembly and disassembly
- LAUNCH ground control software, no prior piloting experience
- Onboard aviation lights for night missions
- Built-in TOF radar for accurate landings
- DGPS removes compass calibration and resists electromagnetic interference
- XTurbo intelligent battery, 400+ charge cycles with live monitoring
Sky Whale Max Hybrid
A hybrid battery-and-petrol fixed-wing UAV for missions a conventional electric VTOL cannot complete. Endurance and payload together make it the choice for full-length pipeline runs.
Key specifications
- Up to 10 h with 2 kg; 4 h with 15 kg
- Supports payloads up to 15 kg for advanced sensor packages
- Standard 116cc EFI engine, or optional 120cc for high altitude and low temperature
- Dedicated gimbal compartment for target search during heavy-payload missions
- Anti-water fuselage, IP55-rated for rain
- Quick-detach assembly and disassembly
- LAUNCH ground control software, no prior piloting experience
- Onboard aviation lights for night missions
- Built-in TOF radar for accurate landings