About

Viking UAV grew out of just over 14,000 flight hours and nearly 30 years in commercial aviation. I've been lucky enough to fly Airbus and Boeing aircraft all over the world, across eight airlines — including three legacy carriers — and seven aircraft types, from narrow-body to wide-body. Then when my circumstances changed in manned aviation, I found myself drawn to the emerging UAV sector.

Although in the beginning it was the sense of freedom that I loved the most about flying - if I'm honest what ended up staying with me was everyone I met on the way. I've worked alongside some amazing people — and I learned a lot about the things that actually matter. It's not just about safety and professionalism - it's also about having a bit of humility and treating every day like an opportunity to learn something new. Beyond that - it's about enjoying the journey too. These are the values that I want Viking UAV to bring to every job.

Funnily enough, one of my first jobs in manned aviation many years ago — was flying aerial survey aircraft. There's a nice symmetry in ending up back here. What we used to do in a light aircraft with a gyro-stabilised camera hanging out the side, you can now do with a UAV a fraction of the size and, more importantly, at a fraction of the cost. And survey work is really just the beginning of what this industry will be capable of as the regulations catch up.

I'm starting small with Viking UAV, initially focused on aerial survey and media work, with a network of manned aviation pilots around me who are keen to build new skills. Where it goes from here, I honestly don't know — but I'd love for you to be part of finding out.

Jamie Cramer
Managing Director