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Arch Aerial is a drone services company helping energy and construction operators capture the most of their world.

Press & Milestones

Flying commercial drones since the beginning.

News coverage, regulatory firsts and company milestones from a Houston drone services company founded in 2012.

2012Founded in Houston
2015FAA Section 333 exemption
2025First FAA BVLOS waiver
3Texas offices: Houston, Plano, Kermit
In the News

Selected coverage

BloombergSep 2017

Arch Aerial CEO discusses drones and Hurricane Harvey

Ryan Baker on how drone crews assessed damage after the storm.

Watch the interview
ReutersAug 2017

Commercial drones face unprecedented test in Harvey’s destructive wake

Reuters talks with CEO Ryan Baker as crews deploy for post-storm assessment.

Read the article
Houston ChronicleJul 2018

Aerial drones broaden energy industry’s horizon

A look at how drones are changing work across the energy industry.

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Houston ChronicleAug 2016

Drone pilots start getting their licenses

Arch Aerial on Part 107 and how the new FAA rules opened the door for enterprise customers.

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Popular ScienceMar 2015

Drones could use lasers to find unexploded bombs

Laser imaging from the air to locate unexploded ordnance.

MashableOct 2014

A drone to map and find undetonated explosives in Laos

Early mapping work aimed at a humanitarian problem.

Milestones

A record of firsts

From the first FAA exemptions to long-range BVLOS flights for pipelines.

2025
First FAA BVLOS waiverApproval to fly beyond visual line of sight with three aircraft, for long linear assets like pipelines.
Jun 2019
Cadence McShane adopts Arch Aerial company-wideDrone services across the general contractor’s projects.
Feb 2019
Oil & Gas Startups podcastCEO Ryan Baker featured.
Aug 2017
Hurricane Harvey responseDrone crews deployed for post-storm assessment.
May 2017
ISNetworld member contractorPrequalified for operator vendor programs.
May 2017
Energy Drone Coalition, HoustonArch Aerial at the coalition’s Houston event.
Apr 2017
Offshore Technology ConferenceMet with operators at OTC 2017.
Jun 2016
FAA-approved for over 1,000 aircraftCommercial operation of more than 1,000 unmanned aircraft systems.
Apr 2015
FAA Section 333 exemption and COACleared to fly commercially, the start of the services business.
Media Inquiries

Writing about drones in energy or construction?

Talk to an operator who flies BVLOS pipeline patrols every day.

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