Dronedesk
From RAF veteran to environmental innovator: building a drone startup with Innovate UK and the National Physical Laboratory
The Challenge: Building a Drone Startup While Innovating
Big Sky Theory uses drones with bespoke sensors to help oil and gas businesses detect and quantify unwanted methane emissions. Founded by Ben Lunnon-Wood after 18 years in the Royal Air Force, the company is developing breakthrough technology in partnership with Innovate UK and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL).
But innovation alone doesn't build a business. As a micro startup, Ben faced the full weight of commercial drone operations:
-
CAA Authorization Critical: Use cases fall outside the Open Category and require specific CAA approval to operate
-
Complex Compliance Landscape: Regulatory oversight, safety cases, and audit trails spread across multiple systems
-
Enterprise Client Expectations: Oil and gas companies demand credible, well-documented operations
-
Solo Founder Reality: Responsible for everything from R&D to customer management to compliance
Entering the commercial drone industry requires navigating complex airspace regulations while simultaneously building technology and winning customers. Without the right systems, any one of these demands could derail the business.
The Operational Impact: What Dronedesk Delivers for Innovative Startups
CAA Safety Cases Approved First Time
Since adopting Dronedesk in 2022, Big Sky Theory's safety case submissions to the CAA have been approved with minimal feedback. The platform's structured approach to compliance documentation transforms what could be a regulatory barrier into a straightforward process, enabling the business to pursue Specific Category operations with confidence.
Complete Business Management in One Place
Dronedesk eliminates the need for multiple systems and dozens of open browser tabs:
- Lead tracking and customer relationship management
- Flight planning, logging, and compliance documentation
- Personnel management for future team growth
- Quoting, invoicing, and payment tracking
ISO 9001 Readiness Built In
When discussing quality management certification with ISO 9001 auditors, Big Sky Theory was told that Dronedesk had already put them halfway to compliance. The platform's systematic approach to business and operations management creates the documented processes that certification requires.
For a startup developing innovative technology with research partners like NPL and Innovate UK, having operations management handled means more time for the work that actually differentiates the business.
Measurable Outcomes
Faster Detection
Drone covers football-pitch area in 40 mins vs 4 hours for ground team of six
CAA Approval Rate
Safety cases approved with minimal feedback since 2022
ISO 9001 Progress
Auditors confirmed Dronedesk provides half of certification requirements
End-to-End Solution
Leads to flying to invoicing in a single system
Environmental Monitoring Use Cases
Methane Detection
- Oil and gas facility leak detection
- Emissions quantification and prioritization
- Regulatory compliance monitoring
- Environmental impact assessment
Research & Development
- Sensor development and field validation
- Flow rate measurement technology
- Real-world operational testing
- Partnership project management
Why Innovative Drone Startups Choose Dronedesk
CAA Authorization Enablement
Structured compliance documentation that gets safety cases approved. For operations requiring Specific Category authorization, Dronedesk provides the evidence trail that regulators expect.
Enterprise Client Credibility
Oil and gas companies demand documented, professional operations. Dronedesk provides the assurance and validity that opens doors to enterprise conversations.
Built for Growth
Personnel management, certification tracking, and team oversight are ready when you need them. Scale from solo founder to multi-pilot operation without changing systems.
Real Support from Real Operators
Dronedesk was built by a drone operator who understood the challenges firsthand. The platform evolves based on feedback from pilots using it daily, not assumptions about what operators need.
The Bottom Line
Big Sky Theory is developing technology that could make a real difference to global methane emissions. But breakthrough innovation requires a business foundation that handles compliance, customer management, and operational efficiency without constant attention.
Dronedesk provides that foundation. With CAA safety cases approved first time, ISO 9001 readiness built in, and enterprise credibility established, Ben can focus on what matters: building sensors that help the world tackle methane emissions faster and more effectively than ever before.
