We capture detailed aerial visuals of your church roof, tower, and masonry, including thermal imaging, with no scaffolding, ladders, or service disruption.

Who would this service work for?

  • Close-up of a priest wearing a black clerical shirt, white collar, and a gold cross necklace.

    Clergy & Churchwardens

    Spot issues before they become expensive problems.


    From slipped tiles to blocked gutters, our drone surveys give you a crystal-clear view of your roof and tower — without the need for scaffolding or ladders.

    BOOK A ROOF CHECK
  • A person working on architectural or engineering plans at a drafting table with a tablet and drafting tools.

    Conservation Architects

    Heritage-sensitive documentation, done properly.


    We capture high-resolution visuals and 3D data to support your planning, listed building consent, or restoration work — all aligned with best practice for historic buildings.

    REQUEST VISUALS & 3D DATA
  • Person holding a shiny silver bowl with dollar bills inside, blurred background.

    Trustees & Fundraisers

    Make a stronger case for funding.


    Need to apply for a grant? Drone images, models, and roof condition videos strengthen your application and show funders you’ve done your homework.

    GET GRANT-READY VISUALS
  • Close-up of a person's hand repairing a wooden roof during construction or renovation.

    Facilities & Buildings Teams

    Fast, affordable inspections – no disruption.

    Access difficult areas like spires, bell towers, and roof valleys with zero downtime or access risks. Ideal for pre-works surveys or routine condition checks.

    SCHEDULE AN AERIAL INSPECTION

What we can do for you

  • Thermal imaging photograph showing a house with colors indicating temperature differences; warmer areas in yellow and orange, cooler in purple and blue, with temperature readings of 12.9°C and 3.9°C.

    Thermal Imaging for Heat Loss & Water Ingress

    We detect hidden leaks, trapped moisture, and heat loss across your church roof using thermal drone cameras — without disturbing a single slate.

  • A stone brick wall with a small plant growing in a gray bag planter attached to a metal pipe.

    High-Resolution Inspections of Roof, Masonry & Guttering

    From blocked hoppers to loose flashing and cracked stonework, we capture crystal-clear 4K imagery and close-up detail of hard-to-access areas.

  • 3D wireframe model of a small, castle-like stone structure with arched openings, viewed from above and to the side.

    3D Models & Elevation Views

    We offer interactive 3D models and elevation captures — ideal for planning work, progress records, or building a case for funding.

  • Ruins of an old stone building with arches, benches, and a grassy area, under a clear blue sky.

    Photography & Filming for Reports or Promotion

    Need general aerials of your grounds or tower? We can also film for fundraising, websites, or grant applications — fully licensed and insured.

  • Diagram of heritage flight planning strategy for St Mary's Tower, Hornsey, showing elevation views with flight paths, photo points, and grid annotations.

    Pre-Visualised Flight Planning & Reporting


    Every mission is planned using a mapped visual grid — ensuring nothing is missed and supporting clear documentation for decision-makers and funders.

Book a survey

Case Study:
St Mary’s Tower

When The Friends of Hornsey Church Tower needed a safe, non-invasive way to inspect their historic tower, we provided detailed drone imagery, 3D models, and condition visuals from above.

An aerial view of the top of a tall stone tower with a flat, square rooftop surrounded by ornamental stone battlements, surrounded by trees and a garden.

What our clients say

  • "Many thanks for the terrific job you did for us all. We are extremely grateful to you for the time and effort you gave to create such a detailed survey."

    Peter Sanders, Chair , The Friends of Hornsey Church Tower

  • "It was lovely to meet you... I would be delighted to mention you to colleagues."

    Paul Jackson RIBA CA AABC IHBC EASA, P B Jackson Architecture

  • "We used CAV Aerial to inspect a tricky roof where scaffolding would’ve cost a fortune. The drone footage gave us everything we needed in under two hours — and we had the visuals back same-day."

    Aleksander Erdvici, Director and CEO, ALB Construction

Got a church to survey?

Or need visuals for a funding bid or repair quote?

Fill in your details and we’ll be in touch within 2 hours.

We work with churches across London and the South East and can often fly the same week — no scaffolding, no disruption.

You can also call or email us directly:

Mobile: 07377869579
Email: info@cavaerial.com

From campaign films to inspections, here are just a few of the organisations we've supported.

  • Haringey London logo with red and black text on a white background.
  • Logo of The Victorian Society with a stylized 'V' icon and red text.
  • Logo of Friends of Hornsey Church Tower with green background, white text 'FoHCT', and the full name underneath.
  • Stylized text with 'm³' in dark blue and a large white uppercase 'A' on a muted blue background.
  • Logo with the letters P and J intertwined, with the word ARCHITECTURE written below, on a blue background.

Professional Standards & Certifications

  • Constantine is a GVC Certified Pilot which allows him to pilot Drones up to 25 kilograms

    GVC-qualified drone pilot authorised for commercial operations in controlled UK airspace.

  • Design for COTRZ Academy promoting thermography specialization, featuring a circular image of a thermal camera display, logos for CPD Certification Service and UK Training Qualifications, and text emphasizing tech innovation and certification.

    Qualified through Coptrz Academy and CPD-accredited, this certification demonstrates expertise in infrared thermography for commercial drone inspections.

  • Heritage Trust Network logo

    Member of the Heritage Trust Network – supporting conservation, regeneration, and promotion of historic sites across the UK.

  • Red circular logo with the words "National Churches Trust" in white text.

    Listed on the National Churches Trust Skills Directory, supporting churches with aerial surveys & conservation visuals

  • Civil Aviation Authority logo with a blue background and white text

    Registered with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for legal and compliant drone operations.

  • ARPAS-UK member logo – Association of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, the UK’s professional drone operator network.

    Member of ARPAS-UK, the UK’s professional association for commercial drone operators.

  • Yellow square with black text "A2 Open Category" and a small black triangle in the top right corner.

    A2 CofC-certified pilot approved to fly drones closer to people in low-risk environments.

  • CAV Aerial is proud to be a Gold Certified Member of the Drone Safe Register — the UK’s leading network of trusted drone operators.

  • Logo of Coverdrone with overlapping gray circles on a blue background.

    Fully insured with £2 million public liability cover through Coverdrone for safe, professional operations.

  • Badge with text 'Drone Safety Verified 76 Flights,' featuring AirData UAV logo.

    Flight logs are tracked with UAV software for full transparency and professionalism.

  • DroneSafe Register Certified A2 CofC logo with blue check mark and circular design

    This certification reflects our commitment to safe, competent, and legally compliant flying, recognised and verified by the UK's leading drone operator network.

  • Drone Desk Operator

    Using DroneDesk to plan, risk-assess, and log every flight, ensuring full compliance with UK aviation regulations.

FAQs

  • No — as long as we have access to the property and permission to take off and land, you don’t need to be there. We’ll handle everything and send you the results.

  • Yes — we are fully qualified to fly in congested areas. For churches in central London or near sensitive sites, we’ll take care of airspace checks and permissions.

  • Most church inspections start from £295 + VAT. Full thermal + 3D mapping packages may vary depending on site complexity. We’ll give you a clear quote upfront — no hidden fees.

  • You’ll receive a folder with:

    • 4K images (angled, top-down, and close-ups)

    • Optional thermal images showing heat loss or water ingress

    • Annotated observations (e.g. blocked gutters, tile movement, masonry cracks)

    • Optional 3D models or elevation diagrams if requested

  • Within 2–4 working days depending on scope. If you’re working to a grant deadline or urgent repair timeline, let us know — we can often prioritise.

  • Yes — we hold CAA Operational Authorisation, are fully insured for £1m+, and have specific training in thermal inspections and heritage documentation. We’ve already surveyed Grade I and II* listed churches across the South East.