About Us
Victoria Air Photos and Survey is a 100% locally (Victoria, BC) owned and operated, private, and independent company employing RPAS commercially. In operation since 2012, we offer a wide range of safe and professional RPAS services to the general public, corporations and government services in a wide spectrum of applications. The latest advance has been the capability to conduct high precision survey/mapping scans using a full frame 45MP survey camera with RTK corrections on our large M300 multi-rotor platform. We can also offer LIDAR scans are other sensor arrays.
VAP is also active in the community supporting University of Victoria's Engineering Department Aero Club uvicaero.com/ as a Silver Sponsor, and is active with training and equipping the RPAS pilots of tomorrow with necessary skills. We also volunteer with the SPCA Animal Rescue for drone operations.
David Carlos: About the Owner/ Chief Pilot
David Carlos has logged over 2500 hours of Complex RPAS air time. In addition, he has trained thousands of students in unmanned RPAS flight practices and enhanced safety. Carlos continues with professional flight and ground instruction sessions in drone studies for students seeking to be professional RPAS pilots, or those seeki9ng to employ drones commercially in their own business. See Training page
Carlos currently holds a Standing Canadian Commercial RPAS Advanced (Flight Reviewer Rating) Certificate plus Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC). Carlos also holds a Canadian (Fixed Wing) Pilot's License with advanced training.
Victoria Air Photos and Survey employs and uses trained and qualified visual observers and sensor operators.
The company pilot, Carlos has an extensive background in aviation studies, including being a graduate from Camosun College as well as an Associate Certificate from BCIT in Aircraft Structures Engineering. He has worked at Viking Air, BC Ferries, and the Canadian Coast Guard/ Ocean Sciences/DFO.
Carlos has been self-employed in business for the past 21 years where he was a small commercial boat captain and guide and operated a logistics firm. He has also served in the Canadian Armed Forces Primary Reserve (Army) in Logistics as well for 2 years.
Carlos has a Private Pilot Night Rating, and extensive instrument and flight simulator training.
Victoria Air Photos and Survey is a Transport Canada Compliant RPAS Training Centre in Canada as self-declared. David is an authorized ROC-A instructor and examiner for Industry Canada as well as Flight Reviewer under the new RPAS regulations.
Clients for VAP's RPAS training program include a wide range of students from private, corporate and government sectors. Carlos has trained municipal and government protective services, including fire and police in the professional use of UAVs with the popular RPAS 101 program and advanced specialized training.
Nikki Ducharme: Geomatics Support
Nikki Ducharme has recently joined the Victoria Air Photos and Survey Team and is a Geomatics Specialist. Ms Ducharme has 30 years experience in the mapping industry with diplomas in Photogrammetry, Geomatics and Military Geomatics.
She is a member of the Canadian Armed Forces serving as a Geomatics Technician since 2007. She has also worked for MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates as a Geospatial Specialist.
Martin Kent: Building and Home Inspection Team Member
Read our testimonial page to see what some of our clients are saying about our service.
Our inspectors are:
- Licensed Home Inspectors
- Accredited Home Inspectors
- Fully Trained
- Construction Trades Certified
Buying a home or building is one of the biggest investment decisions you will ever make. Our goal is to provide you with an unbiased evaluation of the current conditions of the home.
Fairhome Building Inspections Inspectors Qualifications
- Member of Home Inspectors Association BC (HIABC)
- Accredited Home Inspector
- Construction Trades Certified
- Journeyman Electrician IPTQ
- More than twenty years of experience in the residential construction industry
- Fully Insured
- Licensed Home Inspector
Safety and Privacy
With safety as our number one priority, we are Transport Canada Aviation certified for Special Flight Operations and fully insured.
We are proactive in the community and publicly advocate for safer RPAS/RC aircraft flight practices. We also seek way to respect any public privacy concerns.
We work with Transport Canada governing bodies to improve oversight and ensure that our company operational procedures adhere to the strict government regulations surrounding professional flight. The SFOC and Transport Canada Certification is becoming an increasing necessity for any drone operation flight near any urban or built up area in Canadian Domestic Airspace.