ABOUT X8 DRONES
A practical approach.
A personal commitment.
X8 Drones brings a practical, safety-led approach to commercial aerial work. Based in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, we help clients across Lincolnshire and the UK see their sites, understand their assets and tell their stories from above.
Meet Mike Smalley.
I’m Mike, founder and director of X8 Drones. I’ve spent 30 years as a production technician in the chemical and oil & gas industries, working in an environment where preparation, clear communication and sound judgement matter every day.
My experience includes responsibilities as a permit-to-work issuer and authoriser, and as a safety representative. That means looking beyond the task itself: understanding the risks, checking the conditions, coordinating with others and making sure everyone knows what is happening before work starts.
I bring that same approach to X8 Drones. The technology opens up new possibilities, but useful results still depend on understanding the job, planning it properly and paying attention to the details.
Safety. First, every time.
Safety is of paramount importance to me. It shapes how I plan a job, how I work with people on site and the decisions I make on the day. If conditions aren’t right, the plan changes—or the work waits.
Before a flight, we consider the location, airspace, weather, people nearby and any site-specific hazards. We agree the brief and access requirements, and work within the permissions and operating limits that apply. The aim is to get the information you need through a carefully considered operation.
Experience that understands your site.
My onshore and offshore background gives me a first-hand understanding of controlled sites, permit systems and the importance of fitting work around an ongoing operation. It also helps me ask the right questions when planning inspections, documenting progress or capturing footage in an industrial setting.
We work on onshore and offshore projects, from property and construction to industrial assets. Our team has relevant offshore survival training, and we confirm training, medical and site-access requirements for each assignment.
I hold BOSIET/FOET and MIST qualifications, alongside a valid OGUK Medical Certificate, supporting my readiness for offshore work.
X8 Drones holds public liability insurance compliant with EC Regulation 785/2004 and is registered with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) as a drone operator.
A clear purpose for every flight.
We start with what you need to see and what you want to do with the results. That might be photographs for a property, footage for a business, a visual inspection, thermal imaging or a record of construction progress.
From there, we plan the capture and deliver photographs, footage or other agreed outputs suited to the job. Clear communication matters throughout, so you know what we can provide and where any limitations lie.
Questions before you book.
Find practical answers about weather, permissions, turnaround times and what drone inspections can—and cannot—tell you.
Let’s talk about your project.
Tell us where you’re working, what you need to capture and what a useful result looks like. We’ll discuss a practical way forward.