Peter Leslie
Director & GVC Licenced Drone Pilot. Industry veteran who scaled from a single Mavic 2 to operating 50+ survey-grade drones nationwide.
Industry veteran who's been on both sides - from hiring drone pilots and getting burned by unqualified operators, to building one of the UK's largest drone operations.
Peter Leslie
Professional Photo
Background & Experience
The Journey
Peter's journey in the drone industry began with a single Mavic 2, quickly scaling to operate a fleet of over 50 survey-grade drones nationwide. This rapid growth provided unique insights into both the potential and pitfalls of the commercial drone sector.
Through building two of the UK's highest-traffic drone websites and running what became the world's busiest drone blog in 2024, Peter gained deep understanding of what both clients and pilots need from a professional drone services platform.
The Problem He Experienced
"I once hired a 'professional' through a major platform for a construction survey. He showed up with a Mini 2 - a £400 consumer drone - for a job requiring RTK precision. He genuinely thought he could do survey-grade mapping with a toy. That platform let him bid on LiDAR and photogrammetry jobs. That's when I knew the industry was broken."
This experience, repeated multiple times with different platforms, became the catalyst for creating Certified Drone Pilots - a platform that actually verifies capabilities before allowing bids.
Professional Timeline
Entered the Drone Industry
Started with a single Mavic 2, learning the fundamentals of commercial drone operations
Rapid Expansion
Scaled operations to 50+ survey-grade drones, serving clients nationwide
Digital Authority Building
Launched two high-traffic drone websites, establishing thought leadership in the UK market
World's Busiest Drone Blog
Achieved global #1 ranking for drone blog traffic, reaching millions of industry professionals
Founded Certified Drone Pilots
Launched the UK's first manually-verified drone pilot network with 73% rejection rate
Expertise & Credentials
Technical Qualifications
- GVC Certified Commercial Pilot
- 50+ survey-grade drone fleet operator
- Expert in drone capabilities and limitations
- Commercial insurance specialist
Industry Experience
- Hired (and fired) dozens of drone pilots
- Built UK's highest-traffic drone websites
- World's #1 drone blog traffic (2024)
- Deep understanding of client needs
Areas of Focus
Pilot Verification
Personally reviews every pilot application, verifying equipment, insurance, and capabilities
Equipment Matching
Ensures pilots can only bid on jobs their equipment can actually complete
Quality Standards
Maintains the industry's highest rejection rate to protect platform integrity
Market Development
Expanding the network while maintaining strict quality controls
Industry Education
Teaching clients what to expect from professional drone services
Platform Growth
Building sustainable growth through quality over quantity
Vision for the Industry
"The drone industry doesn't need more pilots - it needs better standards."
Peter's vision is simple: create a platform where quality matters more than quantity, where clients get usable data every time, and where professional pilots compete on capability, not fantasy pricing.
The Problem with Current Platforms
Most platforms operate on a "pay to play" model - anyone with a membership fee can bid on any job, regardless of their equipment or experience. This creates a race to the bottom where hobbyists with consumer drones undercut professionals with proper equipment.
The Certified Drone Pilots Difference
Under Peter's leadership, Certified Drone Pilots manually verifies every pilot, checks equipment against job requirements, and maintains a 73% rejection rate. It's the only platform that actually says no - protecting both clients and professional pilots.
Why This Matters
Every time a client receives unusable data from an unqualified pilot, the entire industry's reputation suffers. By maintaining strict standards, Peter aims to rebuild trust in drone services and ensure sustainable growth for legitimate professionals.
Connect with Peter
Whether you're a client looking for reliable drone services or a professional pilot wanting to join a quality-focused platform, Peter is always open to discussing how Certified Drone Pilots can help.
