A Sensor-Agnostic Airborne Platform
Talos Aviation Group is the flying half of the survey equation. We do not own sensors and we are not a data-processing house — we provide the certified aircraft, experienced survey crews, and mission execution that get a sensor over the target and bring the data home cleanly. Because we do not own a mapping division, we never compete with our clients for their downstream deliverable work — your client list, project intelligence, and margins stay yours. The sensors come from our partners, and on most programs those same partners handle processing and delivery.
Leased-Sensor Acquisition
We lease the right sensor from a partner company, integrate it on the best-matched aircraft, and fly the mission to spec. Our partner then performs all data processing and delivers the finished products. You get partner-grade deliverables backed by Talos flight operations.
End-to-End · Partner-Owned Sensors
For partners who fly their own sensors with us, we are building an end-to-end path: we operate the sensor through the full mission and are now beginning to provide light in-house processing and delivery alongside acquisition. This capability is early and expanding — we scope it honestly on a per-project basis.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Sensor class | PhaseOne PAS280-class, partner-provided (nadir + NIR capable) |
| GSD range | 1 cm – 30 cm (altitude-dependent) |
| Positioning | IMU + ABGPS, PPK-corrected |
| Flight altitude | 1,000 – 12,000 ft AGL |
| Overlap | 60–80% forward, 30–60% side |
| NIR collection | Available simultaneously with RGB |
| Coverage | Up to 600 sq mi/day (altitude/GSD dependent) |
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| LiDAR sensor class | Optech T2000, Leica CityMapper2, Optech Orion M300 (partner-provided) |
| Point density | 2–20 pts/m² (mission-configurable) |
| Vertical accuracy | ≤ 10 cm RMSE (ground conditions dependent) |
| Horizontal accuracy | ≤ 20 cm RMSE |
| RGB/NIR co-collection | PhaseOne IXU-1000 (RGB or NIR) with Optech sensors |
| Oblique imagery | Via Leica CityMapper2 (nadir + oblique simultaneously) |
| Flight altitude | 500 – 6,000 ft AGL |
| Max swath width | Up to 2× flight altitude |
| Managed Flight Operations Full crew and aircraft provision for client-directed missions |
| Sensor Integration Support Aircraft modified for custom payload, power, and data interfaces |
| Persistent Area Surveillance Long-endurance loiter operations over defined areas of interest |
| Rapid Response Deployment Emergency tasking from either base within hours of notification |
| Night / Low-Visibility Operations IFR-qualified crews, NVG-compatible cockpit configurations available |
| Multi-Aircraft Coordination Simultaneous multi-ship operations for large-area coverage |
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Camera ports | Belly ports, nose mount, wing hard points (aircraft-dependent) |
| Power provision | 28V DC / 115V AC available; load-dependent |
| Data interfaces | GigE, USB 3.0, RS-232/422, custom on request |
| Navigation data out | Real-time IMU/GNSS NMEA / custom protocol |
| Crew familiarity | Survey-experienced; pattern flying, exact speed/altitude holds |
| Operating environment | Sea level – 17,500 ft MSL; any CONUS location |
| Endurance | 4–7 hrs depending on aircraft and payload weight |
| Aircraft & Flight Operations Talos — planning, crews, and mission execution |
| The Sensor Partner — leased to Talos, or partner-owned and flown by us |
| Raw-Data QA & Handoff Talos — field QA, secure transfer of imagery/point data and logs |
| Full Processing & Final Delivery Sensor partner — standard on the primary leased-sensor model |
| Light Processing & Delivery Talos — emerging, for partner-owned end-to-end engagements |
Our Fleet
Six purpose-modified aircraft covering everything from single-sensor corridor flights to multi-sensor large-area acquisition. Part 91 sets the legal floor — our maintenance program is built above it: a three-person internal maintenance team with A&P mechanics (two holding Inspection Authorization), every airframe tracked in our own AirworthyHQ flight and maintenance software, and flight crews trained in preventative maintenance for maximum uptime. Every aircraft carries survey-specific modifications. Type commonality across the Aztec fleet means shared parts, shared pilot currency, and a genuine backup airframe for every mission profile.
At typical imagery and corridor-LiDAR altitudes, our piston-twin fleet delivers spec-compliant data at a meaningfully lower cost per survey hour than turbine platforms — savings that flow straight into your bid margin. The Merlyn-converted Commander covers the high-altitude end of the envelope, the turbo Aztec and TP206 handle extended-range and high-density-altitude work, and the common-type Aztec core gives every program a true backup aircraft. You pay for acquisition, not for iron you don't need.
Ready to Plan Your Mission?
Tell us your project scope and we'll match the right aircraft and sensor package to your requirements.
Contact Our Team