Got questions?
General
Is it safe to fly drones over an active tank site?
Yes. Drones used for industrial tank inspections are operated by certified pilots under strict aviation regulations. Falcker works exclusively with licensed local drone operators who follow site-specific safety protocols, including ATEX zone awareness and coordination with terminal control rooms. Inspections can take place without halting operations.
Do we need to stop operations for a tank inspection?
No. One of the main advantages of drone-based visual inspection is that it eliminates the need for operational shutdowns. Unlike traditional rope-access or scaffold-based inspections, drones can capture high-resolution visual data while your terminal remains fully operational.
Are drone inspections accepted by regulators and auditors?
Yes. Drone-based inspection data, when combined with structured analysis and documentation, is accepted by major inspection bodies and auditors. Falcker’s platform generates audit-ready reports that meet industry standards such as API 653 and can be integrated into your compliance workflow.
What types of storage tanks can be inspected with drones?
Drone inspections are suitable for all common above-ground atmospheric storage tanks, including fixed roof, floating roof (internal and external), cone roof, and dome roof tanks. Falcker supports inspection across all of these tank types.
How long does a drone inspection take compared to a traditional inspection?
A traditional tank farm inspection can take weeks and often requires operational downtime. A drone-based visual inspection of the same scope can be completed in days — without any interruption to operations. For continuous monitoring, Falcker’s platform removes the need for periodic inspections as the only method of oversight.
How do you manage tank integrity data across multiple assets and contractors?
The core challenge is that inspection data ends up in too many places — contractor PDFs, spreadsheets, different CMMS modules, inspection reports that don’t reference the same asset IDs. Best practice is a centralized asset integrity platform where all inspection findings, NDT results, and condition assessments are stored against a single asset reference. This makes it possible to retrieve the full history of any asset quickly, compare inspection cycles, and give consistent data to any contractor working on the site.
About Falcker
What does Falcker do?
Falcker is a technology platform for inspection and condition monitoring of above-ground storage tanks. It combines drone-based aerial data capture with software for visual inspection (Site Explorer), fitness-for-service calculations, and continuous condition monitoring (CM). The platform helps terminal operators, refineries, and petrochemical facilities reduce inspection costs, improve safety, and stay audit-ready.
In which regions does Falcker operate?
Falcker is active in Europe, the United States, ASEAN, and the Middle East. The company works with a network of local certified drone pilots who use the platform — enabling fast deployment in new regions without requiring Falcker to manage local aviation permits directly.
Does Falcker operate in Indonesia / Southeast Asia?
Yes. Falcker is active in the ASEAN region, including Southeast Asia. Local drone pilots certified for industrial inspections use the Falcker platform, enabling regional deployment without importing foreign aviation crews.
Who are Falcker’s reference customers?
Falcker has delivered projects for leading companies across the tank terminal, refinery, and petrochemical sectors. References include terminal operators (Vopak, VTTI, MET), refineries (BP Rotterdam, PCK Seefeld), petrochemical companies (SABIC Geleen), and national oil companies (Petronas). Reference calls can be arranged on request.
Do you work with inspection contractors?
Yes. Falcker is designed to complement existing inspection contractors, not replace them. Contractors can input their inspection data directly into Falcker’s condition monitoring platform, auto-generate FFS (fitness-for-service) calculations, and produce audit-ready reports. Established contractors such as SGS are already using the Falcker platform.
Platform & Features
Do we need to operate the drones ourselves?
No. Falcker works with a network of local certified drone pilots. You do not need in-house drone expertise. Falcker coordinates the pilots, manages the data upload, and delivers analysis through the platform.
Does someone need to be on site every day to fly?
No. Drone flights are scheduled based on your inspection plan — not continuous daily visits. Frequency depends on your monitoring requirements and the modules you use. Continuous monitoring does not mean daily flights; it refers to the ongoing digital tracking of asset condition over time.
Where is our inspection data stored?
Your data is stored securely in the Falcker platform. All client data remains the property of the client. Falcker is working toward ISO 27001 certification (expected Q3 2026). For detailed information on data storage locations, backup procedures, and security architecture, Falcker can connect you with their CTO.
Is our data secure?
Falcker takes data security seriously. Client data remains fully owned by the client. The company is working toward ISO 27001 certification (Q3 2026). For a detailed overview of Falcker’s security architecture and data handling practices, a technical briefing with the CTO can be arranged.
Can Falcker integrate with our ERP or CMMS systems?
Yes. Integration is possible via API. Falcker can connect with existing asset management, ERP, and CMMS systems. Specific integration requirements are scoped on a case-by-case basis together with Falcker’s technical specialists.
Does the software support predictive maintenance?
Falcker’s condition monitoring (CM) module tracks the degradation of tank assets over time, enabling data-driven decisions about maintenance timing. While not a traditional predictive maintenance system, the platform provides the trend data and fitness-for-service calculations needed to move from reactive to risk-based inspection and maintenance planning.
Does Falcker reduce inspection costs?
Yes. By replacing or supplementing scaffold- and rope-access-based inspections with drone data, and by automating reporting and FFS calculations, Falcker significantly reduces both direct inspection costs and indirect costs related to operational downtime. Falcker can help build a business case showing the ROI for your specific asset base.
Implementation & Pricing
How long does implementation take?
Falcker uses a standardized implementation blueprint developed through deployments at clients such as Vopak and SABIC. The average time from kick-off to go-live is 4 to 8 weeks. Falcker provides guidance and support throughout every step of the process.
Do you offer onsite training or implementation support?
Yes. Falcker provides onboarding and training as part of implementation. This includes platform training for your team and, where relevant, coordination with your inspection contractors. The implementation blueprint ensures a structured and efficient rollout.
Do you offer trials or demos?
Yes. Falcker offers product demonstrations. A demo can be tailored to your tank types, workflows, and specific use cases. Contact Falcker to schedule a session.
What does Falcker cost?
Pricing is always custom and depends on the number of tanks, terminals, and which modules are required. Falcker can prepare a business case that makes the ROI transparent for your situation. In most cases, the value delivered significantly outweighs the investment.
Can Falcker work offshore?
Falcker’s primary focus is onshore above-ground storage tanks. Offshore projects fall outside the core scope but may be considered depending on the specific situation and scale. This would require discussion at management level.