Scholar overview
Scholar: Jordana Omonuwa
Scholarship awarded: The Air League Drone Scholarship, in partnership with Eagle Eye Innovations
Founder of: Hazardous Productions
With a background in Geophysics and hands-on experience in Surveying and Mapping, Jordana Omonuwa already understood how powerful unmanned aviation could be in transforming industrial work. But it was The Air League Drone Scholarship that gave her the formal qualification, operational grounding, and industry insight that empowered her to move from curiosity to capability, and ultimately into commercial drone operations.
Today, she runs a growing aerial videography and inspection company that works across industrial, agricultural and creative industries. Her journey reflects the role The Air League plays in widening access to aviation and equipping young people with the confidence to pursue high‑tech, future-focused careers.
How the scholarship shaped Jordana's understanding of professional drone operations
Before joining The Air League, Jordana already had a clear understanding of where unmanned aviation could add value within her field. However, the scholarship expanded her knowledge far beyond the basics of flight, opening her eyes to the scale, sophistication and future potential of the RPAS sector.
“The Air League scholarship provided me the official qualification to begin to operate commercially.”
During the training, Jordana had the opportunity to operate industry‑leading drones equipped with advanced payloads. Seeing LiDAR sensors, infrared cameras, waypoint navigation systems and tracking technologies in action deepened her awareness of how rapidly the UAV industry is evolving, and how many future opportunities it could hold.
Equally transformative was the exposure to experienced RPAS pilots, industry specialists and fellow participants who shared her enthusiasm. Conversations with professionals strengthened her understanding of what it means to operate as part of a wider aviation ecosystem, noting that engaging with professionals working in the sector strengthened her understanding of drone operations beyond just flying.
Ultimately, the scholarship did more than refine Jordana’s technical abilities, it broadened her perspective, encouraged strategic thinking, and revealed new pathways for her future in the UK UAV industry.
from learning to launching: the unexpected start of a business
Jordana never planned to launch a company. Her original goal was to secure an internship or junior drone pilot role, somewhere she could learn, gain experience and continue building her qualifications. But such roles were rare, with many requiring more industry experience or logged flight hours than she had at the time.
To bridge that gap, she created Hazardous Productions as a personal portfolio. It was a way to showcase her skills, demonstrate her potential to employers, and begin logging the professional flight hours she needed. What happened next was entirely unexpected. As she began sharing her work, interest grew rapidly within her local community.
“Hazardous Productions grew in popularity faster than I could have imagined.”
Soon, local enquiries turned into consistent work. Jordana registered the business, built a website, set up a LinkedIn presence and secured public liability insurance. Not long after, she began receiving international enquiries from people she had never met, a moment that signalled a shift in how others viewed her capabilities. She never assumed the company would be viable, but Hazardous Productions quickly proved its viability through its own drive.
The company name began as a playful concept, but the mission quickly became sincere. Her vision was clear: a business so committed to safety, compliance, and efficiency that it could help clients reduce hazards entirely. What started as a portfolio became a professional operation, shaped by demand, dedication and the momentum Jordana hadn’t anticipated.
building momentum: growth, reach and capability
Since launching in 2025, Jordana’s business has expanded its work across multiple industries, from events and media to infrastructure and agricultural inspections. It operates across the UK, Europe and South America and continues to grow through word of mouth.
Jordana holds a suite of professional certifications, including CAA drone qualifications, CSCS, Confined Space Entry and Control, First Aid at Work, and credentials to work on Rail, HS2 and Highways England sites, allowing her to take on complex operational environments safely. But her proudest achievement isn’t a single project.
“Ultimately, the company itself is its biggest achievement. It took on a life of its own.”
She has travelled internationally, collaborated with global UAV innovators, and delivered work across diverse sectors, all from a business she originally created as a personal portfolio.
Looking ahead
Jordana is now broadening her capabilities into mapping and data‑driven analysis, an evolution that aligns closely with her technical background and long‑term ambitions. Her plans include introducing 2D digital site mapping and, depending on how her interests develop, expanding into 3D mapping, topographic surveying and LiDAR‑based work. She is also strengthening her proficiency in AutoCAD, GIS and other industry‑specific software while deepening her knowledge of Critical National Infrastructure and asset management.
“I plan to continue to build my network, meet more people and upskill.”
These steps will enable her to deliver far more than aerial imagery alone. By combining drones with technical mapping and analytical outputs, Jordana aims to provide clients with CAD drawings, digital maps and data‑rich reports that offer meaningful insight into their assets and environments.
In September, she will take another significant step in her professional development as she begins a graduate scheme in Asset Operations. She plans to continue running her business alongside this new role, balancing her commercial work with the opportunity to grow her industry expertise. In the future, she hopes to one day mentor aspiring drone pilots, particularly young women, helping them enter and advance within the aviation sector.
advice for future
air league scholars
Jordana encourages anyone considering The Air League Drone Scholarship to embrace the opportunity wholeheartedly. The application process, she explains, isn’t about perfection, it’s about authenticity, curiosity and a willingness to learn.
“Dive in headfirst. Don’t overthink the application, be open, honest, and most importantly, be yourself.”
She emphasises that the true value of the scholarship comes from how participants choose to engage with it. Jordana urges future scholars to make the most of the environment The Air League creates by asking questions, speaking to professionals, exploring the technology, and taking the time to connect with fellow participants. Every conversation and every moment of hands‑on experience has the potential to broaden understanding.
Approaching the experience with openness, she says, is key to unlocking its full impact. As she reflects, engaging deeply with the programme can transform the way applicants view both the UAV industry and their place within it.
“If you approach the opportunity with genuine curiosity, the scholarship can significantly widen your perspective on the RPAS industry.”
Through this mindset, Jordana believes scholars can truly make the most of what The Air League offers, gaining not only skills, but also insight, confidence and connections that can shape their future in aviation.
The air league impact
Jordana’s story demonstrates how The Air League helps young people turn interest into opportunity. Through structured training, professional connections and recognised qualifications, the scholarship broadened her perspective, strengthened her capabilities and gave her the confidence to take bold next steps.
What began as an interest, and then as a simple portfolio, has become a thriving business that contributes to aviation, infrastructure, agriculture and creative industries in the UK and beyond.
