Successful Use of Drone in Avalanche Rescues

13th July 2026

Val Thorens ski patrol teams have been using the DJI Dock 3 and Matrice 4TD drone.

The drone averaged two flights per day during the 2025/26 season and could cover 75% 0f the ski area.

Time is off the essence in an avalanche rescue with buried victims only having a small window of opportunity for rescue.

Survival rates fall sharply after around 20 minutes.

• System launches within 10 seconds of an alert, day or night.
• Thermal imaging detects survivors buried beneath the snow.
• Real-time aerial intelligence across dangerous alpine terrain.
• Operates through extreme weather conditions when ground teams cannot.

The result is faster decision-making, safer operations, and potentially a better chance of finding people before time runs out.

Drones do not replace the expertise of ski patrol teams, but the autonomous system gives them a crucial head start when minutes can mean the difference between life and death.

Rather than sending personnel into uncertain terrain simply to assess an incident, rescue leaders can first build a clearer operational picture from the air.

Flegere avalanche. Image c/o Flegere ski patrol.

“In the mountains, time and information are everything,” said the first aid technical director of Val Thorens Ski Service,  Olivier Gardet.

“The faster we can understand a situation, the faster we can make the right decision.”

Gardet says that the technology isn’t replacing experienced rescue professionals.

Instead, it’s giving them better information before they put themselves at risk.

That additional perspective can help teams determine the safest approach, evaluate snowpack conditions, monitor changing weather, identify hazards, and deploy resources more efficiently — all while reducing unnecessary exposure to dangerous terrain.

The video offers  a demonstration of how autonomous drone technology is moving beyond inspections and mapping into life-saving public safety operations.

PlanetSKI: Number 1 for digital ski news

Your digital platform for ski news, resort information, travel, equipment rental, sport, money saving deals and everything connected with snowsports – web site, social media & more.