Savoie: Val Thorens has a new drone fitted with a thermal camera for track monitoring and rescue missions

Val Thorens has just equipped himself with a second rescue drone.Two trackers are trained this week for steering.This will allow the Savoyard station to be able to use drones if necessary 7/7 days and 24/24 hours.

Val Thorens station, Domaine des 3 Vallées station, was already a pioneer by having a first drone two years ago.This season, it is equipped with a second machine to be able to monitor the domain and help at any time, day and night.

Specific training for trackers

Since Monday, two rescuers of the station have been in training.Already used to drone driving, they perfection in the management of these devices for specific mountain rescue missions.""The drone evolves in the same environment as a helicopter or a plane that is inhabited, we have to be aware of that"" explains Benoît Favre, one of the trackers in training.A training provided by two former helicopter pilots of the Patroulair company.

Un drone de ""premiers secours""

The drone can be used to locate a lost person for example, falling into a ravine or buried under an avalanche...It is equipped with a thermal camera for night interventions and a speaker, possibly allowing to get in touch with a victim.""It is very important to meet people injured or lost, it immediately makes us a first contact"" specifies Olivier To keep, technical director of tracks.

The machine, which weighs approximately 7 kg is capable of transporting a load of almost 3 kg.He may thus, if necessary, deliver a survival coverage to a lost person while waiting for help.

In addition to the usual help

Drones will not replace the usual emergency services by helicopter.But they will probably save lives.Because every minute counts during an accident or an avalanche in the mountains.And the drone, ready to take off in a few minutes, allows you to be reactive.It also has good autonomy (40 minutes of flight).The first drone of the station has already helped rescue a person swept away by a small avalanche on the lady's track.

A promising tool

The drone also allows less to expose the staff of the resort to the dangers when it comes for example to go and check the condition of a pylon at altitude.The drone is equipped with a very powerful camera ""capable of reading a license plate at 700 meters away"".

But in season, drones are above all a safety instrument.Val Thorens station has two now.By the end of the week, three pilots will be able to maneuver them.This will ensure a 7/7 day and 24/24 hour penalty.

And other stations may well be equipped soon according to Thierry Boisvilliers, president of Patrolair, convinced of the interest of drones in the mountains: ""Val Thorens is the pioneer in the use of drone for rescue on the ski area andfeels today that there is an interest on the part of other stations.""