Safety on heli-ski programs

We are already told about the main principles of our work for maximum safety on freeride- programs, now let's focus on heli-ski. Unlike other types of freeride, heli-skiing has the possibility of dropping riders on high mountains or volcanoes. From this, the length of the descents is longer, but the danger is not less.

Helicopter pilots

Pilots who perform passenger transportation only are not allowed to work on heli-ski programs. Mountain pilots undergo special training to be able to work in the conditions of landing riders on the peaks of the mountains. These are professionals in their field, with whom we have been working for far from the first year and we trust them.

First descent

Even if the program involves riders who are not heli-skiing for the first time, the first descent will always be the most important and possibly the slowest. The group must understand the mechanics of actions. How to jump out of a helicopter, wait for the helicopter to fly away, do not touch the stopped and especially the spinning blades. A group is always allocated at least two guides — at the beginning of the group and at the end. The first guide rides along the slope, choosing the best route, checking the snow cover, assessing the avalanche danger. As soon as the first guide transmits the situation to the second one by radio, the riders begin to descend by a signal and with a certain distance, the group clearly follows all the guides' instructions. Even if someone wants to drive on an empty snow-covered slope, the guide can forbid it if he considers it avalanche-prone. The client's desire is important to us, but his safety and the safety of others are more important.

Avalanche gear

An avalanche backpack is added to the standard set of freeriders (beeper, dipstick, shovel) on the heli-ski. Read more about each item of avalanche equipment and their principles in the article "Heli-ski. Where to start?".

Avalanche

When an avalanche descends, the guides stop the group and announce silence on the radio on the air. All eyes are glued to the avalanche and to those who found themselves in it. It is important to trace the entire path and roughly understand the place where to make further searches. Only when the avalanche stops, rescue activity begins. The guides instruct the group to switch the avalanche sensors to the search mode so that it is possible to catch the signal of the avalanche sensors of those who got into the avalanche. Guides assess the situation and decide how much it is safe to approach the avalanche site. If nothing threatens them, the guides descend to the point that they have visually fixed. The main task — find a person as quickly as possible and dig them out, the maximum time a person is under the snow is 15 minutes, then asphyxia and hypothermia begin.

When a person is unearthed, guides assess his condition, find out the presence of injuries and damage. If a person cannot descend on his own, guides help him. If medical assistance is needed, the guides contact our managers by satellite phone, briefly explain the situation, and medical workers are already starting to leave for the heliport.

From beautiful views and extreme people usually have euphoria, because of which they fall out of reality and forget about safety. Freeride is not only entertainment, but also a real risk. Our task is to control the skating every minute and make sure that everyone is in focus and concentrated.