Heavy‑lift drone trialled for mountain rescue in Andorra

The Mirador del Roc del Quer, above Canillo, hosted a two‑day validation exercise of a heavy‑lift unmanned aircraft designed for mountain rescue and vertical logistics. Led by The NeverRest Project with Aerofor, the trials used a modified DJI Agras T100 heavy‑lifter to demonstrate delivery of critical supplies and support operations in places difficult for ground teams or helicopters to access.

Representatives from Andorra’s Protecció Civil, the Red Cross, Bombers d’Andorra and the Automòbil Club d’Andorra took part in the tests. Climbers Alex Txikon and María Martín joined a preparatory session, advising on high‑altitude risk management and operational needs. Organisers said the validation is part of an international testing programme and a preparatory step toward deploying the system in Nepal’s Sagarmatha National Park in 2026.

Project leaders described the platform as capable of carrying roughly 100 kg of cargo under the current configuration; some participants suggested higher lift may be achievable in specific setups, with one claim of up to 160 kg cited during the exercise. The NeverRest Project says the aircraft is intended to deliver life‑saving supplies such as oxygen, medication and thermal blankets, ferry rescue equipment so teams need not climb as heavily loaded, and — in extreme cases and subject to technical and regulatory limits — enable vertical evacuation of a person.

CEO Frédéric Kauffmann said the initiative was spurred by a recent Himalayan rescue failure. He recalled the case of climber Natalia Nagovitsyna, whom rescuers could not reach or resupply in severe conditions: “We flew a drone and could not get material to her… that day we failed,” he said, describing the incident as a catalyst for accelerating research into vertical logistics.

The Canillo tests focused on assessing heavy‑load takeoff in demanding conditions, in‑flight cargo management, vertical‑evacuation procedures and coordination between the aircraft and ground teams. Organisers framed the exercise as a validation of concepts rather than the rollout of a finished operational system.

Officials stressed current technical and legal constraints. Kauffmann noted lift capability decreases with altitude and in cold conditions and cautioned the technology “is not ready for immediate deployment” at scale. Regulatory barriers remain: existing rules in many jurisdictions prohibit carrying people by drone, and organisers pointed out there are only a small number of precedents worldwide for human rescue by unmanned aircraft.

Bombers director Jordi Farré said the device could be useful “in any place of difficult access” for delivering aid and initial assistance, and indicated his service — which already operates its own drones — would be among the first to request its use once permitted. ACA officials highlighted local training and regulatory flexibility: the club has trained more than 100 drone pilots in Andorra and said the principality offers suitable conditions to refine the technology.

The Canillo validation joins a small number of international demonstrations exploring heavy‑lift drones in life‑saving operations. Organisers said further trials, performance verification at higher altitudes and harsher meteorological conditions, and regulatory work will be required before such systems can be routinely integrated into mountain rescue.