Could Flying Drones Save Lives on Mount Everest?
Nepali officials recently tested a cargo drone on the world’s highest peak, and believe aerial devices could reduce foot traffic in the deadly Khumbu Icefall
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Nepali officials believe so. Earlier this week, officials with the Pasang Lhamu Khumbu Rural Municipality—the local agency that oversees the Nepali side of the mountain—tested a Chinese cargo drone at Base Camp, to see if the device could haul garbage and gear off the peak. Officials say that the aerial device could someday reduce the number of trips that porters make through the deadly Khumbu Icefall.
“We want to alleviate the burden on Sherpas who risk their lives hauling garbage from high altitudes, which can often be a formidable task,” Jagat Prasad Bhusal, the chief administrative officer of the municipality told Outside. “At such high altitudes in this region, even removing a small piece of chocolate can prove to be a challenging task.”
The group conducted test flights on April 29 and 30 using a FlyCart 30, an industrial delivery drone built by Chinese company DJI. According to Bhusal, the experiment had promising—but not exactly perfect—results. On Monday, April 29, operators flew the craft from Base Camp, which sits at 17,600 feet, up to Camp I, which is at 19,900 feet, however they were unable to land the drone at the higher camp. The extreme altitude in the Himalayas presents a challenge for rotor-powered aircraft like helicopters and drones, since spinning blades generate less lift in thin air. On Tuesday, April 30, operators repeated the trip, but this time with two oxygen tanks in tow. Bhusal said the load weighed approximately 40 pounds, and the drone completed the journey.
