Eyes in the sky: how drones are transforming mountain rescue in Switzerland
Drones are increasingly used in alpine rescue in Switzerland. They help locate missing persons, analyse avalanche zones and support operations in difficult terrain.
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Each year, millions of hikers, skiers and climbers venture into the Swiss mountains. The landscapes are spectacular, but they can also be unforgiving. Steep terrain, sudden weather changes and avalanche risks mean that each year around 3,500 people require alpine rescue assistance in Switzerland. To operate in such a demanding environment, rescue teams are increasingly turning to a new ally in the sky.
Drones in practice: tools for the toughest terrain
Drones have become one of the most visible technological additions to alpine rescue. In practice, they fulfil several critical roles: equipped with thermal cameras, mobile phone detection systems and advanced navigation software, drones can scan steep slopes, search avalanche debris or fly into areas that are difficult or dangerous to reach.
Yet Swiss rescue professionals emphasize one point consistently: drones do not replace rescuers. They reduce risk. Rather than developing its own drones, the Swiss mountain rescue specialists rely on the expertise of commercial providers such as DJI or the drone operated by Rega, Switzerland’s largest air rescue service, to keep pace with technological developments.
“Things are really taking off in the technical development of drones” – Rolf Gisler, drone coordinator for the organization Alpine Rescue Switzerland
A drone built for rescue
One of the most advanced systems currently used in Switzerland is Rega’s rescue drone. Custom-built with a rotor span of just over two metres, the drone flies autonomously at 80–100 metres above ground. It scans predefined search areas systematically. On board, it carries a daylight camera, a thermal imaging camera and a device called Lifeseeker, a mobile phone locator system that can pinpoint a handset to within a few metres, even in areas with no mobile coverage. A self-learning algorithm developed in collaboration with ETH Zurich analyses the thermal imagery in real time and flags potential human sightings to a Rega drone specialist stationed at the helicopter base.
The drone is deployed specifically when poor visibility prevents rescue helicopters from flying. In that sense, it does not replace existing rescue tools but fills a gap where helicopter teams cannot operate safely. The drone is constantly being developed further to keep pace with the latest technological advancements.
Switzerland’s ‘Drone Valley’
Switzerland’s prominence in drone technology is no coincidence. In particular, the country’s two federal institutes of technology, ETH Zurich and EPFL, are among the world leaders in autonomous flight research. Around this academic ecosystem, more than 80 drone start-ups have emerged, with the sector generating around 6,500 full-time positions and revenues of nearly 600 million Swiss francs.
The topography that makes Switzerland so challenging turns out to be its greatest asset for development. If a system works reliably in the Alps in winter, it will likely work almost anywhere in the world. The mountains, in this sense, have become a real-world laboratory whose results are exported globally. Switzerland’s federal regulatory system also allows experimental test zones and pilot projects, such as the recently announced Alpine Drone Consortium, offering controlled flight zones under real-world conditions.
The Alps as testing ground for new solutions
Mountain rescue is only one example of how extreme alpine environments are driving drone innovation. Across Switzerland, researchers and start-ups are developing new systems that could further improve safety in the mountains.
Technology supporting human rescue
Despite all these technological advances, alpine rescue in Switzerland remains above all a human endeavour. Pilots, mountain guides, paramedics and volunteers are the ones who ultimately enter difficult terrain to reach those in need. Technology is increasingly becoming their ally. Drones, sensors and new data systems help rescuers understand complex situations more quickly and reduce risks before a mission even begins.
In the end, however, the goal remains unchanged: reaching people in danger as quickly and safely as possible, even in the most remote corners of the Swiss Alps.