On October 12, 2024, the START Living Lab initiative’s Pilot Day 2024 will take place at the Schliniger Alm in South Tyrol. A day that shows that the future of mountain air rescue is not created by technology alone, but through close cooperation between mountain rescue services, research and industry in the Living Lab.

Mountain rescue teams from across the Alpine region will come together for training: Mountain Rescue Tyrol, Mountain Rescue Service South Tyrol in the AVS, Mountain Rescue Bavaria, South Tyrolean Mountain and Cave Rescue, and CNSAS Dolomiti Bellunesi. Together with technology partners, they will complete five practical training stations:

• Transport (led by CNSAS Bolzano, supported by FlyingBasket): The focus here is on the FB3 cargo drone with a maximum weight of 170 kg. Participants train in difficult terrain, poor visibility and unfavourable weather conditions – including BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight) flights and risk management.

• Data management (Bergwacht Bayern, supported by Carinthia University of Applied Sciences): How can sensor data be processed quickly and securely? Practical solutions for operational use are being tested here.

• Fawn search (Mountain Rescue Tyrol, supported by FH Kufstein & thermaldrones.de): Thermaldrones.de demonstrates how innovative software and apps are revolutionising the search for hidden animals – an ideal training scenario for searching for people in alpine areas. With live view, georeferenced locations (Easy POI) and up to five times higher area coverage.

• Terrain monitoring (CNSAS Belluno, supported by MAVTech): Use of drones to record and analyse complex terrain situations.

• Advanced Sensing (Mountain Rescue South Tyrol, supported by Eurac Research): Use of state-of-the-art sensor technology for precise data collection in real time.

Pilot Day 2024 is more than just a demonstration – it is a step towards standardised, safe and cross-border drone operations in alpine rescue. Together, we are shaping the future of mountain rescue – innovatively, practically and as a team.