Mountain rescue service tests DJI FlyCart 30: Giant drone to save lives in mountain accidents

It has already been in successful use in Austria since March 2024, and now the mountain rescue service in Bavaria has also received its first model. How exactly the DJI FlyCart 30 cargo drone can help in emergency operations is currently being trained in Penzberg in Upper Bavaria.

DJI originally developed this drone exclusively for the Chinese market. There, the large, powerful FlyCard 30 transport drone is set to revolutionise the delivery of goods in the country from 2024. In our part of the world, parcels containing online orders are still delivered by lorry and human hand, but the giant drone is expected to be of great benefit in Alpine regions. For example, the DJI FlyCard 30 has already been in successful use in Austria since March 2024 for forestry, cable car and bridge construction work, where it is particularly helpful in impassable, hard-to-reach areas.

As the drone, unlike helicopters, can also fly in extreme weather conditions and at altitudes of up to 6000 metres, the device is now to be tested by the Bavarian Mountain Rescue Service during rescue operations.

The strengths of the DJI FlyCard 30:

• Large payload: The transport drone can be loaded with up to 30 kilos. Either in a collapsible EPP case (70 litre capacity) or attached to a special winch system.
• Long range: with two batteries and a full load (30 kg), the drone can travel a maximum of 16 kilometres, without load: 28 kilometres
• Flight characteristics: Maximum speed 20 m/s, high signal strength, maximum flight altitude 6000 metres, operating temperature -20 °C to 45 °C, wind speed resistance 12 m/s
• Safety: The system recognises obstacles completely independently using dual radar and dual binocular vision. Should a system failure nevertheless occur, the drone has its own parachute.

The drone cannot yet fly accident victims out of the mountain, but a pilot project with a model is now to be launched in Penzberg. This has been made possible by the Versicherungskammer Foundation with a grant of 50,000 euros for the purchase of a DJI FlyCard 30, which was ceremoniously handed over at the mountain rescue centre in Bad Tölz on 11 September. "Carry" will be extensively tested by rescue services in Penzberg in Upper Bavaria. Not only for mountain accidents, but also in the areas of disaster and civil protection.

Until now, the use of drones has been limited to reconnaissance, search and situation assessment of an emergency situation. Now, equipment and medical supplies can be transported quickly and safely to the scene of an accident. Especially in places where, for example, an avalanche or landslide has destroyed roads and paths.

Technical data of the DJI FlyCard 30:

• Weight 42.5 kg (without battery): 65 kg (with two DB2000 batteries)
• Max. Weight at take-off: 95 kg (with cargo at sea level）.
• Max. Diagonal centre distance 2200 mm
• Dimensions: 1590 × 1900 × 947 mm (L × W × H) (arm boom folded out, propeller folded in)
  2800 × 3085 × 947 mm (L × W × H) (arm boom and propeller unfolded)
  1115 × 760 × 1027 mm (L × W × H) (arm boom and propeller folded in)
• Number of rechargeable batteries: 2
• Hover time (empty weight, with max. battery capacity): 29 minutes (operation with two batteries)
  15 minutes (operation with one battery)
• Hover time (max. weight, with max. battery capacity): 18 minutes (30 kg charge weight, operation with two batteries), 8 minutes (40 kg weight, operation with one battery)
• Price: 19,409 to 25,869 euros (price quote from Idealo)

The drone in the promotional video clip: