Item: TESTING OF DRONE AVALANCHE CONTROL IN JASPER NATIONAL PARK
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Title: TESTING OF DRONE AVALANCHE CONTROL IN JASPER NATIONAL PARK
Proceedings: Proceedings, International Snow Science Workshop, Whistler, BC, Canada, 2026
Authors:
- Amanda Bischke [ AVSS – Aerial Vehicle Safety Solutions, Canada ]
Date: 2026-09-28
Abstract: Recent technological and regulatory advances in drones have enabled the technology to become a new avalanche control tool. The flexible use of drones has the potential to allow for more geographic versatility than Remote Avalanche Control Systems (RACS) and to reduce human exposure to flight hazards from helicopter-based missions. In August 2025, Transport Canada issued a Special Flight Operations Certificate to AVSS, allowing for the Canadian-owned, designed, and manufactured Precision Avalanche Management System (PAMS) to move into testing with explosives. Missions were conducted in Jasper National Park in February and March 2026. The Canadian regulatory framework is evolving with the technology and at the time of testing also required compliance with or approvals from Natural Resources Canada, provincial occupational health and safety, and Parks Canada. The first mission focused on validating flight capabilities and the ignition system in a mountain environment. The drone proved to be a reliable tool for avalanche control from valley bottom, utilizing less than half of the battery's capacity per flight. The second mission assessed operational efficiency, yielding one shot every 15 minutes. Mountain and 'lab' testing of over 300 drops demonstrated a reliable system, with a >99% initiation rate, a >98% drop rate and a >99% target accuracy. One misfire occurred due to the breaking of the crimped pull wires. The pilot was able to utilize the drone to deploy a secondary charge that destroyed the misfire. The hazard was mitigated right away, avoiding human exposure from approaching the charge and bypassing the standard one hour wait time. Industry feedback from the trials indicates that widespread adoption depends on operational efficiency. The majority of the time during these missions was spent in the air, flying from staging to targets. A multi-charge payload would reduce operational time. Furthermore, the industry has requested the ability to deploy larger explosive charges, such as ANFO bags over the 5lb cast boosters.
Object ID: ISSW2026_O5.1.pdf
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15788/1790098605
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Amanda Bischke
Keywords: Drone, Avalanche control, RPAS, UAS
Page Number(s): 371 - 376
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