Everest Drone Delivery Project

In spring 2025, Airlift Technology partnered with Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) and Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality to revolutionize high-altitude logistics on Mount Everest using heavy-lift drones. The project achieved dual objectives: delivering critical climbing gear to support Icefall Doctors and expedition teams, while removing accumulated waste from dangerous upper camps. Using DJI FlyCart 30 drones, the team transported 2.5 tonnes of cargo—including 910kg of route-fixing equipment to Camp 2 and 234kg of waste from high camps—while reducing Base Camp-to-Camp 1 transit time from 6-7 hours to just 10-12 minutes per drone round trip.

The operation overcame extreme challenges through innovative adaptations: Engineers constructed a dedicated dronepad at TAG Nepal Base Camp for optimal efficiency, developed automated flight paths, and created a hybrid rope system (45m extension + 20m winch) to bypass signal blackouts below 65m altitude at Camp 1. Despite unpredictable winds, battery constraints (6 pairs cycling through 77 flights), and helicopter traffic risks, the team executed precision deliveries of oxygen cylinders, tents, and anchors—eliminating human porter risks through the deadly Khumbu Icefall. Strict morning operational windows (7:30 AM starts) with pre-heated batteries and parallel charging protocols maximized output in brief weather windows.

This landmark initiative proved drones can transform Himalayan conservation and climbing safety, retrieving waste from previously inaccessible zones while slashing human exposure to avalanches and crevasses. Recommendations for future missions include real-time wind monitoring, Camp 1 signal crews, and enhanced air traffic coordination. The project sets a replicable model for sustainable high-altitude operations, demonstrating that drone technology is essential for preserving Everest's fragile ecosystem while supporting safer expeditions.