DJI recently announced its first high-altitude drone transport test on the southern slope of Mount Everest. This marks the first round-trip transport test for drones at altitudes ranging from 5,300 meters to 6,000 meters, setting a new record for civil drone transportation. This test provided valuable data and experience for the next steps towards large-scale, routine use of drones in high-altitude transport. As a promoter of broader applications of drone transport solutions, DJI, in collaboration with partners, is advancing the routine use of transport drones in high-altitude regions to support high-altitude mountaineering, emergency rescue, and environmental protection efforts.
FC30 Completes World’s First Drone Transport Test on Mount Everest
DJI’s FC30 transport drone was officially launched in August 2023 and has since been applied in dozens of countries and regions worldwide. Its intelligent, safe, and cost-effective transport solutions have been recognized by users, helping to solve transport challenges in various scenarios such as mountainous regions, coastal bases, emergency situations, and logistics. From April 25 to May 1 this year, DJI’s transport drone team overcame challenges such as high-altitude reactions, short mountaineering windows, and complex and variable climate and terrain conditions to conduct a week-long high-altitude flight and transport capability test above Everest’s southern base camp (5,300 meters) and higher altitudes. The test effectively validated the drone’s high-altitude adaptability for hovering, no-load flying, and load-carrying flying, setting a new civilian transport drone flight record of 6,191.8 meters and a high-altitude, 15-kilogram load round-trip transport record at 6,000 meters.
Tests confirmed that in temperatures of minus 5°C and wind speeds of 15 meters per second (equivalent to level 7 wind), the FC30 can stably fly at around 6,000 meters without any modifications and can carry a load of 15 kilograms. In a 15-kilogram load transport mission with a route length of 2.7 kilometers and an altitude gain of 700 meters, the drone still had 43% battery remaining after a round trip. The power margin under extreme climbing conditions still exceeded 20%, and the power system performance remained stable with room for altitude increase. This is the world’s first drone transport test completed under natural high-altitude conditions and real mountaineering conditions at 6,000 meters. The test, initiated by DJI, received support from Nepalese drone operator Airlift, professional imaging team 8KRAW, and Imagine Nepal mountaineering company. After solving a series of issues such as flight permits, equipment transport, and route planning, the transport test was successfully completed.
Enhancing Product Design for Extreme Scenarios
It’s worth noting that the FC30 was optimized for various extreme scenarios during its product design phase. During the recently concluded 40th Antarctic expedition, the FC30 also passed the test of Antarctica’s frigid climate and harsh environment on drone flight performance, demonstrating stable flight capabilities and reliability, significantly improving the efficiency and flexibility of scientific expedition operations. Before the Everest region test, extreme validation was also conducted in the Shigatse region of Tibet at 6,000 meters altitude.
Establishing a 2.7-Kilometer Aerial Transport Route Over the “Terrifying Icefall”
Every year from late April to mid-May is the best window for climbing Mount Everest from the Nepal side. To complete the on-site transport test of the FC30 within this window and accumulate experience for routine transport, DJI’s transport team decided to focus on the transport section from the southern base camp to Camp 1 this year. This route includes the world’s highest icefall—Khumbu Icefall, the first major obstacle in climbing Everest from the south, known for its complex and dangerous terrain.
“People often describe it as deadly and unpredictable,” said Mingma G, a renowned local Nepalese mountaineering guide. The Khumbu Icefall’s complex conditions, with crisscrossing crevasses, result in mountaineers and Sherpa guides losing their lives almost every year.
Although helicopter transport is supported in the Everest region to reduce the number of trips needed to transport supplies, issues such as altitude and weather often result in untimely dispatches, inability to fly, inability to land, or high costs. Transport drones offer significant advantages in these areas, providing quicker, more flexible solutions for supply transport and emergency rescue.
DJI FC30 Completes World’s First Drone Transport Test on Mount Everest with a 15-Kilogram Payload
DJI FlyCart 30 Drone. Source: DJI Official Website
The round-trip flight of DJI FC30, carrying 15 kilograms of mountaineering equipment, took a total of 12 minutes. The operation was stable, with 43% battery remaining.
The extensive mountaineering activities have generated a large amount of waste, including human excrement and difficult-to-degrade residual trash. DJI’s successful drone flight test offers an excellent solution to address the waste problem.
DJI engineer Jiang Jianmin recalled that after a series of flight tests, including near-ground hovering at 5,300 meters without a load, climbing to 6,191 meters without a load, hovering at 5,300 meters with a 10-kilogram load, and hovering at 6,000 meters with a 10-kilogram load, the team began to establish an aerial transport route over the Khumbu Icefall from the southern base camp.
With the drone unloaded, a signal-free point was identified near Camp 1 above the Khumbu Icefall. After determining the target point, the route was planned, and 15 kilograms of mountaineering equipment (including three oxygen bottles weighing 4.5 kilograms each and 1.5 kilograms of miscellaneous items) were lifted. Flying at a speed of 15 meters per second, the drone transported the package across the Khumbu Icefall to near Camp 1 and used an aerial lifting system for one-click delivery. After the package was released and collected by ground personnel, the drone carried 15 kilograms of garbage and returned along the same route, completing the round trip in 12 minutes with 43% battery remaining.
Mingma G revealed that Sherpa guides typically spend about 6-8 hours crossing the Khumbu Icefall, carrying a maximum load of 15 kilograms each time. Last year, three Sherpa guides in his team lost their lives in the Khumbu Icefall. DJI’s transport drone can transport 15 kilograms of supplies between camps in just 12 minutes, day or night, providing a new solution to reduce casualties. “The drone test on Everest was very effective. This means that soon, we can use drones to transport equipment to Camp 1 day or night and use drones to bring down all the remaining garbage and waste from the upper camps. We don’t have to cross the icefall frequently at night, and we don’t have to endure the cold. It will undoubtedly help save more lives.”
Accelerating Routine High-Altitude Transport
In recent years, the high-altitude climbing industry has been booming, with a growing number of climbers worldwide. Along with climbers’ safety and rescue issues, environmental pollution problems have also increased.
Taking climbing from the southern side of Everest as an example, according to Nepal’s Ministry of Tourism, 414 climbers have obtained permits for climbing from the south side in 2024. The large number of climbing activities generates a significant amount of waste, including human waste and difficult-to-degrade residual garbage. Efforts are being made to find better solutions to this problem. DJI’s Senior Director of Corporate Strategy and spokesperson, Zhang Xiaonan, stated that the use of DJI transport drones on Everest demonstrates the value of the technology and product. More importantly, it provides valuable flight parameters for ultra-high altitude areas, laying a solid foundation for the use of this type of drone in plateau regions. “Today, on World Environment Day, we hope that drones can not only provide material transport security for commercial mountaineering, reducing accidents, but also reduce environmental damage from mountaineering activities through drone garbage transport solutions, protecting Everest and the natural environment.”
According to reports, the application of FC30 in the Everest region has been highly recognized by local authorities, commercial climbing organizations, and operating companies in Nepal. The local operating company in Nepal, commissioned by the local government, officially launched the routine transport project for drones in the Everest region on May 22, focusing on clearing residual garbage on the southern slope of Everest, one climbing season ahead of schedule. In addition, DJI’s transport partners in China are also promoting the application of FC30 in established commercial climbing routes such as Namcha Barwa and Mount Gongga.
The accelerated routine transport of drones in high-altitude areas may usher in a new era of high-altitude mountaineering and rescue, contributing to environmental protection and the sustainable development of the mountaineering industry.
