MND: Helicopter-Based Avalanche Risk Prevention System Tested On The Mountain Roads Of California

The Helicopter-Based Avalanche Risk Prevention System from the French Group MND is Being Tested on the Mountain Roads of California

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), the agency responsible for the state’s road infrastructure, will begin testing the helicopter-based avalanche risk prevention system from the French group MND on January 9, 2025. MND, a global leader in avalanche risk prevention and control, aims to secure roads on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada.

Caltrans has chosen to test MND's patented SAFETY system, DaisyBell™, which is a mobile avalanche triggering system deployed by helicopter. The system uses the explosion of a hydrogen/oxygen gas mixture inside an open cone. This gas-based, helicopter-mounted, and highly mobile system allows for rapid treatment of numerous avalanche corridors and areas depending on the detected avalanche risks. As avalanches now occur in areas where they didn't before, the mobile helicopter-based DaisyBell™ system will enable Caltrans to be more precise, faster, and more mobile in securing necessary areas upstream of the roads at risk from avalanches. DaisyBell™ will be used in addition to the fixed systems already in place, such as Gazex.

A key advantage of MND SAFETY systems is the total safety of users during field implementation. They are triggered by explosion technologies of gas mixtures, remotely activated. No explosives are used, meaning no handling of explosive charges or human intervention in the avalanche-prone zones that need securing. Operational 24/7 in all weather conditions, they generate one or more powerful explosions above the snowpack.

In France, the Chamonix Valley is equipped with such helicopter-based DaisyBell™ MND SAFETY systems to secure the access road to the Mont Blanc Tunnel on the French side, as well as to secure various points of the ski resort.

Thanks to numerous innovations and a sustained investment policy, the French group MND has established itself as the global leader in avalanche risk prevention and control. To date, more than 3,000 MND SAFETY systems have been installed and are operational in 22 countries worldwide, protecting ski resorts, mountain villages, industrial sites, railways, and roads. These unique solutions are protected by numerous patents. All of their production and assembly are carried out in France at Sainte-Hélène-du-Lac in Savoy.

MND is a French industrial group specializing in cable mobility, snow systems, mountain safety, and thrill-seeking leisure infrastructures. With over 3,000 customers in 49 countries, MND contributes daily through its four core business areas to mobility, leisure, and the safety of all by offering proven and sustainable solutions based on its mountain expertise. Based in Savoy, MND operates in more than 50 countries and employs nearly 300 people.