DJI’s FlyCart 30 drones achieve first successful delivery trials on Mount Everest.
Shenzhen-based DJI, in collaboration with Airlift, 8KRAW, and certified mountain guide Mingma Gyalje Sherpa, has achieved a historic milestone in aviation. In April, DJI’s FlyCart 30 drones successfully completed delivery trials on Mount Everest, demonstrating their capability to transport 15kg payloads under extreme altitude and environmental conditions.
The trials saw three oxygen bottles and 1.5kg of other supplies flown from Everest Base Camp to Camp 1, with trash carried back on the return trip. DJI’s Senior Corporate Strategy Director, Christina Zhang, highlighted the potential of this technology to revolutionise Everest logistics, enhance safety, and facilitate cleanup efforts.
The route between Everest Base Camp and Camp 1, traversing the perilous Khumbu Icefall, typically requires Sherpas to make over 30 trips each season, risking their lives. Mingma Gyalje Sherpa emphasised the dangers, noting the loss of three Sherpas last year. The FlyCart 30, capable of making round trips between camps in just 12 minutes, offers a safer alternative.
DJI engineers conducted rigorous tests to ensure the drones could withstand Everest’s harsh conditions, including temperatures from -15°C to 5°C and wind speeds up to 15m/s. The FlyCart 30’s success on Everest also underscores its broader potential for environmental conservation and sustainable practices in mountaineering. Globally launched in January 2024, the FlyCart 30 is already aiding various projects, from reforestation to scientific research.
