Safety
We have been doing
this since 2008.
We know when to go
- and when not to.
Safety is not a section of our operation. It is the foundation of it.
Our guides
UIAGM / IFMGA.
The highest standard
in the world.
Our guides hold UIAGM/IFMGA certification — the highest international standard for mountain guiding, requiring a minimum of four years of professional training across alpine, ski, and ice disciplines. They are based in the Val d’Arán and spend the majority of their season here, with additional experience from heliski operations worldwide. Some hold additional helicopter rescue certification.
They do not rotate between destinations. They know this terrain — its aspects, its layers, its behaviour through the season.
Daily snowpack assessment
Every morning.
Before anyone arrives.
Eduardo González, George Robbi, and Montse Bacardit — combined 45+ years in avalanche risk management. Every morning, before the first helicopter departs, they produce a snowpack assessment and internal avalanche bulletin specific to our operating area. This bulletin is independent of the regional forecast.
01
Internal bulletin
Independent of the regional AEMET forecast. Based on our own field observations and instrumentation in the operating zone.
02
Powder Management system
Terrain decisions - open zones, aspects to avoid, operational limits - documented before any group moves. No informal decisions.
03
No-fly days
When the bulletin indicates elevated risk, we do not fly. This is a non-negotiable operational rule. Full refund policy applies.
The helicopter
Airbus H125 (AS350 B4 / T2).
FADEC engine. Eco operation.
We operate a light, single-engine helicopter derived from the AS350 family — specifically designed for passenger transport and heliski operations in high-altitude mountain environments. Operated by Eliance Aviation Group, based at the Vielha Heliport in Betren.
Propulsion
Safran Arriel engine with FADEC
The Arriel 2B (B4 variant) or 2D (T2 variant) with Full Authority Digital Engine Control. FADEC continuously optimises fuel consumption, reduces noise, and minimises mechanical wear — what the industry calls eco operation. Efficient and quieter than earlier AS350 variants.
Performance
Designed for altitude
The H125 is the global reference for high-altitude mountain operations. Used worldwide for heliski, mountain rescue, and precision aerial work above 3,000m. Our operating zone (1,200–3,000m) is well within its performance envelope in all seasonal conditions.
Configuration
4 riders + 1 guide
Each helicopter lift carries 4 riders and 1 guide — the working configuration that keeps groups tight on the mountain and response time fast in any incident. Maximum 4 groups operate simultaneously across the 400 km² operating zone.
Safety equipment
Every participant. Every descent.
No exceptions.
All safety equipment is included in every programme. No one skis without it.
Per rider - included in all programmes
Personal safety kit
- ARVA Calgary 18 avalanche airbag backpack
- Mammut Barryvox S transceiver - the industry benchmark
- Shovel & probe
- RECCO reflector
- Radio (last in group)
Helicopter - every flight
Airborne equipment
- Satellite phone (pilot)
- InReach GPS tracker (lead guide)
- RECCO antenna
- AED defibrillator & AmbuBag
- Cervical collar & immobilisation equipment
Base - Vielha Heliport
Rescue equipment
- Evacuation chair, vacuum mattress, rescue sled
- Immobilisation backboard & cervical collar
- Avalanche shovels & probes · Thermal blankets
- First aid kit - minor to serious trauma
Emergency protocol
Every scenario has a plan.
Two of them.
The guide selects the response protocol based on severity at the moment of incident. Our base at Vielha Heliport is the coordination point for all emergency responses.
Immediate response
Direct link with GRAE
Grup de Rescat i Activitats d’Emergència — the Val d’Arán specialist mountain rescue team. Direct line from the lead guide, not through a general emergency number. Road transfer to Vielha Hospital: 5 minutes.
Serious trauma
Toulouse University Hospital - 30 min
For serious trauma, medicalised helicopter transfer to Toulouse University Hospital — a Level 1 trauma centre, 30 minutes flight time. This is faster than ground-based transfer to any equivalent facility in the region.
Booking terms
Payment & cancellation.
All safety equipment is included in every programme. No one skis without it.
Payment schedule
Personal safety kit
- 35% deposit to confirm reservation
- 35% due 120 days before departure
- 30% due 60 days before departure
- Bank transfer in EUR · Full group in single transaction
Early discount: 5% for full payment before 3 May 2027.
Cancellation
Deposit non-refundable
- Deposit non-refundable in all circumstances
- Cancellations after 1 December: no refund
- If we can resell the spot, amount may be credited for a future stay
- Name changes allowed if replacement meets all requirements
BOOK
Questions about safety?
We are happy to go into detail.
Reach us directly - email, phone, or WhatsApp.
- +34 655 012 393
- WhatsApp