RECCO, a global leader in advanced rescue technology, has deployed its SAR Helicopter Detector system in Nepal, marking the 11th country to integrate this cutting-edge search-and-rescue technology. In collaboration with Simrik Air, the system aims to enhance search efforts for missing persons in the Himalayas.

Simrik Air crews and Nepali rescue specialists recently underwent extensive training on the RECCO system. The training was conducted in January by Bruno Jelk, former head of mountain rescue in Zermatt, alongside rescue specialist Matthias Hofer and RECCO instructor Tshering Pande Bhote, President of the Nepal Mountain Instructors Association (NMIA). The training included pilots from Simrik Air—Capt Siddartha Jung Gurung, Capt Surendra Paudel, and Capt Bimal Sharma Sapkota—along with six mountain guides from the Nepal National Mountain Guides Association (NNMGA) and other Nepalese rescue experts.

“The RECCO system appears to be highly helpful for rapid search and rescue operations in the Himalayas,” said Tul Singh Gurung, President of NNMGA. “The RECCO SAR Helicopter Detector will be more effective in search and rescue operations for missing people. Since the helicopter can fly up to 6,000 meters, we can also employ the detector in case of avalanche accidents at high altitudes. I want to express my gratitude to the RECCO family and the teaching team.”

The training covered both low-altitude searches in open terrain around Pokhara and high-altitude searches in snow-covered and crevassed areas in the Chumrung and Annapurna Base Camp region. More operators will be trained in the coming months to expand the system’s reach.

The RECCO SAR Helicopter Detector enables rapid, large-area searches for missing individuals year-round, scanning up to one square kilometer in just six minutes. Since its introduction in 2016, the system has proven effective for locating lost hikers, trekkers, and mountaineers, reducing search times and minimizing risks for rescue teams. It complements the RECCO handheld detector, which is already widely used in Nepal.

“For over a decade, RECCO handheld detectors have been utilized in Nepal,” said Capt Siddartha Jung Gurung of Simrik Air. “The RECCO SAR system will contribute to saving lives here in Nepal. We’ll be able to locate you if you’re carrying a rescue reflector, whether you’re a trekker or a mountaineer in need of rescue.”

Currently, 10 handheld detectors are positioned with key rescue partners, including NMIA, NNMGA, Simrik Air, Seven Summit Treks, Heli Everest, Imagine Nepal, and Adventure 6000. These devices are also dispatched to 8,000-meter peak base camps at the start of each climbing season, enabling rapid response to avalanches and missing person incidents.

Starting with the 2024 climbing season, new regulations in Nepal mandate that all climbers on peaks above 6,000 meters carry search-and-rescue equipment. The RECCO reflector is one such option that meets these requirements, ensuring climbers are searchable in case of emergencies.

“The addition of the RECCO SAR Helicopter Detector in Nepal is an important milestone to make more people searchable year-round,” said Fredrik Steinwall, CEO of RECCO. “Our technology is designed to make rescue operations faster and safer, and with this new system, we’re proud to enhance safety in the Himalayas. Together, we’re better equipped than ever to support local rescue teams and the growing number of adventurers in the region.”

RECCO reflectors are embedded in outdoor gear from over 150 leading brands, including Nepali brand Everest Outfit. Other international brands like SCARPA, Kailas, Millet, Blackyak, and Asolo also integrate reflectors into their high-altitude equipment.

Attachable RECCO reflectors can be purchased online or locally through Samatra Trading in Kathmandu, as well as from NNMGA, NMIA, and Everest Outfit’s shop in Thamel.