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

Caltrans has chosen to test MND SAFETY’s patented system, called DaisyBell™, a mobile helicopter-borne avalanche triggering system based on the detonation of a hydrogen/oxygen gas mixture inside an open cone. This gas-based system, which is helicopter-mounted and therefore extremely mobile, allows for the rapid treatment of numerous avalanche corridors and zones, depending on the assessed level of risk.

With avalanches now occurring in areas where they previously did not, the DaisyBell™ system will provide Caltrans with a more precise, faster, and more mobile solution to secure key areas upstream of roads threatened by avalanche risks. The DaisyBell™ will complement fixed systems already in place, such as Gazex.

One of the key strengths of MND SAFETY’s system range is the total safety it provides to operators in the field. Activation is carried out remotely using gas detonation technology. No explosives are used, eliminating the need for handling explosive charges or requiring human intervention in avalanche zones. Operational 24/7, in all weather conditions, these systems generate one or more powerful detonations above the snowpack.

In France, the Chamonix Valley is equipped with MND SAFETY’s helicopter-borne DaisyBell™ systems to secure the access road to the Mont Blanc Tunnel on the French side, as well as to reinforce safety at various points across the ski resort.

Thanks to its numerous innovations and sustained investment strategy, 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 road networks. Unique in the world, these solutions are protected by numerous patents. All production and assembly are carried out in France at the Sainte-Hélène-du-Lac facility in Savoie.