See an avalanche airbag in simulated use. By deploying in just a few micro-seconds, this device reduces the specific gravity of the wearer / user relative to the snowpack around them, in the unlikely event of being trapped in an avalanche. It allows a skiier or winter adventurer to be possibly jetissoned to the top of the snow mass and thus be rescued based on a visual signal or then the AM/FM transmitters that it carries on it. A helicopter rescue is also possible, as the signals can be collected from the air, and the yellow colour of the airbag immediately attracts attention. <br /><br /><br />It essentially reduces your density making you less likely to be buried by more dense snow. <br /><br /><br />Chunni Lal Thakur demonstrates the use of the airbag that Roderick Mackenzie has developed for the use of his heli-skiiers on Himacal Helicopter Skiing, in Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India. <br /><br />A spade is also present in the lightweight backpack package, to help a potentially trapped skiier help his colleagues dig their way out, assuming he or she can come out in the first place!<br /><br /><br />According to Roddy Mackenzie's www.himachal.com :<br /><br /><br />"In the event of a victim being caught in an avalanche, two factors are relevant. The first is to try to avoid burial. The second is fast location and extraction of the victim in the event that burial does occur. HHA / HSS has developed two devices to improve the chances of avalanche victims<br /><br /><br />(a) The first is a new incarnation of the well-known and proven device called an avalanche bag. These devices are based on the "lighter than snow " principle which was first publicised in 1984 in East Germany. Avalanche debris is an air-particle fluid. The lowest density of the debris is about 0.4. Humans have a density around 1.0. Therefore, we sink in the avalanche debris. The "lighter than snow" principle involves attaching the victim to a bag with negligible mass and large volume in order to reduce the net density of the victim. This principle has been shown to work well. The bag folds into a small pack and is inflated from a compressed gas source.<br /><br /><br />HHA has developed the avalanche bags beyond the existing state-of-the-art to include:<br /><br /><br />Increased air/snow filter area, over forty times larger than any other system. No pyrotechnic triggering system (civilian flying with pyrotechnics is generally illegal). Pressure testing can be done at our base. No error-prone weighing to confirm charge. Each unit contains its own avalanche probe and shovel. Light weight and small, 3.5 kg per unit. Very comfortable. Can be worn comfortably even while seated in the helicopter. Increased bag volume: 190 litres. Cylinders refillable at our base. Other systems require replacement cylinders from Europe. US Department of Transport certified cylinder, legal to carry charged in aircraft. Can be carried in international transit aircraft without pressure inside the cylinder.<br /><br /><br />(b) In addition to the avalanche bag, we have developed a new transmitter system for avalanche rescue. This de
