Lt. Jean-François Martin is Helicopter Pilot Shows Incredible Skill in Rescue of Injured Skier on French Mountainside, who has racked up over 5,000 hours flight time in his six years flying with Chamonix, explained, “We look at the helicopter’s rotor disk, the end of the blades, to make sure the angle of the ground is compatible with the pad support.” While the impressive maneuver has garnered widespread praise and sparked social media awe, Martin made light of the impressive feat. “This maneuver is taught to all pilots who pass the mountain qualification,” he explained, adding that it allows rescuers to get on and off the helicopter very quickly. He did add, however, that the maneuver makes for “a beautiful image” and as such is “very nice for the gendarmerie.” The helicopter rescue of an injured skier in the French Alps caught on video showcases the spectacular precision of the pilot as the craft’s rotor blades spin mere inches from the mountainside. Nicolas Derely posted a series of three videos on social media, captioning them with a description of the dramatic mountain rescue. “Dear friends, this year I present a rescue story that took place on Jan. 2, 2019,” Derely wrote, “dedicated to PGHM Chamonix and my gendarme friends Bruno Tauziet, Franck Junod, and Blaise Agresti.” PGHM Chamonix Mont-Blanc is a French mountain rescue service. The videos show the French mountain rescue service (PGHM Chamonix Mont-Blanc) landing in the area and helping the injured skier, before hoisting him into a helicopter.
