What makes us different

At Chilean Heli Ski we recognize the demand for providing high quality skiing experiences to our guests and ensuring optimum conditions for delivering that experience.

As the premium Heli ski provider in South America, Chilean Heli Ski and Puma Lodge proudly bring an entirely new philosophy of Heli ski operations to the Andes. The approach we take in every aspect of our operations is entirely professional and to the highest international standards.

We operate in a vast and very remote wilderness winter environment. Our emphasis is on prudence in all of our actions. We take all Risk Management issues very seriously and we spend a lot of time going over our safety strategies and protocols regularly. Our Mountain and Helicopter safety protocols are issues that we do not corners on in any manner at any time!

We employ and work exclusively with Mountain Professionals that are accredited the highest of internationally recognized qualifications and that remain current with those credentials.
We also recognize after a life time of working in the mountains around the world, that the environment is supreme and that the unexpected can and does occasionally happen, even to the most prudent, prepared and informed mountain professionals.

We have provided a brief overview of just some of our Risk Management practices, protocol and philosophies for you to review, that we at Chilean Heli Ski and Puma Lodge take very seriously and distinguishes us as the leading Heli Ski operator in the southern hemisphere.

+ Risk Management / Helicopters

 

Risk Management is paramount in our business.

We are the only Heli Ski operation in Chile, to carry accident liability insurance coverage and work within the safety guidelines for risk management protocol as suggested and outlined by the Canada West ski areas association and the Heli/Cat association of British Columbia.

As committed, experienced professional Heli ski providers, we at Chilean Heli Ski back our risk management strategy by partnering with the best multi national Helicopter providers available. Grupo Inaer & Inaer Chile and Suma Air.
Supplying Chilean Heli Ski with the most modern aircraft suitable for flying and working with, in our operating parameters.

Unlike the other Helicopter providers in Chile, Inaer carries substantial comprehensive $40 million accident liability insurance coverage as a minimum for all of their aircraft.

+ Mountain Professionals

We feel completely comfortable in sharing and instilling our confidence with our guests. All of our Mountain Professionals have obtained the highest internationally recognized certifications and credentials relating directly to mountain knowledge, skiing proficiency, snow science, rescue techniques and practices, and excellence in client care. 

Our Mountain Professionals also have a minimum of 7 years current relevant experience. These highly skilled and experienced professionals are constantly upgrading, training and practicing their chosen vocation.

+ Environmental Considerations / Weather

We employ the latest in technology for gathering and recording weather data through our automated remote weather station network. These are a series of sophisticated instruments placed at various locations throughout our skiing domain, that transmit specific data regularly via dedicated UHF & VHF radio frequency, directly to Puma Lodge.

Precipitation, current barometric pressures and trend, wind speed & direction, temperature gradients and other data affecting snow quality, stability and textures are recorded and relayed to Puma Lodge, where our guides, pilots and management team are able to download, study and extrapolate the information into the safest and best possible skiing conditions for each day, long before the first cup of coffee is served in the dining room.

+ Avalanche Safety Practices & Technologies

At Chilean Heli Ski we incorporate the latest in avalanche safety technologies. We are very proud of our support, continuing research and strong partnerships with some of the worlds leading avalanche rescue technology providers. 

All of our guests are provided with and trained in the use of the latest of these proven snow safety enhancement technologies from Switzerland.

Snow Pulse Avalanche safety air bag back packs, Mammut/Barryvox ‘pulse’ avalanche transceivers, shovels and probes.

We have also been instrumental in bringing the RECCO avalanche rescue system to the Andes. We carry the newest RECCO search devices on the mountain daily with our guides, as well as in the Helicopters. These afford a more rapid and direct search and rescue, delivering a significantly larger scope of signal detection than standard personal transceivers.

These are just a few of the very important safety considerations and risk management practices that we undertake and engage fully for the purpose of providing our guests with the best possible Heli ski experience available, while allowing as much freedom as is prudent to enjoy the grandeur of our magnificent terrain.

Our committed and professional approach to risk management and the daily assessments of risk levels doesn’t mean that you find us skiing only the shallow slopes. As here in the central Andes the snow pack in general, is relatively stable, not often experiencing persistent weak layers, but rather finding a steadily more consistent dense snow pack profile.

This gives us the freedom to challenge our skiing levels on some of the most amazing terrain available.