Simone Moro | Alpinist, heli pilot, speaker, author

I am an

HELICOPTER PILOT

Between Summit and Sky

At the top of his career, he decided to become a Helicopter Pilot to save people who got stranded or injured in the remote, unforgiving terrains of the Himalayas.

The motivation behind this rescue project stemmed from witnessing numerous lives lost to minor injuries, simply because they occurred in locations far removed from immediate help. “All these people could be saved by simple, normal helicopter missions,” he realized, acknowledging a gap in rescue operations that he was determined to fill.

Despite being at the zenith of his mountaineering career at 41, he saw becoming a helicopter pilot not just as a way to save lives but also as a sustainable path for his future.

“There were no people ready to do it.
So I did it myself.”

My Mission in Nepal

In Nepal, Simone is doing something truly special. It’s not just about climbing for him there; it’s about giving back. Using his skills as a pilot, he’s been a part of daring rescue missions to save climbers in trouble, flying into places where others can’t reach.

His connection with Nepal is deep. Through his work, he’s not just a visitor; he’s become a part of the community, showing his dedication to the people and the beautiful mountains they live among.

Simone’s mission in Nepal is about using what he knows to make a difference, combining his love for adventure with a strong desire to help.

Following the completion of training, every available moment was spent flying in the Alps, striving to gain as much experience as possible. The Goal: flying his Helicopter in Nepal.

At the end of 2008, the decision was made to pursue pilot training with the aim of organizing a mountain rescue service in Nepal.

In Bergamo, Italy, he found a person who owned an Airbus Helicopters AS350. This owner offered unrestricted access to the helicopter, with the condition of being included in the flights.

Moro used a drill to secure a piton into the rock, enabling him to work for two days to free the body from the ice and snow, marking a groundbreaking moment in high-altitude rescue operations in Nepal.

On May 19, 2013, his helicopter carried in Nepal and flown by Maurizio Folini set a record performing a longline recovery at an altitude of 7,800 meters to rescue an injured Nepali climber.

On May 18, 2012, Simone Moro participated with his helicopter in a rescue operation on Teng Kang Poche, recognized as possibly the highest helicopter wall recovery situated at 6,500 meters ever conducted.

This involved the recovery of a Ukrainian mountaineer’s body that had been hanging on the north face for two years.

My altitude record with ES101 Raven

On November 12, 2015, Moro set a new altitude world record for two-seater helicopters under 500 kg takeoff weight with his helicopter Alpi SYTON AH 130 (registration I-7896).

The turbine-powered helicopter (Category E1-a, <500 kg) achieved a service ceiling of 5,000 m (16,404 ft). Moro took off from Bolzano Airport, reaching a maximum altitude of 6,705 m.

The airspace over Bolzano within a radius of 1,000 ft and up to an altitude of 27,000 ft was closed for the attempt. Moro reached his record height after 27 minutes, facing an outside temperature of -50 °C.

He used additional oxygen for the flight, aiming for an altitude of 8,000 m (26,247 ft.), but ran out of oxygen, forcing him to abort the mission prematurely.

From a dream to reality,  Altitude Helicopters

Altitude Helicopters is my helicopter company, operating all over the world. From its bases in Italy to helicopter operations in Nepal from 2014 untill 2020 we operated also in the United States.

Want to know more?

I-VIEW | 2011
“I-VIEW” is a film produced by Altitude Production and 341 Productions.

It showcases the incredible journey of Italian climber Simone Moro, a man who has made significant contributions to the world of alpinism, particularly in the harsh conditions of winter on mountains taller than 8000 meters.