The RECCO® system is an exceptional additional search method since it can pinpoint the exact location of burial with harmonic radar. The equation that enables this search precision is an interaction between two critical parts, a reflector and a detector. The RECCO® detector is used by organized rescue groups, and RECCO® reflectors are permanently affixed by snow sports manufacturers to their commercially available clothing, helmets, boots or protection gear. The RECCO system does not interfere with other methods of recovery and functions as an additional tool that complements the performance of avalanche dogs, transceiver searches or probe lines. The RECCO system has become a critical piece of comprehensive avalanche strategies and effectively speeds the search in the event of a slide.

The RECCO system is currently utilized by 600 rescue organizations worldwide to assist in the rapid location of avalanche burials. In Europe an overwhelming majority of ski areas–from Verbier and Chamonix to St Anton and Zermatt–utilize the system. In addition, 50 of the most respected European rescue organizations such as the Mountain Rescue Tirol and Air Zermatt are solidly behind the system.

In North America more than 100 ski resorts, helicopter skiing companies and search and rescue organizations now utilize RECCO technology. From major destination resorts such as Whistler/Blackcomb, Jackson Hole, and Snowbird to rescue organizations such as Parks Canada, Mount Rainer National Park, and Wasatch Backcountry Rescue, the search technology has been widely adopted as an additional tool to increase the probability of a live recovery. With a recent surge, Japan has also become a hotspot of RECCO system coverage with 19 resorts–including major destinations such as Arai, Niseko and Hakuba–becoming equipped with RECCO detector technology in 2005.

Developed by Magnus Granhed at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm in response to his personal experience with avalanche tragedy, the RECCO system was introduced in 1983. The first live rescue using the RECCO system occurred in 1987, when a female ski shop employee was located with the RECCO detector and successfully recovered. In the two decades since, the RECCO system has evolved considerably. Tapping into the latest electronic advances, the RECCO detector has been reduced to 1.6kg (3.5 lbs) and the RECCO reflector now weighs less than four grams. This downsizing has allowed the RECCO system to become an extremely practical mountain search tool for time-critical scenarios. The RECCO detector–which is cached at strategic on-mountain locations for rapid response–can be efficiently used in rough terrain and easily transported to the search site by ski, sled or helicopter.

Although similar in search procedure to transceivers, the RECCO system is not intended for self-rescue and is not an alternative to transceiver use in the backcountry. Complementary in function, the system is an additional tool that does not interfere with other rescue methods such as avalanche dogs, transceiver searches or probe lines. Since it operates with a heightened frequency, the system functions with exceptional directional accuracy. Once an initial signal is located, the searcher does not need to follow a flux line and is led directly to the burial. This reduces search time and provides pinpoint accuracy, drastically decreasing the amount of probing required to locate the victim.

Another major advantage of the RECCO system is that since the reflector is integrated into commercially available apparel, helmets, boots and protection gear, it requires no action on the part of the individual skier or snowboarder to function properly. The RECCO system requires no additional investment or training on the part of the consumer, making it ideal for a wide spectrum of user profiles. Since it is non-powered, the RECCO reflector never needs to be switched on, will never loose signal strength and needs no batteries to function. This straightforward design prevents potential user error and ensures the efficient operation of the RECCO system.

Two recent trends have contributed to the increased effectiveness of the RECCO system. First, with cell-based emergency calls common, the response time of organized rescue has been reduced significantly in the mountains. In addition, the rapid upsurge in backcountry activity is extremely concentrated within a two-mile radius of developed ski areas. This close proximity speeds response time of rescue teams, which is the key to a successful live recovery. As these factors have converged, many avalanche rescue efforts now involve both self-rescue and organized rescue components. This new on-mountain reality makes the RECCO system a valuable search tool for facilitating a rapid recovery.