The young company Terra Ciela offers to scatter the ashes of the deceased over magnificent French natural sites. A new practice which, in addition to being affordable compared to other alternatives, has a poetic aspect prized by many.
It is Franck Siguier, founder of Drones Pluriel, which offers various uses and applications with drones, who is behind this idea. Beforehand, a market study was carried out to determine whether such a project was viable. The result demonstrated that the demand was indeed present. Terra Ciela has been operating since September. Its offer consists of transporting by drone the urn containing the ashes of a deceased person, then dispersing them from the sky above a specific site.
Iconic natural sites
Three areas are currently available on the Terra Ciela site: Montagne Noire in the Massif Central, the bay of Mont Saint-Michel and Chamonix, offering a view of the Mont-Blanc massif. The offer “ Excellency » proposed by the group allows the choice of a personalized site. It will be responsible for carrying out scouting missions to ensure that dispersal is possible, then obtaining the necessary licenses from the authorities.
The scattering of ashes in any undeveloped natural space has been authorized since 2008 in France, after the necessary declarations have been made. However, public roads and places, as well as courses and water reservoirs are prohibited.
An experiment ” cathartic »
During the ceremony, a drone pilot flies the urn, chosen in advance by the loved ones, above the chosen site and disperses them using patented technology. Asked by Tech&Co in an interview repeated by BFMTVthe son of a deceased person who opted for this practice judged the experience as “ cathartic “.
“ There was strong symbolism. He was a surgeon who had spent his life saving people, and it seemed obvious to him to return to nature. There really is a very powerful cathartic side to it. It’s like a last step “, he commented.
Demand for Terra Ciela’s offering is expected to grow. Cremation, less expensive than burial, represents 50% of funeral ceremonies in France, and should become the majority around 2030. The company’s prices for dispersal of ashes by drone start at 420 euros. They reach more than 1,750 euros when it comes to a personalized request, in particular because a team must be accommodated on site.
Sources: Terra Sky, BFMTV
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