Airbus Helicopters and Babcock have secured a 12-year contract with the French Ministry of Interior’s Direction de la Maintenance Aéronautique (DMAé) to provide support for 48 EC145 helicopters. The contract, which commences this year, will see Airbus Helicopters and Babcock provide technical support, supply of spare parts, logistics solutions, technical data management, and software support for the EC145 fleet, which is operated by the Sécurité Civile and the Gendarmerie air forces.
The Sécurité Civile and Gendarmerie Nationale play a key role in safeguarding communities in France. The contract demonstrates their confidence in Airbus Helicopters and Babcock, and strengthens the partnership between the organizations. Airbus Helicopters measures its responsibility in guaranteeing that the EC145s are available 24/7 for critical missions.
The contract encompasses the maintenance of 33 EC145s operated by the Sécurité Civile and 15 EC145s operated by the Gendarmerie air forces, spread across 41 bases in France, including five bases in French overseas territories. Airbus Helicopters and Babcock will ensure the availability of the Sécurité Civile and Gendarmerie EC145s for their critical missions serving the French population, including search and rescue, emergency medical services, fire fighting, and law enforcement operations.
Airbus is also committed to renewing the Sécurité Civile and Gendarmerie’s helicopter fleet. Sécurité Civile already operates four new H145s ordered in 2021, supported by Airbus Helicopters and Babcock. In late 2023, a contract was signed for 42 H145s for the French Ministry of Interior (36 for Sécurité Civile and six for the Gendarmerie), with deliveries set to begin in 2024.
