The SIMMAD (Structure intégrée du maintien en condition opérationnelle des matériels aéronautiques du ministère de la Défense, responsible for the maintenance and overhaul of French state-owned aircraft) has awarded Airbus Helicopters with a milestone contract for a global service solution covering the entire fleet of 50 EC145 operated by the French Gendarmerie Nationale and Sécurité Civile.
Airbus Helicopters will provide for the next 5 years a global service solution with a Full-by-the-Hour (FBH) support for nose-to-tail coverage of the helicopter parts (except for the engines) thanks to high performing logistics services with 24/7 delivery for aircraft on ground (AOG) situations, and a comprehensive technical support. The contract also includes the possibility to perform aircraft maintenance and training. Ineo Support Global will also contribute to this contract as sub-contractor by providing competitive repair solutions.
“We are committed to providing the French Gendarmerie Nationale and the Sécurité Civile with the highest quality of services, enabling them to perform their critical search and rescue, medical evacuation and law enforcement missions to support the French population when they most need it” stated Dominique Maudet, Executive Vice President Global Business and Services. “This contract underlines our commitment to support Airbus Helicopters’ largest customer, the French government, which operates around 600 Airbus Helicopters aircraft.”
Fifteen EC145 are used by the Gendarmerie Nationale and 35 by the Sécurité Civile. The aircraft are on call 24/7 throughout France and its overseas departments (France, Corsica, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyane and the Réunion). These helicopters are used to perform public service missions (search and rescue) as well as police missions.
The 50 EC145 will be supported by the recently created Military Support Center France, a dedicated Airbus Helicopters organisation designed to support all French military and parapublic customers and providing them with the most tailored services fitting their specific needs. The creation of this entity illustrates Airbus Helicopters’ commitment to service quality and performance to keep customers flying, anytime, anywhere.
