Airbus Helicopters and Babcock awarded contract for EC145 fleet support

Airbus Helicopters and Babcock have been awarded a 12-year contract to support 48 EC145 helicopters operated by the French Ministry of Interior, as reported by Airbus.

The contract, signed with the Direction de la Maintenance Aéronautique (DMAé), covers maintenance for aircraft operated by the French government and starts this year.

Romain Trapp, Airbus Helicopters’ Executive Vice President Customer Support and Services, commented on the contract: “The Sécurité Civile and Gendarmerie Nationale play a key role in safeguarding our communities in France.

“We are proud to have signed this contract which demonstrates their confidence in us and strengthens our partnership.”

Trapp emphasised the responsibility of ensuring the availability of EC145s for critical missions.

Scope of services and operational impact

The contract includes technical support, supply of spare parts, logistics solutions, technical data management, and software support.

This support will ensure the availability of the 33 EC145s operated by the Sécurité Civile and the 15 EC145s operated by the Gendarmerie air forces across 41 bases in France, including five in overseas territories.

The EC145s are utilised for various critical missions, including search and rescue, emergency medical services, fire fighting, and law enforcement operations.

The contract’s comprehensive support aims to maintain operational readiness for these essential services.

Fleet renewal and future plans

Airbus is also involved in the renewal of the Sécurité Civile and Gendarmerie’s helicopter fleet.

The Sécurité Civile currently operates four new H145s, ordered in 2021, which are also supported by Airbus Helicopters and Babcock.

In late 2023, a contract was signed for an additional 42 H145s for the French Ministry of Interior, with deliveries beginning in 2024.

The ongoing fleet renewal and support contracts highlight Airbus Helicopters’ commitment to enhancing the operational capabilities of the Sécurité Civile and Gendarmerie, ensuring they can continue their vital missions effectively.

Impact on French aviation maintenance

This new contract reinforces the relationship between Airbus Helicopters, Babcock, and the French Ministry of Interior.

The collaboration focuses on maintaining a high level of operational readiness for the helicopter fleet, which is crucial for the various emergency and law enforcement tasks performed by the Sécurité Civile and Gendarmerie.

By providing comprehensive support services, Airbus Helicopters and Babcock aim to ensure that these critical missions can be carried out without interruption, enhancing the safety and security of the French population.

IFSJ Comment

The awarding of this 12-year contract to Airbus Helicopters and Babcock underscores the importance of ensuring that the EC145s, which are essential for search and rescue, emergency medical services, fire fighting, and law enforcement operations, remain operational and available for these critical missions.

The scope of the contract, covering technical support, spare parts supply, logistics solutions, and technical data management, demonstrates a comprehensive approach to fleet maintenance.

This ensures that the 48 helicopters across various bases in France, including overseas territories, are maintained to the highest standards.

The contract also highlights Airbus Helicopters’ role in the ongoing renewal of the fleet, with the addition of new H145s enhancing the capabilities of the Sécurité Civile and Gendarmerie.