13 May 2024

Babcock awarded new contract to support the French Government’s fleet of Airbus H145-C2 helicopters

Babcock and Airbus Helicopters have been awarded a new contract to support the EC145 fleet of the Direction Générale de la Sécurité Civile and the French Gendarmerie Nationale.

The 12-year contract, awarded by the French Ministry of Armed Forces Directorate of Aeronautical Maintenance (DMAé), covers the aircraft in service support of a fleet of 48 Airbus EC145 helicopters across France mainland and overseas. The fleet is made up of 33 Sécurité Civile helicopters and 15 Gendarmerie Nationale helicopters, currently in service for rescue operations, air medical transport and law enforcement.

The package of work will see Babcock providing aircraft support and maintenance at its facilities in le Cannet-des-Maures. We will also be responsible for central technical assistance, mission equipment and associated ground support resources and manage the spare parts inventory at our facility in Nîmes Garons. The contract will create around 20 jobs in the Nîmes and Le Cannet-des-Maures regions to meet the customer’s needs.

Babcock and Airbus Helicopters will also be assisting with the retirement of the EC145 fleet of the Sécurité Civile and Gendarmerie Nationale, which will be gradually withdrawn and replaced by Airbus H145 helicopters.

Since 2016, we have been supporting the Airbus H135 fleet of the Gendarmerie Nationale and French Customs and over the last year, with our partner Airbus Helicopters, we have been providing support for the four new H145 delivered to the Sécurité Civile.

Pierre Basquin, Babcock’s Chief Executive Aviation and CEO Babcock France said: “The Sécurité Civile and Gendarmerie Nationale are key figures in emergency and critical operations management in France. We are proud to be supporting them as they phase out their EC145 fleet. This new contract is a testament to our expertise and know-how on the Airbus H145 and H135 helicopters, and to the trust our customers place in us.”