1-Jul-2013Source: Turbomeca
Chantal Grésillion (55) ENSMA graduate, began his career at Dassault Aviation Office of Computational Structural Mechanics in 1982. She joined the Research Department of Turbomeca in 1986 as an engineer in mechanical analysis until 1990. She then became head of technical brand until 2000. It is the responsibility of the expert service from 2000 to 2003 and was appointed... Read more
1-Jul-2013Source: Eurocopter
Currently Head of Strategy & Company Development, Matthieu Louvot has been appointed Head of Support & Services within Eurocopter. He will be reporting directly to Dominique Maudet, Head of Global Business & Services. After having begun his career as an inspector at the General Inspectorate of Finance in the French finance ministry, Matthieu Louvot, 38,... Read more
21-Jun-2013Source: Eurocopter
The green light for the start of construction on Eurocopter’s new industrial site, known as “Paris-Le Bourget”, was given today by Guillaume Faury, President and CEO of Eurocopter, in the presence of Claude Bartolone, President of the French National Assembly; Vincent Capo-Canellas, Senator Mayor of the city of Le Bourget and Chairman of the Communauté... Read more
20-Jun-2013
During the three-month long deployment of the FREMM frigate Aquitaine, the implementation crew for the NH90 helicopter from 33F Squadron had an opportunity to experience the operational capabilities of the FLASH SONICS system. The FLASH system (Folding Light Acoustic System for Helicopters) is an active low-frequency airborne sonar that has been requested by the French Defence Procurement... Read more
17-Jun-2013Source: Eurocopter
During the Paris Air Show’s annual inauguration by the Prime Minister of France, Mr. Jean-Marc Ayrault took the time to stop by the Eurocopter booth this morning, making it to the static display just in time as a break in the morning thunderstorms allowed for a brief visit. He was greeted by Guillaume Faury, President... Read more
17-Jun-2013Source: Schiebel
Since the OPV (Offshore Patrol Vessel) L´Adroit was officially made available to the French Navy in October 2011, the CAMCOPTER® S-100 Unmanned Air System (UAS) was able to prove its highly efficient maritime capability repeatedly. The Gowind Class L’Adroit, build by DCNS, has been designed to operate, amongst other capabilities, a UAS, and by installing... Read more
17-Jun-2013Source: Cassidian
A cooperative experiment that has been on-going for about a year between French electricity distribution network operator ERDF (Electricité Réseau Distribution France) in the “Sillon Rhodanien” region and Survey Copter, a subsidiary of Cassidian, aims to define and develop UAV usage for the inspection of medium-high-voltage aerial power lines. The use of specially dedicated UAVs will... Read more
6-Jun-2013Source: French Army
[electronic translation] The first helicopter Tiger HAD version (for Helicopter Support Destruction), was delivered to the base of the light aircraft of the Army in Le Cannet des Maures in the Var. On this occasion, the Army General Bertrand Ract Madouxlaan, Chief of Staff of the Army, boarded the new Tiger and welcomed this important event, “the... Read more
4-Jun-2013Source: Turbomeca
During one ceremony Organized by HeliDax, Turbomeca (Safran) Announced That icts Arrius 2F engines Have reached 50,000 flight hours on the 36 single-engine EC120 helicopters operated by HeliDax. Made available to EALAT ( French Army Helicopter Pilot Training School ) Thesis aircraft are to be used falling on the basic training of future helicopter pilots... Read more
4-Jun-2013
Helicopter was involved in aerial work. Helicopter struck63,000 volt powerline while turning, and caused local power failure. Extent of damage to helicopter not yet known... Read more
2-Jun-2013
Helicopter crashed into the fuel pumps, ending upside down impaled on them. No fire. Two injured... Read more
30-May-2013Source: Reuters
NHIndustries is 62.5 percent owned by EADS (EAD.PA) helicopter unit Eurocopter, 32 percent owned by Italian defence group Finmeccanica’s (SIFI.MI) AgustaWestland unit and 5.5 percent owned by Stork Fokker. (See Full Story)... Read more
20-May-2013
Wire strike during low-level rescue operation to try and save a kayaker in flood waters. Successful emergency landing in adjacent meadow without further damage. Part of wire impaled in main blade(s)... Read more
20-May-2013
Crashed on a football pitch with the tail boom having been cut off. Substantially damaged... Read more
7-May-2013Source: EDA
OCCAR, EDA’s partner in developing European defence capabilities, manages the Tiger Helicopter programme on behalf of Germany, France and Spain. In a common approach towards personnel training, the German-French Tiger Helicopter Technical School (Deutsch-Französisches Ausbildungseinrichtung TIGER – DFAT) opened in 2003 in Fassberg, Germany. The mission of the School is to provide training to French... Read more
22-Apr-2013Source: Eurocopter
Eurocopter’s first production Tiger helicopter in the HAD attack configuration was delivered to France’s DGA armament procurement agency today for operation by French Army Aviation units, providing a highly capable combat weapon system that is tailored to the world’s evolving battlefield conditions. This milestone followed DGA qualification of the Tiger HAD version on April 10,... Read more
5-Apr-2013Source: HeliHub.com
Dutch shipyard Feadship is currently conducting pre-delivery trials on their largest superyacht to date – the 99m long ship known as “Project Dream”. In their press release they indicate that “Experience of a different kind underpinned some of the other special requests for this latest member of the Feadship fleet. Leveraging on the expertise accrued... Read more
3-Apr-2013Source: HeliHub.com
Le Parisien newspaper is reporting that Mat Aviation, based at Toussus-le-Noble airfield on the outskirts of Paris, has been forced to close by the liquidator after many months of difficult trading. The move means that twenty employees have lost their jobs at the JAR145 maintenance company. The move is particularly disappointing move when the company... Read more
11-Mar-2013Source: HeliHub.com
March 2013 has not started off well from the point of view of accident statistics, with seven fatal accidents in the first nine days. HeliHub.com carries extensive coverage of helicopter safety data and has included the following in recent reports 09-Mar-13 ZK-IHU Robinson R66 Oamaru Valley, New Zealand (1F) 07-Mar-13 Eurocopter/IAR SA330L Bacau, Romania (2F) 05-Mar-13... Read more
11-Mar-2013Source: Royal Navy
A dozen-strong team from 217 Flight – observer/flight commander Lt Mike Curd, pilot Lt Chris Southworth, senior maintenance rating CPO Matthew ‘Cakey’ Eccles and seven technicians, plus two Royal Marines snipers – return to base at RNAS Yeovilton just before mid-day on Friday (8 March). The highlight of the deployment – for the ship and... Read more
4-Mar-2013Source: Guimbal
Following a careful evaluation of the helicopter, Heli-Union has selected the Cabri G2, produced by the French manufacturer Helicopteres Guimbal to equip its flight academy HUTC (Héli-Union Training Center), located in Angouleme, France. The first French Offshore operator acquiers two copies of the two-seat helicopter, destined to professional pilots training, starting as soon as April.... Read more
1-Mar-2013
Collided with trees and crashed into a lake killing the pilot... Read more
26-Feb-2013Source: ALAT
[electronic translation] On 14th February, the Army formally adopted the Cayman NH 90, this helicopter class 11 tons, in its earthly TTH (Tactical Transport Helicopter) allowing instructors training center joint (CFIA) of Cannet des Maures (Var) to begin pilot training operational from April 2013. For the fleet renewal for tactical transport helicopter, this device has... Read more
5-Feb-2013
Pilot chose to make precautionary landing due to deteriorating weather. Helicopter rolled over when landing on snowy surface... Read more
25-Jan-2013Source: DGA
(electronic translation) On 14 January 2013, the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) gave the type certification of the Tiger combat helicopter version “support destruction” (HAD). DGA and certify the airworthiness of this version of Tiger. The establishment of the type certificate of the aircraft is an important milestone in the development of the new version... Read more
17-Jan-2013
Pilot lost visual reference when landing on a snowy surface. Heavy landing, damaged skids and tail boom... Read more
1-Jan-2013Source: Eurocopter
Eurocopter achieved a new milestone on 21st December in its NH90 program with two ceremonies held at its Marignane facility near Marseille in the south of France, during which the manufacturer delivered Belgium’s first NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) in the presence of the Belgian Defense Minister Pieter de Crem; along with the French DGA... Read more
28-Nov-2012Source: Armée de l'air
[Electronic translation] From November 12 to November 21, 2012, the squadron of helicopters (EH) 1/67 “Pyrenees” in Cazaux Air Base 120 has led his second campaign refueling HAAR ( Helicopter Air to Air Refuelling ) in closely with the 46 th Brigade transport of the Italian Air Force based in Pisa (Italy). During this period,... Read more
28-Nov-2012Source: TengriNews
Kazakhstan has applied to French experts asking them to help in the search for the missing helicopter with 8 crew members on board – which was patrolling an oil pipeline (see full story) HeliHub.com has a safety data page at 24-Nov-12 Mil Mi-8 Kazakhstan where we will add other details as they emerge... Read more
25-Nov-2012
Azur Helicopter and its Chairman were found guilty on 10th October of “manslaughter by breach of an obligation of safety or prudence.”. This week they have been given a fine of €80,000 (see full story). The accident is in the HeliHub.com accident database at 20-Jun-09 F-GTRF Eurocopter AS350B2 Mount Cordon, France (7F)... Read more
13-Nov-2012Source: Royal Navy
THE first Royal Navy Lynx helicopter to join a French frigate on a full counter-piracy deployment has arrived on board the ship in Toulon. As part of the initiative for the UK and French armed forces to work more closely together, the Lynx Mark 8 aircraft from Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton will deploy with... Read more
7-Nov-2012Source: US Army
Two U.S. Army OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter pilots from 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, Fort Drum, received the Cross of Military Valor with Silver Star, one of the highest French military awards, during a ceremony Oct. 23, 2012, in Washington, D.C. Capt. Benjamin H. March and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Keenan A. Bachmeyer each earned the... Read more
3-Nov-2012
Loss of control in the hover during post-maintenance test flight, and hit hangar. 3 injured, aircraft total loss.... Read more
30-Oct-2012Source: Thales
The NATO Helicopter Management Agency (NAHEMA), in the name of the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA), has awarded Thales a two-year contract, with a three-year extension close, to support 14 FLASH dipping sonars on the French Navy’s 27 NH90 NFH helicopters. Thales has extensive experience in the delivery of through-life support services for underwater warfare... Read more
22-Oct-2012Source: Royal Navy
The helicopter from 217 Flight (a flight from 815 Naval Air Squadron), headed up by Flight Commander Lieutenant Mike Curd, will join FLF Surcouf at her base in Toulon on Monday for a four-week training period. In November they will then deploy on Op Atalanta for four months as part of an initiative for the... Read more
16-Oct-2012Source: Avincis Group
Avincis Mission Critical Services (Avincis Group) has established itself in the UK today as the world’s leading provider of mission critical aviation services. The Group’s mission is to save lives, protect the environment and provide safe transport for mission critical people and assets for public services and blue chip corporations. Avincis’ operating companies deliver across... Read more
21-Sep-2012Source: Turbomeca
Turbomeca (Safran group) has renewed the “MCO†(Global Support Package) contract, entitled MCO 2*, with the French Government. Turbomeca undertakes, under the terms of this contract, to ensure availability of the 1,408 turbo-shaft engines equipping French Government helicopters for a 10-year period. These helicopters are used for military and paragovernmental missions of the French Air... Read more
3-Sep-2012
R44 routing from Switzerland through France to Spain. Had taken off from Clermont-Ferrand, destination Le Luc in the Var region. Father and son killed in the accident. Controlled flight into terrain. Aircraft destroyed... Read more
31-Aug-2012
Four injured when helicopter came down after hitting cables. The helicopter was involved in maintenance work on the cables. Two were “ejected”, from an underslung cradle, and two were in the helicopter. Pilot Joel Prisse has dislocated shoulder and crew Philippe Pournin has multiple lower limb fractures. Aircraft destroyed... Read more
25-Aug-2012
Struck low-level power cables on final approach due to the pilot having the sun in his eyes. Helicopter ended on starboard side. 60- year old pilot suffered concussion, head injury and scratches... Read more
22-Aug-2012
High level of vibrations during landing phase. Helicopter landed hard and rolled over.... Read more
31-Jul-2012Source: Eurocopter
The French DGA armament procurement agency has taken delivery today of its second NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) and seventh NH90 NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH), marking an important step forward in the largest European helicopter program launched to date. The ceremony celebrating this dual delivery was held at the Marignane, France headquarters of Eurocopter, and... Read more
25-Jul-2012
AS532AL on a pre-delivery test flight out of Marignane crashed killing all six occupants. Some reports are suggesting it struck wires but that is not confirmed... Read more
20-Jul-2012
Tail rotor struck ground taking off from sloping ground... Read more
17-Jul-2012Source: Eurocopter
Eurocopter, the world leader in the civil and parapublic helicopter market, is providing its development personnel with the most modern high-performance infrastructures and resources, all in support of its innovation program, a core feature of the Group’s Vision 2020. Following on from the launch of the Systemhaus project at Donauwörth in Germany, which will reach... Read more
19-Jun-2012Source: Airbus Military
Airbus Military has successfully demonstrated the loading of NH Industries NH90 and Eurocopter EC725 helicopters onto the A400M new generation airlifter. In a series of tests at Holzdorf air base in Germany and at Toulouse, France respectively, the NH90 and EC725 were loaded onto, and unloaded from, the Grizzly 4 development aircraft as required for... Read more
7-Jun-2012Source: EADS
EADS and its divisions – Airbus/Airbus Military, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter – will have a major presence at the Eurosatory 2012 defence and security exhibition near Paris, with a diverse portfolio of products, services and technologies on display. Eurocopter will display some of its key helicopters for military, security and patrol missions. These include the... Read more
7-Jun-2012Source: UbiFrance
Following several successful B to B meeting in the airplane industry, UBIFRANCE – The French Trade Commission – will bring a delegation of French suppliers to a major player in the helicopter industry, SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT. Founded in 1925 by Igor Sikorsky, this American aircraft manufacturer currently produces military and commercial aircrafts. SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT is regrouped... Read more
24-May-2012Source: AH Ink
Heli-Air Design’s Helineo ultralight helicopter completed its first flight at Metz Nancy Lorraine airport, in north-east France, on 26 April. Under the control of test-pilot Stéphane Lignier, the three-blade turbine-engined two-seater made fifteen take-offs and a series of hover-taxy manoeuvres inside ground effect. According to HAD’s Jean Fiaud, the flight demonstrated that the helicopter complies... Read more
10-May-2012Source: Eurocopter
Eurocopter, the world’s leading helicopter manufacturer in civil and parapublic markets, has delivered the second EC225 to AIRTELIS – a wholly-owned subsidiary of France’s RTE public utility company. Created in 2011, AIRTELIS performs heliborne operations for customers in France and abroad, benefitting from the competence of RTE to carry out such missions. With this second... Read more
1-May-2012Source: HeliHub.com
The French Navy has completed its lease of a AS365N2 Dauphin – and returned it to Belgian operator NHV. The helicopter was noted outside NHV’s base at Ostend on Saturday, covered over and with its main rotor blades removed. It is expected to be repainted back from the grey/red French Navy scheme to the standard... Read more
10-Apr-2012Source: Telvent
Telvent GIT, S.A., a leading real-time IT solutions and information provider for a sustainable world, announced today that it has been selected to provide its weather monitoring service, MxVision AviationSentry Online®, to Mont Blanc Helicopteres SAMU (MBH SAMU), a leading commercial helicopter operator based in Annemasse, France. Founded in 1980, MBH SAMU operates a fleet... Read more
10-Apr-2012Source: HeliHub.com
New obstructions at a shipyard on the River Seine near Paris Heliport have led to new instructions being issued by an AIP supplement. The new instructions for Pilots can be found at https://www.sia.aviation-civile.gouv.fr/dossier/supaipmetro/SUP_2012_045_FR.pdf Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com... Read more
9-Apr-2012Source: Thales
Thales has been awarded a contract by the Service Industriel de l’Aéronautique (SIAé), France’s military aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul service, to supply stand-alone GPS receivers for the French Navy’s Lynx helicopters, which are currently being upgraded by the French defence procurement agency (DGA). Thales’s GNSS 1000-S receiver relies on SAASM (Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module)... Read more
28-Mar-2012Source: Thales
On 29 February 2012, the first example of Thales’s new Reality H Dauphin N3/N3+ helicopter simulator was granted FTD Level 3 and FFS Level B qualification by the French civil aviation authority (DGAC). The Reality H simulator is based on the new generation of Thales products, designed to maximise training capacity and availability while offering... Read more
19-Mar-2012Source: Eurocopter
Eurocopter has again come out on top in the Randstad Award survey, after being voted France’s most attractive employer across all sectors for the second year running. A leader in its domain for more than 10 years, Eurocopter was also at the top of the list for the third time in the capital goods industrial... Read more
8-Mar-2012Source: HeliHub.com
French operator SAF have bought an early Eurocopter Ec135T1 from the German EMS operator ADAC. The particular example is serial number 0042, previously registered D-HEUR in Germany and now in France as F-GMTU As they are replaced in Germany by new EC135s, ADAC is selling off all its T1 and P1 models. British operator WPD... Read more
7-Mar-2012Source: European Commission
The European Commission has authorised France and Italy to grant aid for research and development (R&D) to two European helicopter manufacturers (Eurocopter in France and Agusta Westland in Italy) for the development of new, innovative, medium-weight aircraft. The Commission has decided that these measures are compatible with the EU rules on state aid, particularly as... Read more
2-Mar-2012Source: Groiupe DCI
Helidax, a subsidiary of DCI and INAER, announces that it has exceeded 30,000 flight hours on EC120 Colibri aircraft, in less than 2 years of operation. Helidax is the first public-private partnership (PPP) launched by the French Ministry of Defense in 2008. This partnership concerns the supply of helicopter flight hours, for 22 years, to... Read more
22-Feb-2012Source: DCNS
DCNS has achieved formal qualification of the FREMM frigate Aquitaine‘s flight deck for operations with the Lynx helicopter. This milestone was reached several months ahead of schedule after a successful deck landing campaign at sea, organised by the French defence procurement agency (DGA) in early February. Trials were conducted with a Lynx helicopter operated by... Read more
17-Feb-2012Source: Thales
As of April 2012, Pascal Bouchiat will be joining Thales as Chief Financial Officer. He will be a member of the Group’s Executive Committee, in charge of financial control and accounting, corporate finance and treasury, investor relations, tax and insurance. Previously, Pascal Bouchiat had been Chief Financial Officer at Rhodia, in charge of finance, information... Read more
15-Feb-2012Source: Eurocopter
Corail Hélicoptères – which operates an all-Eurocopter rotary-wing aircraft fleet – has ordered two new EC130 B4s, bringing this helicopter of reference for worldwide tourism operations into service with the Réunion island operator during 2012. Factors in Corail Hélicoptères’ selection of the EC130 B4 include its low operational sound levels, which is within the regulations... Read more
11-Feb-2012Source: Eurocopter
The project under which the activities at Eurocopter’s La Courneuve site are to be transfered to Dugny – called Project “Joséphine†and officially known as Paris-le Bourget – was granted the label “Grand Paris†at a ceremony attended by Maurice Leroy, the Minister for Cities who is in charge of Grand Paris, Daniel Canépa, Prefect... Read more
1-Feb-2012Source: Heli Asset
(Alarmingly, some aviation media outlets overlooked the February embargo date on this story – shame on you, guys!) February 2012, Paris, France – Emmanuel Dupuy, managing director and partner Alain Regourd, announce the public launch of Heli Asset at HAI’s Heli Expo® Convention in Dallas, where the company is exhibiting (booth # 4605). Heli Asset’s... Read more
30-Jan-2012Source: Eurocopter
During a visit by the French Defense Minister Gérard Longuet to its facilities in Marignane, Eurocopter officially delivered the first NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) qualified in its final operational configuration to the French armament procurement agency today. This initial on-time delivery comes on the heels of the qualification issued by the NAHEMA countries last... Read more
23-Jan-2012Source: HeliHub.com
Swiss operator Swift Copters have added two helicopters to their fleet in the last week. HB-ZPM is a Eurocopter AS350BA leased in from French operator Mont Blanc Helicopteres – serial number 1833 and previously F-GFPM. HB-ZMS is a Sikorsky S76B owned by Sikornir SA – and was featured at Helitech in the UK in September... Read more
3-Jan-2012Source: HeliHub.com
French company Sky Group has added a fourth AgustaWestland AW109SP Grand New to their fleet – something unheard of in France where patriotism to the local Eurocopter brand is usually very high indeed. While subsidiary Skycam Helicopters does also fly Eurocopter aircraft, their AW109 fleet does set them apart in France. Serial number 22242, registered... Read more
3-Jan-2012Source: HeliHub.com
French operator SAF Helicopters has bought a Eurocopter AS355N Twin Squirrel from Greek operator Interjet. Serial number 5586, and previously flown in Greece as SX-HIG, the helicopter is now registered in France as F-HJFD. Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com... Read more
23-Dec-2011Source: Eurocopter
Eurocopter delivered today two EC225s to Héli-Union, a leading provider of commercial air transportation services worldwide. The new helicopters are the first EC225s to join the company’s fleet of some 30 rotary-wing aircraft. The two new EC225s are configured for offshore operations and will be deployed for transportation services for oil and gas companies. “With... Read more
17-Dec-2011Source: HeliHub.com
At 2am on Friday morning, 16th September 2011, the cargo ship TK Bremen ran aground 2km south of the mouth of the Etel river on the Brittany coast of France. The ship had left the port of Lorient in the afternoon, intending to anchor north of the island of Groix to await better weather and... Read more
29-Nov-2011Source: Schiebel
Schiebel s CAMCOPTER® S-100 Unmanned Air System (UAS) has once again successfully proven its highly efficient maritime capability, this time onboard the new Gowind class OPV (Offshore Patrol Vessel), L ADROIT built by DCNS and handed over to the French Navy in October 2011. Operating at the cutting edge of technology, the S-100 successfully completed... Read more
24-Nov-2011Source: Eurocopter
Eurocopter has inaugurated its new logistics platform at its industrial site in Marignane, marking the end to an innovative program to re-engineer the Group’s entire logistics chain and implement a flexible, high-performance tool. The investments made over the past two years to develop modern means will enable Eurocopter to reduce both logistics costs and delivery... Read more
17-Nov-2011Source: Eurocopter
AIRTELIS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of RTE specializing in heliborne operations, received its first EC225 helicopter today from Eurocopter – the world’s leading helicopter manufacturer in the civil market. The delivery ceremony was held in Marignane in France’s Bouches du Rhône department, home to Eurocopter’s headquarters. Founded in 2011, AIRTELIS performs heliborne operations for customers in... Read more
9-Nov-2011Source: American Eurocopter
American Eurocopter announced today that HELISIM has been selected as a satellite flight training facility for the American Eurocopter Training Center. “HELISIM provides state-of-the-art simulators, top-notch training and world-class service, which complements our existing capabilities by providing training programs for our customers who perform missions that require larger helicopters,†said Marc Paganini, President and CEO... Read more
4-Nov-2011Source: Flightglobal
France will perform at-sea trials with an unmanned Boeing H-6U Little Bird helicopter next year using a developmental automatic landing system. (see full story)... Read more
