The Direction Générale de la Sécurité Civile, an agency of the French Ministry of Interior that performs rescue services throughout France, has awarded a four year contract through the French Ministry of Defence's Directorate of Aeronautical Maintenance to Babcock and Airbus Helicopters to support its H145-D3 fleet. The contract includes Maintenance in Operational Condition of its four five-bladed H145s, its mission equipment and support resources.

Established in 1957, the helicopter division of the Sécurité Civile operates a fleet of 37 Airbus Helicopters on call 24/7 for rescue missions. With 15,000 missions carried out each year, one person is rescued every 33 minutes across the country.

Vincent Delebecque, BD aviation director, MRO at Babcock France says: "We are very proud to be responsible for the maintenance of these four new H145-D3 aircraft, reinforcing the very best of French know-how in the service of civil security. This contract shows our expertise supporting H145 and H135 helicopters and the trust our customers place in us."