News & Events from MT&SN

Hélidax Receives Last EC 120

On hand for the transfer were Joseph Saporito, Executive Vice President of Commercial Programs for the Eurocopter Group and Jean-Louis Rotrubin, Chairman of DCI and Hélidax.

Hélidax, the French helicopter training facility, has officially received its 36th and final EC120 from Eurocopter. Hélidax is equally owned by its founders DCI and INAER France (formerly Proteus).

On 31 January 2008, the French government procurement agency, the DGA, awarded Hélidax a contract for 16,000 to 26,000 flight hours a year to provide ab initio helicopter pilot training to all three branches of the French armed forces as well as the Gendarmerie. The training takes place at the French Army Air Corp's training school (EALAT) in Dax. As part of the partnership agreement, Hélidax is responsible for the financing, operation and maintenance of the helicopters, and retains full ownership. Instruction is provided by military instructors at EALAT.

The French Army opted for the EC120 for the contract, and the first three helicopters were delivered to Dax in October 2009. Over the next 12 months, the remaining helicopters were delivered and have progressively been replacing the 54 SA341 and SA342 Gazelles previously used for training. With a training staff of 80 and a fleet of 36 EC120s, the EALAT in Dax is now the largest helicopter training academy in Europe. The school also trains students from Belgium and the staff includes Belgian instructors.

The EC120s are delivered from Eurocopter in the NHE (New Training Helicopter) version to Hélidax. With the assistance of INAER France, the company then equips the helicopters with the avionics required by the EALAT, including a full glass cockpit with Night Vision Goggle (NVG) compatibility and an automatic pilot, to better prepare the trainees for the modern helicopters they will be flying during their careers. These include the Tiger, EC725 Caracal and, over time, the NH90.

On hand for the transfer were Joseph Saporito, Executive Vice President of Commercial Programs for the Eurocopter Group, and Jean-Louis Rotrubin, Chairman of DCI and Hélidax.