Helidax success attracts foreign countries
Hélidax, the first public-private partnership (PPP) launched by the French Ministry of Defense in 2008, exceeded last June 20 000 flight hours on EC120 Colibri aircraft. A subsidiary of DCI and INAER, Helidax achieved this performance in less of 13 months of operation and trained two batches of trainees for the armed forces.
Helidax's example brought the attention abroad. There had been significant interest by countries seduced by the quality and the performance of Helidax as well as DCI's capacity to transfer its military know-how abroad. A new military training school of helicopter pilots will be launched mid-September in Qatar, Doha with DCI, based on the Helidax model. Other countries like Kuwait, Chad, Malaysia and Brazil are also interested in training their crews and by all the services proposed by DCI in terms of maintenance activities.
'Helidax's success, with an aircraft occupancy rate meeting 100% of the school's daily requirements, can be a model for future outsourcing projects in France but also for military or civilian market abroad. The private finance initiative of Helidax proves all the pertinence provided by additional revenues which lower the costs for the ministry of Defense', said Jean-Louis Rotrubin, CEO of DCI and Hélidax. 'We receive many requests from foreign countries. The new training school in Qatar shows DCI's commitment to transfer its military know-how, including for outsourcing. DCI is a service provider fully involved from the beginning to the end of the contract.'
Source: DCI
More from Defence Helicopter
-
![Germany to send WS-61 Westland Sea King helicopters to Ukraine]()
Germany to send WS-61 Westland Sea King helicopters to Ukraine
Germany has committed to sending Ukraine six of its 21 retiring WS-61 Westland Sea King multirole, amphibious helicopters.
-
![Boeing secures $271 million to advance modernisation of US Special Operations' MH-47G Chinook]()
Boeing secures $271 million to advance modernisation of US Special Operations' MH-47G Chinook
Boeing has clinched a major contract modification to further its backing of the US Special Operations Command’s MH-47G Chinook aircraft modernisation effort.
-
![Dubai Airshow 2023: South Korean homegrown helicopters make international debut]()
Dubai Airshow 2023: South Korean homegrown helicopters make international debut
Two KAI helicopters, the KUH-1E utility helicopter and the Light Attack Helicopter (LAH), have taken centre stage at the Dubai Airshow 2023.
-
![Italian Navy receives final NH90 helicopter]()
Italian Navy receives final NH90 helicopter
The Italian Navy now boasts a fleet of 56 NH90 helicopters comprising 46 SH-90As and 10 MH-90As.
-
![Argentina seeks AW109 and CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters]()
Argentina seeks AW109 and CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters
The Argentinian Air Force (FAA) and the Argentinian Naval Aviation Command (COAN) are looking for options to upgrade their helicopter fleets.
-
![DSEI 2023: Lockheed to produce about 40% of Black Hawks on UK soil if it wins NMH contest]()
DSEI 2023: Lockheed to produce about 40% of Black Hawks on UK soil if it wins NMH contest
Lockheed Martin promises a boost to the British job market and export opportunities, while strengthening ties with Poland and positioning the UK for a future in rotorcraft technology in the event of a New Medium Helicopter competition triumph.
