ASU will provide night vision goggles (NVGs), flight training, goggle maintenance, an NVG lab and NVG modifications on 23 EC135+ Aircraft. SAF announced in December that it had been granted permission to use night vision imaging systems (NVIS) for six months as an initial trial period. It is the first civilian operator permitted to use NVIS in France.

“Helping SAF become the first HEMS operator in France with NVIS capability is a tremendous honour,” said ASU Senior Business Development Manager Mike Guinn. “We will work closely with SAF during this initial six-month period to help them successfully prove that NVIS operations can help operators in France fly at night and complete missions safely in not only the Alps but throughout France.”

SAF strongly believes that NVGs are the future in civilian SAR and EMS in France

ASU President Jim Winkel said that ASU is proud to partner with SAF as French market leaders into safe flight at night with NVGs: “The environment that SAF pilots fly in can be very austere as they save lives. Part of ASU’s mission for 25 years has been as a champion for the use of NVGs around the world. NVGs are one of the most important devices in use, leading to increased safety and situational awareness when flying at night. We have been privileged to assist operators worldwide with major operators in Australia, New Zealand, Colombia, South Africa, Austria, Canada, Poland, Brazil, Saudi Arabia – and now France – as they have embarked upon NVG flight. We are thrilled to welcome SAF into the NVG family.

“Bringing such a technology, proven as being a massive safety improvement, helps us accept calls by night, and complete them, in a more efficient, timely manner. Worldwide statistics show that once NVGs are being operated, the volume of calls being achieved by night also increases. In this way, SAF strongly believes that NVGs are the future in civilian SAR and EMS in France.”

SAF Head of Operations François Millan also commented on the partnership: “Having linked ASU’s experts with us, in terms of aircraft modification, NVG import, training, and expertise overall, are key points for keeping the lead introducing this technology to the civilian world in the country. With the past experiences driven by ASU, a long time ago in the US, but more recently in Ontario (Canada) and some other countries; having ASU as a partner is a unique chance for SAF to be an NVG European leader for NVG equipment, NVG Training, NVG maintenance, and aircraft modifications.”