Schiebel opens facility in France
Schiebel is expanding its European operations with Schiebel Aéronaval in Toulon, France
The CAMCOPTER S-100 has been in service with the French Ministry of Armed Forces since 2012. In order to more closely support this successful partnership and meet the operational requirements of the armed forces in case of major engagements, Schiebel has established a company in Toulon situated close to its customer. Schiebel Aéronaval will provide support for the French Navy’s fleet of S-100s within the framework of a five-year contract the Direction de la Maintenance Aéronautique (DMAé) awarded to Schiebel at the end of 2023.
Schiebel Aéronaval will house a production and repair facility to conduct the assembly and maintenance of the S-100 systems for the French Navy and other customers. The new Schiebel company will also have a training department to train operators and maintenance technicians.
Schiebel Aéronaval is also to become the main European production and payload integration site for the CAMCOPTER S-300.
As part of the French aerospace industrial network, Schiebel Aéronaval works closely with other local French companies and is expected to generate employment opportunities in the Toulon area.
“We are extremely proud to count France, renowned for its emphasis on strategic autonomy, among the CAMCOPTER S-100 users,” said Lubos Sramek, CEO of Schiebel Aéronaval. “Opening a facility in Toulon not only enables us to serve the French Navy better, but also to be closer to our French industrial partners and benefit from the advantages of the region, including direct access to the sea. We are more than excited about the new opportunities this important step will bring.”
The use of drones in special missions has grown significantly in France. Last year, the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) contracted Schiebel to support operations with its CAMCOPTER S-100 for emission monitoring and maritime surveillance (such as environmental protection and response, fisheries inspection, and search and rescue) in northern France, and the French authorities permitted drones to be used for surveillance work by the police.
Jon Adams
Jon is the Editor of AirMed&Rescue. He was previously Editor for Clinical Medicine and Future Healthcare Journal at the Royal College of Physicians before coming to AirMed&Rescue in November 2022. His favorite helicopter is the Army Air Corps Lynx that he saw his father fly while growing up on Army bases.