Hélicoptères de France

What Hélicoptères de France does

Hélicoptères de France (HDF, legal entity HBG FRANCE, Société Anonyme with capital of €7,191,734.96) is a French helicopter services operator active since 1990 and a member of the HBG Group (100% family-owned by the Blanc family) since 2015. The company operates a fleet of more than 30 Airbus helicopters (H125/B3, AS 355 N, H135, H145 T2/D3) from 11 bases across metropolitan France and French Guiana, including Gap-Tallard (headquarters and Part 145 maintenance center), Grenoble, Lyon-Bron, Nice-Carros, Préchac, Saint-Jean de Maurienne, Annemasse and Matoury. Its service portfolio spans six vertical lines: SAMU medical evacuation (#1 in France with 7 dedicated helicopters, 11 hospital bases, 4,000+ flight hours/year, 24/7 operation at 60% of bases), forest firefighting for SDIS departments and the Marseille naval fire battalion using H125 aircraft with Bamby Bucket and Simplex water-bombing kits, aerial filming with Cineflex-equipped AS 355 N helicopters for events including the Tour de France, Dakar Rally and F1 French Grand Prix, aerial work and heliportage for 200+ industrial clients, public passenger transport (panoramic, gastronomic and initiation flights) booked via the heligo.aero platform, and Part 145/EMAR/Part M/Part I certified maintenance plus global helicopter trading (Négoce). Pilot training is provided through sister brand FHATO.

The business model blends government contracts (SAMU emergency medical transport, public-sector fire services, French Air Force) with enterprise field sales to industrial majors (EDF, Enedis, Vinci, Colas) and event organizers (ASO), plus direct-to-consumer bookings through heligo.aero and a world-wide helicopter resale channel. Regulatory moats are the principal structural advantage: HDF holds Airbus Helicopters and Safran Service Center designations alongside the full set of European airworthiness certifications required for maintenance operations. Distribution is omnichannel but predominantly direct (own ecommerce platform, dedicated base-level contacts, field sales to enterprise and government), with social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube) used for brand awareness and event presence serving as both service delivery and demand generation.

Operational scale metrics include 4,000+ annual SAMU flight hours, 11 SAMU hospital bases across France and overseas territories, 200+ industrial clients, and 35 years of continuous operation. Strategic intent is reflected in HBG Group's positioning as #1 in France, top 3 in Switzerland, and top 5 in Europe across its five-brand portfolio, with no external institutional investors or funding rounds disclosed.

Name

Hélicoptères de France

Legal name

HBG FRANCE

Website

https://hdf.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hélicoptères de France is a French helicopter services company, member of family-owned HBG Group, operating 30+ Airbus helicopters from 11 bases across France and French Guiana. It delivers SAMU medical evacuation (#1 in France), wildfire suppression, aerial filming, industrial aerial work, passenger transport, and Part 145-certified maintenance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Helicopter Services

NAICS

Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation (481211), Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812), Flight Training (611512)

akta.pro primary industry

On-Demand/Charter Helicopter Passenger Services (THABAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Air Medical Transport (Helicopter/Fixed-Wing) (HLAFANAD), On-Demand Helicopter Charter (Private/Corporate) (TLAFACAB), Helicopter Sightseeing & Scenic Tours (TLAFACAD), VIP/Executive Helicopter Transport (THABAGAH)

Keywords

• Helicopter services
• Aerial work
• Medical air ambulance
• Aerial filming
• Helicopter maintenance

Headquarters

HQ city

Tallard

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Transport Services: Passenger helicopter services including panoramic flights, gastronomic flights, VIP transfers, and pilot initiation experiences. Booked through heligo.aero platform. Operates from bases in Gap-Tallard, Préchac, and Saint-Jean de Maurienne.
2. SAMU Medical Transport: Emergency medical helicopter transport services for hospitals across France. 1st ranking in France with 7 dedicated SAMU helicopters, over 4,000 flight hours annually. Services 11 hospital bases including Cayenne in French overseas territory.
3. Aerial Filming Services: Professional aerial cinematography services for major sporting events (Tour de France, Dakar Rally, Formula 1), films, TV commercials, documentaries. AS355 N helicopters equipped with Cineflex camera systems.
4. Aerial Work Services: Heliportage operations including mountain refuge resupply, power line pylon positioning, civil engineering surveys, avalanche triggering (PIDA), Lidar surveys, and heavy load transport to inaccessible sites.
5. Maintenance Services: Certified Part 145 maintenance services for own fleet and external clients. Cell rework, periodic engine inspections, radio workshop, flight testing, painting, interior customization, complete reconstruction.
6. Helicopter Trading (Négoce): Sale of new and pre-owned helicopters with worldwide preparation and shipping capabilities.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Hélicoptères de France is a French airline company operating a 30+ helicopter fleet to deliver eight core services: aerial work (sling lifting, heliportage, mountain refuge resupply), aerial filming (Cineflex-equipped helicopters for live sports and film broadcasting), forest firefighting (water bomber helicopters with Bamby Bucket and Simplex kits), public passenger transport (panoramic, gastronomic, and VIP transfer flights via heligo.aero), SAMU medical emergency evacuation (7 dedicated helicopters, 11 hospital bases, 4,000+ flight hours annually), Part 145/EMAR/Part M/Part I certified helicopter maintenance, sale of new and pre-owned helicopters (Négoce), and FHATO pilot training. The company operates from 11 bases across metropolitan France and French Guiana with over 100 pilots.

Product overview

Hélicoptères de France operates as a helicopter services company offering a comprehensive portfolio of aerial services including aerial work (sling lifting, pylon positioning, civil engineering), aerial filming with Cineflex-equipped AS 355 N helicopters, forest firefighting using H125 (AS350 B3) helicopters with water bomber kits, public passenger transport (panoramic, gastronomic, VIP transfers, pilot initiation flights), SAMU medical evacuation (over 4,000 flight hours/year, #1 in France), maintenance services (Part 145/EMAR/Part M/Part I certified), helicopter trading (new and pre-owned sales), and pilot training through FHATO. The company operates a fleet of over 30 helicopters including H125 B3, AS 355 N, H135, and H145 models from 11 bases across France and French Guiana.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Travail Aérien (Aerial Work) Specialized helicopter operations including sling lifting, pylon positioning, civil engineering support, mountain refuge resupply, cargo transport to difficult-to-access locations, avalanche triggering (PIDA), and Lidar surveys. Serves enterprise industrial clients (EDF, Enedis, Vinci, Colas) and government (French Air Force).
• Prises de Vues Aériennes (Aerial Filming) Professional aerial cinematography using AS 355 N helicopters equipped with Cineflex cameras, delivering high-quality live television broadcast footage and film production coverage for major sporting events (Tour de France, Dakar Rally, F1) and entertainment projects.
• Lutte Feux de Forêts (Forest Fire Fighting) Wildfire suppression services deploying AS350 B3 (H125) helicopters equipped with Bamby Bucket flexible slings and Simplex fixed water bomber kits (1,100-1,200 liter capacity, 1,192 liters/minute discharge) for French departmental fire services.
• Transport Public (Public Transport) Panoramic flights, gastronomic flights, pilot initiation experiences, and VIP transfers from HDF bases at Gap-Tallard, Préchac, and Saint-Jean de Maurienne, including scenic views of Lac de Serre-Ponçon, Pic du Midi, and Aiguilles d'Arves.
• SAMU (Medical Emergency) Medical evacuation helicopter services operating 365 days per year (60% of bases 24/7), performing over 4,000 flight hours annually using EC135 T1/T2/T3, EC145 T2, AS 355N, and AS365 N3 twin-engine Airbus helicopters for French hospital network SAMU.
• Maintenance Services Certified helicopter maintenance including airframe general overhaul, periodic engine and equipment inspections, radio workshop, flight testing, painting, interior customization, and complete reconstruction. Certified to Part 145, EMAR, Part M, and Part I standards.
• Négoce (Helicopter Trading) Sale of new and pre-owned helicopters with worldwide preparation, shipping, and custom personalization through Part 145 certified workshop.
• Formation FHATO (Flight Training) Pilot training programs offered through FHATO (Flight Training Center) within the HBG Group, providing various training courses adapted to different budgets and schedules.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,000+ flight hours per year for SAMU emergency operations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and key.

• Airbus HelicopterscoreTechnology or IntegrationHélyphères de France holds authorized Service Center status from Airbus Helicopters, the world's leading helicopter manufacturer. This certification recognizes excellence in technical means and human resources. The company performs specific training on operated equipment with Airbus support.
• SafrancoreTechnology or IntegrationCertified Service Center for Safran aircraft engines. Internal training supported by Safran ensures mechanics maintain expertise with latest technological developments.
• SDIS 83 (Service Départemental d'Incendie et de Secours du Var)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing summer deployment partnership for wildfire suppression in Var department. Multiple helicopters positioned annually for firefighting operations.
• SDIS 13 (Service Départemental d'Incendie et de Secours des Bouches-du-Rhône)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for forest firefighting operations in Bouches-du-Rhône department. Summer positioning of firefighting helicopters.
• Bataillon de Marins Pompiers de MarseillekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on wildfire suppression operations. Joint logistics for summer deployment of multiple helicopters in Marseille area.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Babcock International: Global aerospace and defense group with a substantial French and European HEMS helicopter operation (formerly Babcock MCS France / Helidax). Directly competes for SAMU and emergency medical contracts and operates at a much larger scale with broader service portfolio.
• Bristow Group: Global helicopter operator providing offshore crew change, SAR, and fixed-wing services. Operates at materially larger scale across multiple geographies with comparable mission categories (industrial, passenger, emergency), making it a broad incumbent peer rather than a niche competitor.
• NHV Group: Belgian-headquartered European helicopter operator with a broad portfolio across HEMS, oil and gas crew change, and offshore services. Larger and broader than HDF but directly comparable in nonscheduled passenger and industrial helicopter work across Europe.

Direct peers

• Heli-Union: French helicopter operator specialized in defense, military support, and aerial work with strong government relationships. Comparable to HDF in aerial work and industrial client mix, particularly in defense-adjacent services.
• SAF Helicopteres: French helicopter operator with a comparable mix of public transport, aerial work, and emergency services across France. Direct competitor for both SAMU-adjacent work and private/corporate charter segments.
• Heliconia: Independent French helicopter operator offering a comparable mix of passenger transport, aerial work, and specialized missions in metropolitan France. Directly competes with HDF on passenger charter, industrial aerial work, and some government contracts.
• Air Glaciers: Swiss helicopter operator providing HEMS, rescue, aerial work, and passenger transport in the Alpine region. Closely comparable mission mix and customer base, particularly for Alpine tourism and rescue missions that overlap with HDF's mountain operations.

Regional players

• Swift Copters: HBG Group sister brand focused on Swiss helicopter passenger services. Comparable in fleet type and service categories but operates in Switzerland rather than France, making it a regional peer rather than direct competitor.
• Mont Blanc Hélicoptères: Sister brand under HBG Group (same Blanc family ownership) operating HEMS-focused helicopter services in the French/Swiss Alps, including the MBH SAMU subsidiary. Directly comparable in fleet, mission mix, and certifications, but serves a different Alpine sub-region rather than competing with HDF.
• Eagle Valais: HBG Group sister brand serving the Swiss Valais region with helicopter services. Material overlap in offering (passenger, tourism, work) but confined to a different geography, hence regional peer classification.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@GroupeHBGHelicopteres
• Facebookfacebook.com/people/H%C3%A9licopt%C3%A8res-De-France-Base-Levage-Gap-Tallard/100031031064538
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/helicopteres-de-france
• Instagraminstagram.com/helicopteresdefrance

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hélicoptères de France