Sécurité Civile

Operating for the French Ministry of the Interior, the Direction de la Défense de la Sécurité Civile (Department of Civil Defence and Emergency Preparedness) is a civil defence agency of the French Government and employs some 2,500 civilian and military personnel over 60 sites. Known as the Protection Civile until 1976, the Sécurité Civile is split into several branches.

The Sous-Direction des Sapeur-pompiers are the French firefighters.

The Sous-Direction des opérations de Secours et de la coopération civilo-militaire (Rescue operation and civil-military cooperation branch) is involved in bomb disposal, coast guard, mountain rescue, air ambulance (MEDIVAC and aerial firefighting duties.

Sécurité Civile aircraft operate for the Rescue operation and civil-military cooperation branch under the Groupement des Moyens Aériens Sécurité Civile (Aerial Group). Aircraft carry the title SECURITE CIVILE on the fuselage sides, together with the international civil defence symbol. The aircraft are divided into the Groupement des Helicopteres de la Securite Civile (Helicopter Group) and the Groupement des Avions Bombardiers d'Eau (Water Bomber Group).

The Sécurité Civile helicopter group has 22 helicopter bases in mainland France and its overseas territories. It has a fleet of 40 helicopters and employs 230 pilots and flight engineers and 50 ground engineers. Over its 50 years of activity, the helicopter group has an impressive track record, with 480,000 flight hours, 250,000 rescue missions and 225,000 people rescued. Helicopter group aircraft use the callsign "DRAGON", followed by the number of the département in which their base is located.

Six Aerospatiale Alouette III SA316B are still in operation, based at Alpe d'Huez, Chamonix, Nîmes and Paris.

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