The French armed forces have begun operating the EC725. The units are also using the “Resco 2 Mission Preparation System” (SPMR2), a scalable product that has the potential to be adapted for civil applications.

“We began this activity about seven years ago when we became aware of operators’ needs,” said Jacques Demassieux, who manages the External Assistance department that oversees tool activities. “They can’t afford to buy costly tools that they will only use once or twice a year.”
Eurocopter found a logical solution to the problem: Tools can be rented by the operators to use themselves or, if they don’t have the necessary qualifications, a technician can be sent out by the External Assistance sector to do the job. “The rented tools are mainly O- and I-level maintenance equipment that can easily be transported, such as test sets, extraction tools or breakout boxes, for example,” explained store manager Guy Xella.
Although the rentals are mainly for civil operators, governmental customers can also find the tools they need. Rentals may, for example, be included in global offers, such as the continuous operability program (MCO) for the EC725s entering service in the French Armed Forces.
This is more than just a helpful service that Eurocopter offers to its civil and military customers: renting the right tool at the right time is also a real money-saver for both the customer and for Eurocopter.
Making tools available to Guarantee, Aircraft on Ground (AOG) and Parts by the Hour (PBH) departments helps them to avoid having to replace a component or assembly that is under warranty or covered by a power-by-the-hour contract, thus drastically reducing the helicopter’s AOG time (1). Whenever the procedure can be used, it cuts costs considerably. When the activity began in 2000, a total of 75 tools were rented. In 2007, the Eurocopter store handled 174 rentals, and turnover has only continued to grow. Eurocopter has increased its investments in order to accompany the expanding activity: More tools are now in stock and the storage space has been increased. The end goal is to offer a wider range of tools for all helicopters in the civil and military range.