Current Title:	Douanes Françaises
Title in English:	French Customs Service
Abbreviation:	-

Narrative Summary:
The French customs service is known as the Douanes Françaises. The aviation branch is the Section Aerienne.

Key Dates:
1945?		Douanes Françaises established.
1950		First helicopter leased - Hiller 360.
1962		First full-time helicopters delivered.
1969		First fixed-wing aircraft delivered.

Current Status:
To be added.

Future Plans:
None known.

National Insignia:

          Main markingFin Flash
Aircraft operate in quasi-civil markings with no national insignia except for the standard fin flash. Additionally, the title DOUANES FRANCAISES is also carried on the fuselage sides.

Aircraft Serial Numbering System(s):
Douanes aircraft and helicopters carry civil registrations in the F-ZBGx and F-ZBLx ranges, eg: Cessna F406 F-ZBGA. Earlier registrations are reused as older types are withdrawn.

Unit/Base Aircraft Code System(s):
Coding system not used

Aircraft Designation System(s):
None - Manufacturers designations used

Current Aircraft Inventory:

Aircraft Type	Total Del'd	Total Now	Role	Origin
Aerospatiale AS.350B Ecureuil	8	7	Customs	local
Aerospatiale AS.355F2	4	4	Customs	local
Cessna 310R-II	1	1	Customs	USA
Cessna 404 Titan	7	1	Customs	USA
Cessna F406 Caravan II	13	13	Customs	USA
SOCATA TB.20 Trinidad	1	1	Customs	local

All-Time Aircraft Used List:

Aircraft Type	Quantity	Service Entry	Retirement	Origin
Aero Commander 685	1	1975	1981	USA
Aerospatiale AS.350B Ecureuil	8	1978	current	local
Aerospatiale AS.355F2	4	1982	current	local
Cessna 210L Centurion	1	1986	19??	USA
Cessna 310R-II	1	1981	current	USA
Cessna 404 Titan	7	1978	current	USA
Cessna F406 Caravan II	13	1985	current	local
Dornier Do 28A-1	1	1969	1980	Germany
Dornier Do 28B-1	3	1969	1981	Germany
Hiller 360	1	1950	1950	civil leased
Piper PA-28-161 Warrior II	1	1984	19??	USA
Piper PA-31T Cheyenne II	1	1990	19??	USA
SOCATA MS.893E Rallye 180GT	3	1977	current	local
SOCATA Rallye 235	1	1979	19??	local
SOCATA TB.20 Trinidad	1	1984	current	local
Sud Aviation SE.3130 Alouette II	3	1960	1981	Navy/local

Aircraft NOT Used:
False reports of aircraft on order or in service - none known.

Main Headquarters:
Not known.

Current Organisational Structure:
The aviation units of the Douanes Francaises are grouped into two directorates: Surveillance Aeromaritime (Maritime Air Surveillance) and Surveillance Aeroterrestre (Land Air Surveillance). The former is divided into Mediterranean, Atlantic and English Channel divisions. In addition there is an overseas unit in Martinique.

Current Order of Battle:

Unit	Type	Base
Surveillance Aeromaritime
Mediterranee - HQ Marseilles
Section Aerienne	Cessna F406, AS.355	Hyeres
Atlantique - HQ Nantes
Section Aerienne	Cessna F406	Bordeaux
Section Aerienne	Cessna F406	Lorient
Normandie/Manche - HQ Rouen
Section Aerienne	AS.355F2	Le Havre
Surveillance Aeroterrestre
Section Aerienne	AS.350BA	Dugny/Le Bourget
Section Aerienne	TB.20, Cessna 310	Toulouse-Francazal
Tom-Dom (Martinique)
Section Aerienne	Cessna F406	Le Lamentin

Historical Orders of Battle:
To be added.

All-Time Flying Units List:
Not applicable.

Current Air Bases:
See organisation table above.

All-Time Air Bases Used List:
Section Aeriennes at Dijon and Pau were closed in 2006.

Books:

To be added

Magazines:

World Air Power Journal No.10 p.157

Websites:

Douanes official website

wikipedia: Directorate-general of customs and indirect taxes

airliners.net

Douanes

Les hélicoptères de la Douanes