Current Title:	Aeriennes de la Gendarmerie
Title in English:	French Gendarmerie
Abbreviation:	-

Narrative Summary:
Controlled by the Ministry of Armed Forces, the Gendarmerie Nationale is a very efficient paramilitary force with close links to the army. In wartime it would act as the Military Police. The first air unit was established on 6 May 1954. Aircraft are maintained by the Army on behalf of the Police, and come under the control of the Groupement Central des Formations Aeriennes de la Gendarmerie (GCFAG).

Key Dates:
1793		Gendarmerie established.
6 May 1954		Air Unit created.
1954		First helicopters received - AB.47G.

Current Status:
To be added.

Future Plans:
The Eurocopter EC.145 will replace the Alouette III.

National Insignia:

          Main markingFin Flash
The main marking is displayed in 6 positions (ie above and below each wing, and on each side of the fuselage) on aircraft - but on fuselage sides only on helicopters. The fin flash is nowadays rarely carried by frontline types, but on second-line types is usually displayed in the form of rudder stripes. Additionally, the title GENDARMERIE is also carried on the fuselage sides.

Aircraft Serial Numbering System(s):
Gendarmerie aircraft and helicopters carry civil registrations in the F-MJxx and F-MCSx ranges, eg: AS.350B F-MJCU. Earlier registrations are reused as older types are withdrawn.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 AS350B Ecureuil	36	28	Policing	local
Aerospatiale AS550U2 Ecureuil	1	1	Policing	local
Eurocopter EC.135	12*	12*	Policing	local
Eurocopter EC.145B	15 #	8	Policing	Germany
Sud Aviation Alouette III	26+	7	Policing	local

* = on order
# = on delivery

All-Time Aircraft Used List:

Aircraft Type	Quantity	Service Entry	Retirement	Origin
Aerospatiale AS.315B Lama	1	19??	19??	local
Aerospatiale AS.350B Ecureuil	36	1978	current	local
Aerospatiale AS.550U2 Ecureuil	1	19??	current	local
Agusta-Bell AB.47G	5	1954	19??	Italy
Cessna U206F	6	1975+	1995+	USA
Eurocopter EC.135	12*	-	-	local
Eurocopter EC.145B	15 #	2002	current	Germany
Nord 3400	4	19??	19??	local
Sud Aviation Alouette II	21	1957	198?	local
Sud Aviation Alouette III	26+	1963	current	local

* = on order
# = on delivery

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

Main Headquarters:
Villacoublay.

Current Organisational Structure:
Sections Aeriennes de la Gendarmerie (SAG) comprise two helicopters. Detachements Aeriens de la Gendarmerie (DAG) comprise one helicopter

Current Order of Battle:

Unit	Type	Base
GCFAG	Alouette III, AS350B/B-1	Villacoublay
GST	AS350B	Le Blanc
Section Aerienne	AS350B	Amiens
- Detachement Saisonnier	AS350B	Abbeville
Section Aerienne	AS350B	Cazaux
- Detachement Aerien	AS350B	Bayonne
- Detachement Saisonnier	AS350B	Mimizan
Section Aerienne	AS350B	Dijon
Section Aerienne	AS350B, Alouette III	Hyeres
- Detachement Aerien	Alouette III	Ajaccio
- Detachement Aerien	Alouette III	Briancon
- Detachement Aerien	AS350B	Montpellier
Section Aerienne	AS350B, Alouette III	Lyon
- Detachement Aerien	Alouette III	Chamonix
- Detachement Aerien	Alouette III	Modane
Section Aerienne	AS350B	Metz
- Detachement Saisonnier	AS350B	Xonrupt
Section Aerienne	AS350B	Rennes
- Detachement Aerien	AS350B	Saint-Nazaire
Section Aerienne	AS350B	Toulouse
- Detachement Aerien	Alouette III	Tarbes
Section Aerienne	AS350B	Tours
- Detachement Aerien	AS350B	Egletons
- Detachement Aerien	AS350B	Limoges
- Detachement Saisonnier	AS350B	Mouthe
- Detachement Saisonnier	AS350B	Royan
Section Aerienne	Alouette III	Villacoublay
Section Aerienne	AS350B	Fort-de-France, Martinique
- Detachement Aerien	AS350B	Pointe-a-Pitre, Gaudeloupe
- Detachement Aerien	AS350B-1	Cayenne, French Guyana
Section Aerienne	AS350B-1	Noumea, New Caledonia
Section Aerienne	Alouette III	St-Denis, Reunion

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:
Not applicable.

Books:

To be added

Magazines:

World Air Power Journal No.10 p.156

Websites:

Official Gendarmerie website

wikipedia: Gendarmerie Nationale

airliners.net

Les hélicoptères de la Gendarmerie