To wiggins61
First all of all the Gendarmerie helicopters are state owned aircraft under a military registration. They are not under the supervision of EASA but a national run agency which supervises state owned aircraft (DSAé). Nevertheless in everything they do they try to comply with any EASA rule, but they do not HAVE to.
Remember also that their crewman is also a fully licensed airframe or avionics technician, thus authorized to do the 50 winches inspection. When the 50 winches are over they can fly back to Digne (10') perform the inspection and come back straight ahead or do it in the field.
I am quite sure the Digne Air Support Unit would welcome the Sécurité Civile to perform any inspection in their hangar as well.
to Cockneysteve
Unfortunately the French don't pull really all together. The gendarmerie and Sécurité civile unfortunately compete against each other a lot although they belong to the same ministry.
Could be worse, but could be better!
I also believe Brits have an ability to reform that the French don't have so keep the faith!