Eurocopter, Marignane

[Chickenhawk1]

Hi guys,
Just wondering if there are any helicopter pilots working with Eurocopter Marignane on the forum here. I'm interested in what roles, other than test pilots, pilots are employed for?
So what are the general qualifications they look for (other than fluent french which I have)? Is it difficult to get in there?
It's just a general interest at the moment but any info would be great.
Thanks guys

[heli1]

Mais oui ...nous accepton tous les helicoptres..beaucoup tou les jours..tres busy ,pas de time pour mes sandwiches.
Aussi nous test le nouvel technologie..tres advanced plus Bell et Sikorsky grand opportunities pour un up and coming pilote !

[Impress to inflate]

Your French is tres great, you're a natural, you are French aren't you ?? Real 26 Carat heli 1

[HeliComparator]

I don't work there but visit quite often. They have experimental test pilots - ie those that fly new designs to obtain certification etc.

They have production test pilots who fly the brand new aircraft on their first flights out of the factory, but those aircraft have a previously-tested modification state. I am not sure if these pilots have actually done the full test-pilot course.

Then they have instructors who teach customers how to fly their shiny new aircraft. EC does employ pilots elsewhere, eg I know of one EC-employed pilot who is based in Malaysia.

HC

[Droopy]

Would his initials be RH?

[roundwego]

I don't work there but visit quite often. They have experimental test pilots - ie those that fly new designs to obtain certification etc.

They are "God" and don't normally communicate us mere mortals.

They have production test pilots who fly the brand new aircraft on their first flights out of the factory, but those aircraft have a previously-tested modification state. I am not sure if these pilots have actually done the full test-pilot course.

These are the guys who are there to convince the customers who are accepting their aircraft that it is fully serviceable and the observed defects on the acceptance test flight are "normal". The flight test engineer usually know more about the aircraft than the pilot.

Then they have instructors who teach customers how to fly their shiny new aircraft. EC does employ pilots elsewhere, eg I know of one EC-employed pilot who is based in Malaysia.

These are the salt of the earth pilots who seem to be at the bottom of the ECF pilot food chain but have to train a complete cross section of culturally, linguistically and competently different pilots without offending or upsetting them. Some of their students are high calibre, experienced pilots (no problem for the instructors)- others - you wouldn't allow your mother-in-law to fly in the back as one of their passengers. These instructors have a difficult job both technically and diplomatically.

[Hedge36]

I prefer real butter on my Eurocopter.

Oh, wait... sorry

[212man]

HC and Roundwego sum it up nicely, though I think the comment about "being God" is a little misleading. It may be that the average visitor doesn't get to meet the development test pilots, but if you do get the opportunity you would be hard pressed to find a nicer bunch of blokes - none more so that Didier Guerin, head of flight test.

HC - I think most of the production test pilots have done the 3 month short course at Ystres (EPNER.)

In addition to pilot positions, there are of course ground instructors with ETS - Eurocopter Training Services - who are the guys that run the groundschool elements of the Type Rating Training Courses and are generally ex-military pilots. Similarly, there are simulator instructors with Helisim which, although not technically Eurocopter, as a 45% JV partner is to all intents and purposes the same.

Frankly, speaking French is unlikely to help much if you are not, in fact, French, as far as working in Marignane goes. Elsewhere in the world I think the chances are much higher. In fact I was informally offered a job with them in 2001, but declined to pursue it as it was bad timing. The impression was that it would have been Far East based.

[HeliComparator]

Droopy - no RH left EC some time ago

Roundwego - The experimental test pilots, like the rest of us, are a variable bunch. Some totally approachable, some less so. Fortunately the one who was primarily responsible for the development of the EC225 is a top bloke.

212 - I was introduced to a Brit testpilot at Marignane, can't remember his name but I think he is now the head of the experimental test pilots (which I suppose means that Didier has retired, or maybe I am confused!)

HC

[he1iaviator]

Andrew Warner, a Brit who is not fluent in French, is the big boss of all the pilots. Didier Guerin is now his boss in a management role.

[HeliComparator]

Thanks He1i - that is the chap I was thinking of. With EC proposing American (as in the continent) engines for the EC175 and having a Brit chief pilot, surely the end of the world approacheth!

HC

[Royal Blue]

............not fluent in French

I think you will find that Andy is not only fluent in French, but also German and has slightly better Spanish than average....... Must have done the "Long Language Course" at ETPS !!

[he1iaviator]

I had dinner with Andrew last week and he claimed to have a working knowledge of French but not to be fluent. Perhaps he was being modest.

Anyway, the point being that French language fluency is not a requirement to work for Eurocopter.

[tophelios]

and you know what you are talking about........and as you also know, you don't have to be fluent in english for that.....

[Royal Blue]

Anyway, the point being that French language fluency is not a requirement to work for

......so long as you can say "c'est normal" with a convincing Peter Sellers accent you're probably in !!