These developments are highly confidential

Details of combat on the airbase of Villacoublay. In less than three months, the arrival of a Falcon 7 X, the banner of the range of Dassault Aviation business jets model, will give the kick-off of the renewal of the fleet put at the disposal of the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and members of the Government. Brand-new, the unit will wear the new tricolour livery of aircraft of the French Republic, unveiled at this opportunity. The Waltz of the aircraft will culminate in October 2010, when will be delivered a new flagship, Airbus A330-200 long range of the fleet managed by Etec, unit of the air force for air transport of the senior officials of the State (see box). It will replace the two "small" Airbus 319 CJ (as "corporate jets", i.e. with a VIP layout) that previously carried Nicolas Sarkozy by hop to distant destinations.

The case has made big noise on the Net since July 2008, when was officially announced the purchase by the Directorate-General for armaments (DGA) of the widebody, often compared to the famous Air Force One of American Presidents. A real buzz of criticisms and scorn, taunting the creation of an "Air Sarkozy" or the acquisition of an "Air Farce One". In an age where all one dream in VIP, "flying apartments" affect the absolute fantasy.

The reality is more prosaic: eleven years old, the aircraft began his career under the colours of Swissair, and will be purchased from opportunity to the company Air Caribbean, which it currently uses on the West Indies in version 324 seats. As such, hundreds of thousands of West Indians holidaymakers have had the privilege to fly the future presidential plane...

Today unsuitable equipment

At the Elysee Palace, it is not in sentence of arguments to justify the replacement of the major part of a fleet "aging" or poorly adapted. The two Falcon 900 date back to 1987, four Falcon 50 have almost thirty years and the Super Puma managed VIP helicopters were introduced into service in 1974. Their age leads to an "explosion of maintenance and operating costs. Recent (2002), and essentially dedicated to the travel of the President and the Prime Minister, the two Airbus A319 which the purchase was decided by Jacques Chirac and Lionel Jospin, are suffering for their two major disabilities. First, the small radius of action (6500 kilometres) of these short-mail inflated by means-long-letters with additional tanks kicked and forced into long, expensive destinations in local taxes: all just able to cross the Atlantic, the presidential plane should for example make a stop in Siberia to Tokyo, in Halifax to go to the Mexico, or Cape Verde to go to South America. To streamline all and embracing the kerosene and to the essential bedroom-bathroom, working space and the number of seats were reduced to the minimum: "only two working tables to four style TGV!", says a connoisseur. Above all, these aircraft have not the means of communication necessary at this level of responsibilities: "In flight, the President is sometimes cut its bases", strongly Christian Frémont, Director of the cabinet of Nicolas Sarkozy. All black spots for a President who has turned in recent months in world VRP.

The objective is therefore to resell these aircraft and to acquire new, according to a plan of equipment spread over six years. The first Falcon 7 X fleet as early as this summer, a second summer 2010 (for a total of 104 million euros, according to the Elysee Palace), the Airbus A 330-200 Jet in October 2010 (for 176 million euros, included development costs), and four Falcon 2000 bi-réacteurs, whose orders will intervene "between now and 2012," according to the DGA. The Super Puma, replaced them, from 2018.

On the tarmac at the "large".

With the A330-200, "they go further, faster, it will consume less, will be working in flight and will be available for all modern means of communication." Will "at any time maintain a contact with the President", summarizes Christian Frémont. A true Office-centre of power in sky! And Nicolas Sarkozy will finally have a presidential plane worthy of the name. On the tarmac, at international summits, the small French A319 was indeed pale alongside the A310-304 to Angela Merkel (that will have soon an A340) or that of Zapatero, not to mention the beautiful 747-200 blue and white Barack Obama. Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, François Mitterrand and Jacques Chirac travelled to them often in Concorde of Air France refurbished... as Prime Minister Edouard Balladur during an African tour in which he preached austerity to the countries of the franc zone.

Registered F-OPTP (such as Pointe-à -Pitre) and until now leased by the company in the U.S. giant of the air leasing CFLI before it play its option to purchase, the A330-200 of Air Caribbean flies still between Paris and the French American departments. It will arrive the month next to Mérignac, Gironde, for there be transformed fundamentally in a large hangar secure company Sabena Technics, ex-Sogerma and subsidiary of TAT.

Second European Group independent (excluding Air France and Lufthansa) for the maintenance of aircraft behind SR Technics, Sabena Technics was noted by development on measurement of three A330s and three A340s delivered rich individuals of the monarchies of the Gulf and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. "We know do everything except engines, that on subcontracts to the engine," says Christophe Bernardini, President of its Board of Directors. The company maintains already currently the two Airbus A319 of the Etec.

11.000 kilometres radius of action

Sabena Technics has been retained at the end of a call for tenders. "We wanted an aircraft more quickly and the least expensive possible." And it is a global contract, explains to the DGA. Our specifications was: a plane of European design so that changes can be made by a French company, for reasons of security; a range of at least 11,000 kilometres to remove any stopover; a twin-engined, for the sake of economy. The profile was that of the A330-200. A Sabena Technics, then find the appliance market very flexible and rapid opportunity we, it is not known to make! , buy it and develop it. "What Sabena Technics will conduct itself, with some 20 subcontractors.

"Secret defense".

These developments are highly confidential. The specialized firm in charge of Interior design, society more 33 of Blagnac (who also designed the new "very modern" livery fleet the Etec), opposed a "top secret" to any curiosity. Customers (DGA and Elysée) however announce him as "nice, but simple and functional", by denying the existence of a bath or the use of leather of Cordoba, as is the rumour. The tip of the lips, the DGA says that the aircraft will have an Office with Secretariat, a table for 12 persons meeting room, a room more room of bath, a medicalized module capable of responding to any emergency, 60 passenger seats and an ergonomics allow attendants to work. But, in terms of security, announced as "enhanced", then it is of "defence secrecy", whether the decoy missile or protected communication that will be installed by Thales systems.

Remains a critic: flight of the A330-200 will cost around 20,000 euros, against 11.684 for the A319 in 2008. "There is more that an aircraft of this type in the fleet of the Etec and the delivery will be not the same", justifies in defence. And a question: where the A330, the bird is too heavy for the track of Villacoublay will be based "His relocation on a Parisian airport is to the study," said the air force. Who has 18 months to choose between Roissy and Orly.