For its 55th edition, the International Paris Air Show returned from June 16 to 22 for four days dedicated to professionals and three days open to the general public. This unmissable event brought together more than 2,400 exhibitors from 48 countries. A privileged setting for innovation and exchange The SIAE provided an ideal setting for exploring innovations, learning about developments in the sector, and forging new partnerships. Thanks to a program designed to address the challenges facing the industry, professionals were able to access rich content and engage in discussions with major players in the aerospace sector.Highlights included the Paris Space Hub and Paris Air Lab, true showcases of innovation, as well as the many initiatives led by Femmes de l’Aéro et du Spatial, which highlighted the growing role of women in these sectors.To inspire vocations and introduce people to the jobs of the future in an industry undergoing constant change, the Avion des Métiers and Aéro Recrute brought together the talents of today and tomorrow, illustrating the dynamic of excellence that drives our industry. JJGK Aero at the heart of the event Presented under the banner of the South Region – Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur in 2023, this year JJGK Aero was in Hall 2b from June 16 to 21. These are ours directors, Michel Augen, CEO, Alexis Tierny, managing partner, as well as Julien Barraco, technical sales representative, Cédric Chaldoreille, CAMO manager, Mourad Nasri, Painting Manager, Justin Augen, QHSE Manager, Patrick Jourdain, Warehouse Manager, Florian Morata, Technical Office Agent for Painting, Cameron Dremeau, Avionics Technician, Margot Leroux, General Services Manager, and Charlotte Pelletier, Communications and Marketing Manager, represented JJGK Aero. Highlights and memorable encounters The show was an opportunity to welcome Clémentine Gallet, President of Coriolis Composites, and Laurent MAZOUE, Executive Vice President of Operations at Airbus Helicopters, JJGK Aero’s sponsors, to our stand to celebrate the submission of our application to join the GIFAS network. On the second day of the SIAE, the South Region – Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur was in the spotlight. It began with the inauguration of the pavilion, during which François Bernardini, Pascal Kuhn, and Jérôme Perrin spoke about the importance of aeronautics and the major regional challenges facing the industry. The team took advantage of being at the pavilion to try out augmented reality with AVREAL and discover the latest features of TRACING FLIGHT.François Bernardini, Vice-President of the Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis, delegate for steel, petrochemicals, and aeronautics, and Mayor of Istres, visited our stand accompanied by Nicolas Davini and Alain Bernardet. We also welcomed Aurore Brunat, President of the Security and Defense Commission of the South Region – Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur, to discuss our future prospects. On Thursday, Michel Augen and Alexis Tierny visited the Air and Space Force chalet, within the restricted framework of the RAPACE125 format, and discovered the MINARM and Air and Space Force stands, before sharing lunch and attending the air demonstrations. See you in November in Cologne for the next show with European Rotors.
Back to the brazier! 🔥 Last Wednesday, our employees gathered for a lunch unlike any other. To celebrate the arrival of spring, we organized a warm and friendly gathering around a giant brazier measuring over 1.5 meters in diameter. Under the spring sunshine, our employees enjoyed a meal carefully prepared by José Fenoll and his team. On the menu: delicious meats, grilled vegetables, fries, and local mussels. This shared moment was an opportunity to strengthen bonds, build team cohesion, and create new shared memories. ☀️
On May 24 and 25, the town of Istres will host one of the season’s must-see events: the AeroBD festival. Since its creation in 2015, the festival has established itself as an event that combines two exciting worlds: aeronautics and comic books. Located in the South – Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, France’s leading helicopter region, enthusiasts, families, collectors, young and old alike will be able to enjoy the activities planned for this 9th edition. JJGK Aero is proud to support this important event for the city of Istres and the world of aeronautics, which inspires passion, transmits strong values, and sparks curiosity.
Last Wednesday, we welcomed students from the Ecole de Production I Je Fabrique Mon Avenir Chaudronnerie Soudage et Electricité Istres to our premises. After hosting Théo and Jérémy, first- and second-year students, for two weeks for their internship, nearly 50 students came to our premises for a visit. Aged between 15 and 18 and preparing for their CAP (vocational training certificate) in industrial metalworking, they discovered our business and the specificities of the aeronautical metalworking profession. During their tour, led by Iliana Brahmia and Charlotte Pelletier, who presented JJGK Aero and its professions, they visited two of the three areas of our hangar. Florian Morata, our technical painting office agent, enthusiastically shared JJGK Aero’s expertise in the painting department. Thierry Barteau, head of metalworking and composites, then took the floor to explain the specificities of aeronautical metalworking and show them his workshops. The visit ended with a fun quiz and a prize for the winning team. Founded in 2021, the Production School located opposite our premises at the Jean Sarrail Aeronautical Pole in Istres is a technical educational institution offering a teaching method based on “learning by doing.” To this end, it places students in real-life production situations within a “school-company” environment, with two-thirds of their time spent on real work projects in a genuine industrial production setting and one-third devoted to theoretical instruction. This teaching method offers students numerous practical workshops and has a 92% success rate. A big thank you to the teaching team for their trust, and in particular to Anne-Gaëlle Villemiane and Aurélie Robert.
This partner tournament gives each partner company the opportunity to form a team and compete in handball matches supervised by professional players. For our employees, it was an opportunity to enjoy a sporting and stimulating experience, while proudly representing JJGK Aero. Our team was made up of a variety of talents: Orlane Bernardet, assistant quality manager, Mélanie Peck, accounting manager, Charlotte Pelletier, communications manager, Iliana Brahmia, HR assistant, Guillaume Guichard, IT manager, Maxime Sellier, warehouse manager, and Florian Morata, BT painting agent. They were accompanied by three students from ESAME – École Supérieure de l’Alternance Méditerranée. During this friendly competition, our team faced off with determination against Toshiba Centre Est Méditerranée TCEM, Optic Duroc x Istres Provence Handball, and Daniel Môquet. A big thank you to Jean-Philippe Takaniua, a professional player since 2022, who brilliantly coached our team during these three matches refereed by Marin Langlais, Josep Folques, and Geoffroy Carabasse. We would also like to congratulate the entire Istres Provence Handball team, and in particular Lilian Di Salvo and Emma Counil, for organizing this warm and welcoming sporting event. This partner tournament remains a highlight of the year, strengthening ties between partners and celebrating team spirit and a passion for handball.
One month ago, 23 third-year nursing students from the IFPVPS in Draguignan and Saint-Raphaël set off on a humanitarian mission to Cambodia from March 15 to March 27. Accompanied by three doctors, three healthcare trainers, and two nurses from France, they were able to rely on medical student translators throughout their experience. Their days were filled with visits to clinics and the primary school in Kampong Kdei. Thanks to Touktouk drivers, every morning the team visited the four clinics to conduct consultations, provide treatment, and distribute basic necessities such as clothing, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and anti-lice shampoo. The afternoons were spent at the primary school, where they organized bracelet-making activities, games, and workshops on hand hygiene and oral hygiene. To end the trip on a high note, the last day was a fun-filled event for young and old alike, with a dance show and more than 500 crepes enjoyed by all. This humanitarian trip would not have been possible without the many initiatives organized by the students since the start of the school year in September (breakfast sales, themed parties, raffles, fundraisers, clothing sales, …) and without the support of companies such as Rotary Club, Var-Matin, Intermarché, Intersport, Banque Populaire, Région Sud – Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Pizzorno Environnement, Ville de Draguignan, Clim Var Froid and many others. JJGK Aero is proud to have participated in making this project a reality.
At the end of April, Alexis Tierny, Associate Director, accompanied by Mourad Nasri, Paint Manager, and Florian Morata, Paint BT Agent, visited the BA 125 for a special tour. They were welcomed by lieutenant-colonel Delaye, who is in charge of restoring the BA 125 Museum, with a specific project in mind: to restore a symbol of the French Air Force, which will celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2024. In June, the rudder of Mirage IV n° 57 was brought from BA 125 to our facilities to spend the summer and regain its original aesthetics. For three months, our teams worked on its restoration. After being stripped, it was then handed over to Thierry, our sheet metal manager, to perfect the structure and achieve a unique finish before being entrusted again to our paint team. This time, the legendary rudder will receive layers of P50, P05, and CA primers before the final paint job, which will recall the emblematic colors of the French Republic, and a varnish. Finally, on Monday, December 9, 2024, during the inauguration evening in front of the members of the RAPACE125, the Mirage IV rudder was revealed. A big thank you to our teams in charge of the project who have beautifully restored this symbol of aviation.
Thursday was a big day for H225 Airbus Helicopters and its return in offshore operation. It’s during dawn that the first Westair Helicopters operated H225, maintained by JJGK Aero, flew off from Istres to Namibia. The crew, composed by Westair’s pilots and JJGK Aero technicians, will pass through Spain and Africa before arriving in windhoek Namibia. JJGK Aero is proud to be part of the aircraft development in collaboration with Westair for the Oil & Gas sector.
We are pleased to annouce the renewal of our partnership with the Goalkeepers’ Association for the second consecutive year ! Founded in 2007, the “Académie des Gardiens de But Sud Provence” is an association dedicated to traning goalkeepers through regular practice sessions and training camps. On three fields, the 124 members receive training during the whole year with specialized coaches. This beginning of the year was marked by the visit of Yann VAN MINDEN, the Goalkeepers’ Association president, who gifted us the jersey for the 2024-2025 season. We are excited to continue this journey and watch the goalkeepers grow and improve !
For just over a month now, our aeronautical mechanics have been able to benefit from the Formation en Cours d’Emploi (FCE). At JJGK Aero, we firmly believe that developing the skills of our employees is the key to our success. Together, we tackle today’s challenges and prepare for those of tomorrow with ambition and expertise. To learn more, visit our approvals page !