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.
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 !
We are delighted to announce the renewal of our partnership with Istres Provence Volley for the second consecutive year ! On this occasion, Olivier Follea, president of the club, honored us with a visit to our premises and presented us with the iconic jersey for the 2024-2025 season. Club Istres Provence Volley (IPV) is an amateur volleyball club offering training sessions and courses for young and old. In 2024, the Club was awarded the silver Label Club Formateur for its commitment to developing young talent and their passion for volleyball. We are proud to support local talents and clubs that make our region shine.
Yesterday, Santa Claus made an appearance in our premises! For the joy of young and old alike, the magic of Christmas was once again present at JJGK AERO. Amidst castles and inflatable games, some of the children were having fun while others were at the creative workshop coloring or drawing. Meanwhile, at the face painting stand, many children were lining up for the chance to become a fox or Spider-Man, while the more indulgent ones enjoyed crêpes and hot chocolate with their families. To wrap up this beautiful afternoon, Santa Claus, dressed in his finest coat, handed out gifts. This convivial moment is a wonderful way to thank our teams, and conclude a year filled with projects.
Yesterday, we had the honor of participating in a significant event at the Base Aérienne 125 Istres: the inauguration of the base’s museum as well as the «Mirage IV Tail Fin Memorial». The evening began with an inspiring presention by Colonel Sébastien Esteve, who shared updates on the operational and event-related activities of the base, along with its perspectives and future projects. We then rediscovered the «Mirage IV Tail Fin Memorial», which was restored this summer thanks to the remarkable work of our painting team. This renovation highlights a powerful symbol of the history of French military aviation. The evening continued with the inauguration of the museum, a space dedicated to preserving and sharing the base’s heritage. The event concluded at the mess hall, around a convivial cocktail that provided a special opportunity for exchanges and discussions.
Last Friday marked the 13th day of the Liqui Moly StarLigue, and we had the privilege of presenting the match between the Taureaux and Saint-Raphaël. It was an opportunity for us to highlight our activity and expertise during an intense and action-packed game, in which Istres once again demonstrated its fighting spirit and teamwork. We are proud to support a team that shares our values: determination, discipline and excellence. A huge congratulations to the players and the entire staff. Thanks to beIN Sports France and Istres Provence Handball for this opportunity and to all the fans for always be being there to cheer on the Taureaux !
We are pleased to announce that BIJA Industrie is now our tooling partner for a strategic project in collaboration with Westair Helicopters in Namibia. Founded in 2004, BIJA Industrie is a French company based in Brignoles, specializing in the design, manufacture and distribution of specific tools and tooling for the civil and military aerospace sectors. Thanks to its position as a leader in the sector, it is a partner of the MAF Aéronautique competition for the Best Apprentices of France, Structure option. Thanks to their recognized expertise, responsiveness, and the exceptional quality of their solutions, we ensure our teams benefit from high-level technical support to successfully carry out this ambitious mission. This partnership with BIJA Industrie strengthens our ability to anticipate and meet the specific demands of the aerospace sector while guaranteeing our partners and clients results that meet their expectations. A big thank you to Laurence BIJA and Laurent BIJA for this collaboration.Stay tuned to discover the next steps and progress of this exciting project.
Afterwork with Istres Provence Handball partners: an evening full of exchanges! ✨ On Wednesday evening, we had the pleasure of welcoming the professional team of Istres Provence Handball along with their partners, newcomers to the world of aeronautics. This friendly evening was an opportunity to introduce them to the technical expertise and passion the drive JJGK Aero every day. Our directors, Michel Augen and Alexis Tierny, shared their expertise, answered all questions with enthusiasm, and fueled the participants’ curiosity. A great way to strenghten the ties between sports, innovation, and aeronautics. 🚁🤝 Thank you all for your presence and interest! We are delighted with this collaboration and the exciting opportunities it opens up.