F-HBKC was on static display and HBKG gave a flight demonstration.

Built in 2009.

The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) signed in 2009 an agreement to begin helicopter flight training with a commercially run company named HeliDax. HeliDax EC120Bs are used by the school of Army Aviation (EAALAT) at Dax to provide basic helicopter flight training for all three of the French Armed Services, Army, Navy and Air Force as well as the Gendarmerie. HeliDax s fleet of 36 EC-120B replaced 54 Gazelles in use through February 2011. The last of 36 EC120s was delivered on 10 October 2010.

HeliDax was contracted by the France Defense Conseil International (DCI) and INAER France in 2008. The private company supplies flight hours required for the basic and advanced helicopter training of French Armed Forces and is based at Dax. The company is integrated in the Light Army Aviation School and has 36 EC-120s on strength, modified to fit the specifics requirement of the French MoD. The company now also trains Belgium helicopter pilots.

F-HBKJ was registered in Sep-2009 and is flying as a trainer for the French Army.

The privatization rage has reached France and military helicopter pilot training at Dax is now done by a company called HeliDax. Still, the type has been given the military name Calliope, after the calliope hummingbird.

Flightline of the French army aviation school, photographed from the balcony of the Aéroclub de Dax in the late afternoon.

Used for military helicopter pilot training at Dax.