SAF Aerogroup History
SAF Aerogroup’s story began with two visionaries, Jean Capoulade and Roland Fraissinet who on their individual aviation quests, recognised the potential and requirements for helicopter services. In the early 1970’s, Jean Capoulade established Hélicap in Paris and ten years later Roland Fraissinet founded Secours Aéfien Française (SAF) in Savoy. Each company grew and diversified their services, one offering SMURS services and the other developing its mountain rescue division.
In 2006 the companies amalgamated and the SAF Group was established. With shared values, the company expanded their helicopter services. In 2021, the SAF Group widened their expertise and offering expanding their fleet to include fix wing aircraft and their reach into Africa and the Middle East. They amalgamated with renowned operating companies to accommodate their strategic plans and expansion specialising in air operations, maintenance, training, aircraft sales and crew services.
SAF AEROGROUP has been progressively being built from companies of high reputation in their field, highly skilled and engaged personnel and premier world class helicopters and aircraft brands in the fleet; SAF AEROGROUP operators share the same DNA turned to safe and reliable aviation services, and are today serving a vast range of aerial solutions globally at the highest safety and reliability standards.
Our moto: Mission First.
- SAF Companies foundation
- Merger and Acquisition
1979
Foundation of SAF HÉLICOPTÈRES, France
- Rescue
- Aerial Work
1990
Foundation of SAF Industries, France
- Maintenance
- Customizing
2006
Acquisition of HELICAP, France
- HEMS
2012
Foundation of SAF TRAINING ACADEMY, In France
- Pilot Training
- Full Flight Sim
2014
Foundation of SAF INTERNATIONAL, Switzerland
- Heavy Lift
2016
Acquisition of HELILAGON, in La Réunion, France
- Panoramic Flights
- Aerial work
2019
Acquisition of AZUR HELICOPTERE, France
- Charters
- Initial pilot TRG
- Pan. flights
2021
Foundation of SAF HELICOPTÈRES, Belgium
2021
Acquisition of STARLITE AVIATION, South Africa
- Operations:-
- Medevac
- Rescue
- Transportation
- & Fire fighting
- Aircraft Maintenance
- Pilot Training
- Aircraft Sales
- Charters
2022