Heritage and future of the base d’aéronautique navale

To mark this event, the base d’aéronautique navale is organizing a major air show on Sunday, June 1st. Open to all, it will be held from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and promises a day combining history, impressive aerial demonstrations, and immersion into the world of aeronautics. Admission will be charged and requires prior reservation. On this occasion, capitaine de vaisseau Paul Zanassi, commanding officer of the base d’aéronautique navale d’Hyères, recalls the major milestones of the Var base. "Over the decades, the base d’aéronautique navale d’Hyères has seen generations of dedicated pilots, aircrews, and technicians grow, thereby contributing to the success in operations and the reputation of naval aeronautics. Its Centenary highlights not only past achievements but also its commitment to the future, as it continues to meet the challenges of today's world. This event is an opportunity to celebrate Hyères, as well as the men and women who have served with honor and dedication throughout its century-long history. As you will see during this exceptional day: here, we qualify, train, prepare, and support the helicopter detachments that operate from Marine combat vessels on all the seas of the world," explains the commander. He adds: "We also maintain 24-hour maritime rescue alerts, which represent nearly 500 scramble missions and 300 lives saved each year. We host maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft, which ensure our defense on the surface as well as in depth, and we stand ready to act against any terrorist threat at sea. The base d’aéronautique navale is also the diversion airfield for aircraft from the carrier air group. During this day, you will discover the richness and diversity of use of our aircraft and will be able to observe the presentation of numerous aircraft from other armed forces and administrations, as well as from several allied nations." "Civil aviation activity is also an important element of our mission, since we are in charge of the aeronautical part of the operation of the Toulon-Hyères and Cuers-Pierrefeu civil airfields. We thus have the capacity to recruit locally and we constitute a major economic hub, well anchored in the region, the department, and the municipalities. These successes are the result of the constant efforts and commitment of all civilian and military personnel. They involve on-call duties, shifts, night flights, urgent departures, or emergency repairs; but they are our daily life, our duty, and our entire pride! Thank you, all of you, for coming to share this commitment, to thrill with pleasure at the sound of these superb machines, from the most legendary to the most sophisticated, and to embrace our shared passion for naval aeronautics, for our Marine nationale, and for all of aviation," concludes capitaine de vaisseau Paul Zanassi.