Sustainable Fuel Powering Tour de France Helicopters

The helicopters used to cover this year’s Tour de France will be powered with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Operator Hélicoptères de France will use SAF for 50 percent of the stages for tour organizer ASO and 30 percent for France Télévisions. The fuel will be available at several airports along the bicycling race course. “We use seven to nine helicopters for this big race,” said Jean-Marc Genechesi, pilot, instructor, and director of Hélicoptères de France. “Our helicopters are in fact used by two clients: ASO and Euromedia [for France Télévisions], which provides the images that are broadcast around the world.”

Single-engine Airbus Helicopters H125s will transport VIPs and tour organizers while twin-engine EC355s will support France Télévisions. Helicopters covering the event adhere to a strict routing network and a variety of temporary helipads that are being established for refueling. “Reducing the carbon footprint has been one of the tour’s main concerns for several years,” said Genechesi. “Just as electric cars have been introduced to the convoy, last year ASO asked us to cover a third of all stages with SAF fuel, which we did.” 

Hélicoptères de France concentrates on aerial work, firefighting, and event support, including the Dakar road rally and various cycling events throughout the year.