At the beginning of the seventies, Jean CAPOULADE fascinated by the incredible prospects which offers the helicopter, decided to create HELICAP in 1977. During the first years, the principal activity of the company was focused on the pilot’s trainings, first flights, and aerial filming in Paris area.
With his son, Michel CAPOULADE, as true visionaries of the pre-medical taking care of patients, they early got specialized in medical transport. And thus, in 1983, in collaboration with one of the founders of the French SAMU, the Professor Pierre HUGUENARD, HELICAP for the first time in France puts a civil helicopter at an EMS permanent disposal, based in Créteil.
Consequently, HELICAP has constantly innovated in sanitary field for a taking care every time more efficient of the SMUR’s (Mobile service of emergency and reanimation) patients under the direction of Michel CAPOULADE. In 1994, pre-empting on the new French and European regulations, first contacts are taken with the European aircraft manufacturers to purchase a twin engine helicopter class performance1 workable in A category. In 1996, HELICAP and EUROCOPTER agreed a delivery of 10 EC135 which will start his sanitary career with HELICAP at the EMS 42 of St Etienne. This helicopter’s modern design, its low-vibrating level, an efficient accessibility for the patient and facilities specially conceived according to the specifics needs of EMS constitute a major progress, making now possible intubations during the flight.
GROUP SAF is today the first world’s owner of this kind of helicopters. Thanks to its staff’s abilities and motivation combined with a rigorous follow-up of material and the efficiency of its leading providers, HELICAP had become today a reference in the world of medical evacuation flights.
