Since 2010, OSAC has played a central role in France's air safety system. As a third-party body authorised by the DGAC (French Civil Aviation Authority), it issues, monitors, suspends, or withdraws approvals for production, maintenance, airworthiness management, and maintenance training organisations. "In total, 800 approvals are managed, and OSAC supervises the airworthiness of over 14,000 aircraft," explains Thomas Counioux, Sector Line Director for Transport, Defence & Telecoms Markets. A sensitive assignment, at the heart of the sector's safety challenges, which will continue until 2028 as part of the third consecutive authorisation.
A new brand
for a new momentum
But this historical exclusivity also has its limits. "OSAC has become a very well-known brand in the sector, but solely associated with our sovereign assignments," admits Thibaut Liblin, head of the new Apave Aeroservices division. "We therefore needed a fresh start to bring our expertise to other clients, particularly internationally or in the military field."
This is the whole point of the ongoing reorganisation: to clearly separate the regalian activities, carried out for the DGAC under the OSAC banner, from the service offering developed for other clients, civil or military, now carried by Apave Aeroservices. This is a brand that already exists in the Group's portfolio, but has been little exploited until now. "Today, we are activating it as the spearhead of our aeronautical strategy," Thibaut Liblin continues.
A strategic turning point
in serving the market
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"By asserting its identity, the Group is undertaking a profound reorganisation of its aeronautical activities," adds Thomas Counioux. A strategic turning point, initiated in 2023, which aims to consolidate Apave's presence in the sector while gaining agility and clarity with new civil and military markets. This entity now unifies all the Group's expertises around the historical subsidiaries OSAC and Apave Aeroservices Consulting dedicated to the sector.
Apave fully intends to make this reorganisation a springboard towards international leadership.
A global reference
in risk management
This new organisation falls within the broader framework of the strategic plan launched by the Apave Group at the end of 2020. Its objectives: to double the turnover in five years and position the Apave brand as a global reference in the management of technical, human, environmental, and digital risks. All of the Group's core business activities are thus mobilised to support stakeholders in the aeronautical sector in this dual transformation, both quantitative and sustainable.
"By relying on strong brands, a dense territorial network, and solid experience in critical environments, Apave fully intends to make this reorganisation a springboard towards international leadership," concludes Thomas Counioux.
The Apave Aeroservices brand is today the spearhead of our aeronautical strategy.
The 3 segments of the aeronautical market
Apave Aeroservices' assignment?
To coordinate the Group's efforts across all 3 segments of the aeronautical market:
- Civil and military authorities, both in France and internationally, where the objective is to transpose the OSAC model to other countries or regulatory contexts (European DGACs, DSAE, DGA, etc.).
- Air transport operators, i.e. airports and airlines, a segment where the Group is already well established (Roissy, France), Lyon, Mulhouse, etc.) through its inspection, training, or consulting activities.
- Finally, the aeronautics industry, with a clear ambition: to address major contractors and their supply chain by relying on specialised entities such as SOPEMEA (qualification tests), OPPIDA (cyber security), or Apave Interservice Inspection (quality controls).
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