Humanitarian support

The Airbus Foundation is an established, respected and recognised partner in emergency response among the humanitarian community, providing a range of product and service support.

Our emergency response support includes:

Air transport with Airbus flight test and charter aircraft for emergency relief flights and goodwill ferry flights with Airbus customers.
Helicopter transport with Airbus operators for emergency relief flights (Search & Rescue, Helicopter Emergency Medical System, Fire-fighting…)
Airbus satellite imagery for assessment before, during and after major natural disasters and crises worldwide, including environmental support
Training of health professionals in helicopter emergency medicine in emerging countries

Helicopters

During the very first hours of a crisis, helicopters are able to make a very strong difference and enable a swift response. Their flexibility and ability to quickly be mobilised allows them to save lives and safely carry passengers in demanding environments, as well as support ground rescuers to assess emergency situations.

Moreover, the Airbus Foundation, in partnership with the FAM (Fondation de l’Academie de Medecine), contributes to the organization of rescue and medical training in a helicopter environment. Doctors and rescuer-workers are continuously trained to ensure the development of Emergency Medical Services around the world.

Commercial Aircraft

The Airbus Foundation’s humanitarian work is made possible through its partnerships and collaboration with key humanitarian actors. It is a strategic choice to work with organisations who bring expertise across the humanitarian response cycle. This approach also guarantees reach and impact, permitting a certain stability and comfort by working with known organisations on a long term basis.

Satellite imagery

The Airbus Foundation is providing satellite imagery to support the assessment of the humanitarian sector for major natural disasters and crises worldwide. Thanks to satellite images and their analysis, emergency responders and disaster relief organisations are able to map out areas that might be difficult to access, assess how severe the damage is and coordinate the actions of their staff, both on the ground and in the air.

A dedicated satellite portal, providing free of charge access to satellite imagery to selected partners with whom we have entered into partnerships, was opened by the Foundation as a sign of long term commitment to the humanitarian community. Some of the partners have also requested training on the analysis of satellite imagery to build their skills and competencies.

Our activities in Haiti and Nepal exemplify how the coordination of the company wide resources under the Airbus Foundation and the partnership with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement can have profound effects.

Contributions from all businesses helped the Foundation’s relief efforts following the refugee crisis in South Sudan (flight to Uganda in March 2017), hurricane Matthew in Haiti (October 2016) and the 7.9 magnitude earthquake in Nepal (April 2015).

Airbus organised relief flights with delivery aircraft,Airbus Helicopters provided helicopter-based solutions to affected areas, and Airbus Defence and Space used satellite imagery to help assess the extent of the damage.

The Airbus Foundation brings added value to Emergency Responders

The Airbus Foundation has signed collaborative agreements with key players whose expertise and knowledge in international emergency aid establishes the role of the Airbus Foundation as a key player in the field of humanitarian aid by working with them.

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The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is a worldwide humanitarian aid organisation that reaches 160 million people each year through its 192-member National Societies.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

The World Food Programme Global Logistics Cluster (WFP-GLC), a branch of the United Nations, as a coordination mechanism activated to ensure an efficient and effective emergency response. It is composed of a group of around 700 humanitarian actors.

The Centre de Crise et de Soutien (Crisis and Support Centre) of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs(MEAE CDCS), supporting humanitarian aid requests from the French Government solicited to help populations affected by humanitarian disasters. Network of 160 embassies serving bilateral relations and 114 consular sections.

The Centre de Crise et de Soutien

Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), belonging to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation seeks to promote the Humanitarian Action of the actors of Spanish Cooperation as a whole so that it is coherently inserted in the efforts of the international community

The Kenyan Red Cross Society (KRCS), which offers a connection to innovative products through a fab lab.

Action Contre la Faim (Action Against Hunger – ACF), a global movement that aims to end life-threatening hunger for good within our lifetimes, treating and preventing malnutrition across more than 45 countries.