Thierry Dubois is a freelance writer specializing in helicopters, business aviation and aerospace technology. He earned a degree in fluid dynamics from an engineering school in Toulouse, France in the mid-1990s. At an unexpected crossroads, he found his first job in journalism. In 1997, he started working for French aerospace weekly Air &amp; Cosmos in Paris. This lasted until 2000, when he moved south to Lyons. He then became a freelancer, working for various aerospace publications and has been part of the AIN team since late 2000. In addition to writing about business aviation, Thierry shares responsibility for the rotorcraft section. He also is a regular on-site writer for AIN’s daily editions at international airshows such as the Paris, Farnborough, Dubai and Singapore shows, as well as at EBACE in Geneva.
In 2007, he won the Honeywell award for “Best systems or technology submission” at the Aerospace journalist of the year awards. In 2013, he won an Aerospace Media Award for the "Best Safety, Training &amp; Simulation Submission."
In other activities, Thierry moderates international conferences on aviation technology topics. Thierry is married and has three children, who seem to begin enjoying the mountains–as their parents do.

Writer

Thierry Dubois

NH Industries here on Monday presented an award to general Olivier Gourlez de la Motte, commander of the French Army’s aviation (Alat), in recognition of “the first operational deployment of a NH90 TTH Caïman overseas.” 
Two Caïmans, as they are called in the French forces, have been based in Mali as part of the Barkhane operation. A third and a fourth one are expected to join them “quite soon,” according to de la Motte.
Performing daily here at the Paris Air Show, the NH90 TTH is “showing a very small part of its capability,” a pilot told AIN, describing the helicopter as “very maneuverable.” Just back from Mali, he emphasized Alat crews already benefit from better safety and much greater situational awareness, compared to the previous-generation rotorcraft they have used. He also praised the air conditioning, which is absent from older aircraft.
The pilot predicted that a nap-of-the-earth approach to a combat theater, in poor visibility and flown on instruments, is doable with the NH90. However, he believes it will take several years to develop the related procedures. Alat crews already combine manual flying with the upper modes of the autopilot to land in brownout conditions.
NH Industries (Static C2) hopes to receive an order for a further six NH90 TTHs from France this year. The ministry of defense plans to transfer all H225M Caracals to the armée de l’Air air force, according to a military source. The special forces will thus eventually operate only NH90s, as will Alat.

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