Air Transport Gendarmerie

Not to be confused with Air Gendarmerie.
Air Transport Gendarmerie
Gendarmerie des Transports Aériens (French)
Arm patch of the Air Transport Gendarmerie
Active1953–present
CountryFrance
AgencyNational Gendarmerie
RoleAirport security
Part ofDirectorate General for Civil Aviation
Structure
Officers1,100
National Gendarmerie
Civil and Naval Ensign of France
Components

The Air Transport Gendarmerie (French: Gendarmerie des Transports Aériens) (GTA) is a branch of the French Gendarmerie. It is placed under the dual supervision of the Gendarmerie and the Directorate General for Civil Aviation of the Transportation Ministry,[1] and has a strength of about 1,100, commanded by a senior officer or by a general officer.[2]

Its missions are centered on airport security, and it also carries out judicial inquiries pertaining to civilian aviation accidents.[3]

The GTA was created in 1953 out of existing airport gendarmerie specialist units created from 1946.[3]

The Air Transport Gendarmerie should not be confused with the smaller Air Gendarmerie, which provides policing for the French Air Force.

Flag of the Air Transport Gendarmerie during the military parade of the 2013 Bastille Day.
  1. ^ "Booklet of the Directorate General for Civil Aviation" (PDF). 2019.
  2. ^ Arrêté du 28 avril 2006 relatif à l'organisation, à l'emploi et au soutien de la gendarmerie des transports aériens (Order) (in French). 2006.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference inte was invoked but never defined (see the help page).