Uncompromising service quality that guarantees airworthiness for all aeronautical adventures.

Our story

Founded in 1993, la Maison Icarius began as a French story. The first maintenance, repair and overhaul operations were established at the Tallard airfield, in the heart of a strong aeronautical community in the département of Hautes-Alpes. With its favourable climatic conditions, this scenic location has long served as a base for those training in and enjoying parachuting and skydiving.

The company’s founders, Corinne and Mike Fitzgerald, identified the potential of the site to harness their combined skills and interests – with the former being a professional skydiver competitor and the latter a gifted aviation technician.

From the outset, the intense passion of the Icarius team has been matched by a constant drive to upskill and to secure certifications and approvals for the broadening scope of services offered.

Certified under EMAR 145, Icarius provided 20 years of in-service support for the French Army's Pilatus PC-6 fleet, deploying its teams to overseas operational theatres. The company also ensured the maintenance of Twin Otters operated by the French Air and Space Force. It later obtained CAMO approval and became an authorised service centre for Pratt & Whitney, Blackhawk, Textron and Garmin, adding to its expertise in maintaining Pilatus Porter PC-6.

To expand workshop capacity and extend coverage to reach new clients, a second facility was created in Cahors in the département of Lot, complementing the high-output Tallard base.

The commitment to outstanding service and quality, and the guarantee of safety, reliability and airworthiness, meant that clients within France were soon joined by those across Europe and even further afield. Location has been no barrier to collaboration: assignments have been fulfilled as far away as New Caledonia in the southwest Pacific Ocean.

For more than 30 years, Corinne and Mike made an outstanding contribution to the aeronautical industry by raising standards and realising new possibilities – all while nurturing a talented workforce and operating with the integrity and professionalism of true aviation enthusiasts.

In 2025, as the founders decided to step away from the business, a new ownership structure was established for Icarius. Jean-Marie Bussière, a native of the Hautes-Alpes and a pilot himself, took over the company. Alongside him is the son of Corinne and Mike: Tom Fitzgerald, also a pilot and the lead mechanic for the French national aerobatics team.

Despite the beginning of a new era for Icarius, the same guiding principles have remained, ensuring ongoing client trust and confidence. Operators worldwide still count on the deep knowledge and exceptional service quality delivered by the Icarius team.