Well-known as the home of the Solar Impulse solar-powered aircraft that is currently in China waiting to start the transpacific sector of a round-the-world flight, Aeropole at Payerne in Switzerland is being developed as a major European center for aerospace technology. The cluster has recently attracted three high-profile tenants in the shape of Boschung, Groupe E and Swiss Space Systems (S3).
Aeropole offers two areas for settlement, with or without access to the 2,600-meter ILS-equipped runway. Boschung has completed a contract to take two parcels of land with airfield access for a combined area of 400,000 square meters. The global company produces special-purpose vehicles, machinery and electronic systems for many purposes, including airport-related equipment. It is establishing its headquarters at Aeropole, along with a technology center.
S3 is establishing a spaceport at Payerne, including an administration/R&D center and an assembly building for its SOAR sub-orbital shuttle that is scheduled to begin flight trials in 2017. The third new tenant is Groupe E, which is taking land in Aeropole group 2, away from the runway, to support its electric power distribution business.