Payerne Air Base

Payerne Airport (ICAO: LSMP) is a military airfield of the Swiss Air Force north of Payerne in Switzerland, located approximately halfway between Lausanne and Bern.

Payerne Airport

Aérodrome de Payerne

Base aérienne Payerne
A MirageIIIS takes off with JATO rockets in front of the tower at Payerne Airport in 1996
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OperatorSwiss Air Force
ServesPayerne
OccupantsSwiss Accident Investigation Board (formerly the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau)
Elevation AMSL445 m / 1,460 ft
Coordinates46°50′36″N 6°54′54″E
Map
LSMP is located in Switzerland
LSMP
LSMP
Location in Switzerland
Sources: GCM,[1]

History

In 2004 the International Air Show Air04 was held at Payerne.

On 8 July 2010, Payerne Air Base was the location from which the long-range experimental solar-powered aircraft Solar Impulse 1 achieved the world's first manned 26-hour solar-powered flight.[2][3][4] Payerne also became the home base for the successor Solar Impulse 2 (HB-SIB) aircraft, with the aircraft's first flight made from Payerne on 2 June 2014.[5]

From 30 August 2014 to 7 September 2014 the International Airshow Air14 took place at Payerne AFB.

Today

Payerne AB is the home of the F/A-18 Hornet squadrons Fliegerstaffel 17 Falcons and Fliegerstaffel 18 Panthers, the militia F-5E Tiger II squadron Fliegerstaffel 6 Ducks and of the transport squadron Lufttransportstaffel 1. Every aircraft type of the Swiss Air Force can be seen operating from Payerne.

It is home to the air investigation division of the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (Schweizerische Unfall Untersuchungs Stelle).[6] Previously this was the head office of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau,[7] before its 2011 merger into the SAIB.[8]

Payerne operates also as alternate airport for Bern-Belp airport for foreign government flights. Located on Payerne AB is also the Military Aviation Museum, Clin d'Ailes. Air Traffic Control is provided by the military branch of Skyguide, Skyguide National. Payerne is responsible for the education of ground crews (e.g., aircraft mechanic, airport fire fighter) of the Swiss Air Force. Therefore, Payerne is also the main base of the F/A-18C Mock-up X-5098. The F/A-18 flight simulators are also located in Payerne.

The A1 motorway (Switzerland) is connected via a taxiway at the hangar 5 with the airfield and can, if necessary, be used as runway for take off - and landing. However, this possibility has never been exploited since the construction of the highway.[9] The air base is, at both end of the runway, equipped with retractable arresting gear devices (used by the F/A-18 and in case of a problem by the F-5). Payerne AB is home of the Quick Reaction Alert / air policing activities of the Swiss Air Force.

Inaugurated in 2019 at Payerne Airport, the company Speedwings Business SA provides VIP handling services for Business Aviation flights for which there is a dedicated apron. Speedwings Business SA runs handling facilities including 6'600 sqm of heated hangars. Within 4 years after opening, more than 250 business jets operators already flew in, reaching Payerne Airport non stop with 400+ cities in 63 countries on 4 continents. The 2'800m long runway permits long haul fligths to be carried out from Payerne Airport. Flights to/from US West Coast, South America, Far East and Indian Ocean have already been performed

The Aviatic Museum Clin d'Ailes offers private flights with the Hawker Hunter trainer J-4203 HB-RVW and the Dassault Mirage IIIDS J-2012 HB-RDF from Payerne.

See also

References
  1. Airport information for LSMP at Great Circle Mapper.
  2. Maron, Dina Fine (6 July 2010). "Swiss Team to Launch Solar Night Flight". The New York Times. ClimateWire. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  3. "Solar Impulse completes record-breaking flight". The Daily Telegraph. London. 8 July 2010. Archived from the original on 9 July 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  4. Paur, Jason (7 July 2010). "Solar Airplane to Fly Through the Night (Tonight!)". Wired. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  5. "First Flight for Solar Impulse 2". Sport Aviation: 14. July 2014.
  6. "Addresses." [sic] Swiss Accident Investigation Board. Retrieved on 30 April 2013. "Swiss Accident Investigation Board SAIB Management board Bundeshaus Nord, Kochergasse 10 CH-3003 Berne" and "Aviation division Aéropôle 1 CH-1530 Payerne" and "Rail/Navigation division Monbijoustr. 51 A CH-3003 Berne"
  7. "How to find us Archived 24 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine." (Map link Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine) Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. Retrieved on 9 June 2009. "Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau AAIB Aeropole 1 Route de Morens 1530 Payerne Switzerland "
  8. "Swiss Accident Investigation Board SAIB." (Archive) Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications. Retrieved on 30 April 2013.
  9. Book Uno Zero Zero ISBN 978-3-9524239-0-5 Seite 230
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