The process that has now finally led the Municipality of Riviera to be able to protect more than 100 jobs linked to the Lodrino airport was particularly complex, jobs that were at risk, given the Confederation's decision to end nineties to dismantle several military airports, including that of Lodrino.
In addition to the Town Hall of Riviera, Eng. Davide Pedrioli as consultant of the Municipality, the Board of Directors of Riviera Airport SA, RUAG Lodrino, Heli-TV SA and about twenty professionals.
The assignment of the activity to the Municipality is obviously welcomed with enthusiasm by the companies that base their activity right on the airport. Furthermore, the transformation of the airport from military to civilian opens the space for new projects and new development sectors.
The planned works at the Lorino airport
At the infrastructural level, during 2023 work should begin for the expansion of the aeronautical center of Heli-TV SA, the construction of a new hangar by RUAG and the construction of a new washing area.
Swiss Drone Base Camp – SDBC
The "Swiss Drone Base Camp - SDBC" also fits into this context, the first competence center of Switzerland Innovation Park Ticino developed by Fondazione Agire, which with industries in the sector and in close collaboration with SUPSI, USI and other Academic Institutes, will be the platform for research and for the development of innovative concepts in the field of drones.
The change of use of the airport, among other things, implies the authorization of drones to fly in a space dedicated to them. This represents a unique value proposition for an airport site and will allow for the development of projects by companies that will locate at the centre. There are currently 5 companies already active. The positioning strategy of the Drone Competence Center is currently being developed, in order to identify distinctive areas of activity that can attract innovative companies for their involvement in research projects and a potential settlement in the area.
The ultimate goal is to attract companies with cutting-edge technologies capable of creating an economic induced, but above all of skills, in favor of the entire region. The study already underway for the possible creation of an infrastructure suitable for these new entrepreneurial activities therefore receives a further boost.
Canton support for Lodrino airport
Even the Canton, represented at the press conference by Stefano Rizzi, Director of the Economy Division, welcomes the authorization to manage the former military airport of Lodrino: it is in fact also thanks to the allocation of 3 million francs to the Municipality of Riviera to cover the costs of redevelopment and extraordinary maintenance of the buildings and for the adaptation of the infrastructures, which made possible the transformation of the Lodrino aerodrome. The achievement of this goal also lays the foundations for launching the future development of the Swiss Drone Base Camp, an initiative that goes well with the approach given to the economic development strategy adopted by the Canton and which, by contributing to the increase in the innovative capacity of the Canton Ticino and its companies, in 2021 also received an important funding from the State Council.
