Environment: Delay in takeoff for the Flying Whales project in Laruscade

The company is carrying out the project of creating an airship manufacturing unit in the territory of the commune of Haute Gironde. But the Environmental Authority points to too great an ecological impact
Is it a hard blow or a stop? Sébastien Bougon, the president of Flying Whales, which he created in 2012, wants to believe in the second option and consider that the opinion issued by the Environmental Authority will only lead to a delay in the start of the process of realization of the project to create the airship manufacturing unit in Laruscade. What does the authority say? In view of the file, she rejected the project, pointing out, “a very strong impact on the regional natural heritage” and “significant damage to biodiversity and wetlands in the name of the major public interest which remains to be demonstrated “.
The authority places particular emphasis on the destruction of 58 hectares of natural wooded habitats, as well as the proximity of two Natura 2000 zones, and issues recommendations, the most notable of which envisages this establishment elsewhere. “We were not good on this issue which was not rich enough, not explained enough. We want to respond point by point to these recommendations,” says Sébastien Bougon.

At the beginning of November, at the request of Alain Rousset, the permanent commission of the Region voted for a subsidy of 3 million euros to speed up the preparation of the building permit. This creation being a flagship project, not only for the Latitude Nord Gironde Community of Communes, which is also responsible for the project – therefore with strong financial support from the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region – as well as the whole of Haute Gironde.

Because what are we talking about? The creation of a 75 hectare activity zone centered on Flying Whales which must install its production unit and a flight test area for its giant airships. Machines 200 meters long and 50 meters in diameter, intended for transporting heavy loads up to 60 tonnes. The overall budget is 450 million euros and 300 jobs should be created. Flying Whales has the particular ambition of relaunching the airship industry. Sébastien Bougon intends to place his approach in a global movement of reindustrialization of France which cannot oppose the protection of the environment, “we must find a happy medium”, assures the president.