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The Launch Pad

Latrobe City recognised the significance and opportunities that Advanced Air Mobility.

... and the supporting technology, will not only bring to the region but also to Victoria, and established the Latrobe Aerospace Technology Precinct within the Latrobe Regional Airport.

The Precinct, set amongst 162 hectare site will enable a thriving collaborative environment for emerging aviation technology, developers, industry partners, manufacturers, academia and research organisations. This will create not only industry opportunities, but career and education pathways for the region.

Renewable energy systems, including wind, solar and liquid hydrogen will support low and zero emissions development and flight testing, ensuring reliable and sustainable energy supply and alignment to the region’s clean energy objectives.

Council has committed to transition to a low emissions future as per the Latrobe City Council Sustainable Action Plan. A key action is to introduce renewable energy and environmentally sustainable design requirements for all Council owned and operated buildings.

The Launchpad and AAM aircraft operations will be supported by on-site renewable energy, including wind, solar and liquid hydrogen.

The Precinct will also host research projects that give Launch Pad tenants and AAM operators opportunities to develop and trial low and zero emissions technologies, including:

•RMIT
•Gippsland Tech
•Gippsland TAFE
•Federation University
•Swinburne University of Technology AIRHUB

  • Multi-use vertiports
  • Latrobe Regional Airport – runway access
  • Freight centres
  • Emergency Services operations
  • Facilities include – 3 phase power, high speed-internet, offices and meeting rooms
  • Spectrum frequency bandwidth available

  • Aircraft or Individual parts manufactures
  • Modular production (eVTOL, drones)
  • Commercialisation

  • Innovation Centre
  • Swinburne University of Technology and Nova Systems Foundation partners
  • Collaborative laboratoratories
  • Innovators and Start ups
  • RMIT and GippsTech -Precinct partners

  • STEM programs
  • University testing – sand pit
  • Education programs and Industry training
    • TAFE programs
    • Careers Expos

  • Beyond visual line of sight testing
  • Low population density flight corridors
  • Real time analytics
  • Noise emissions testing
  • Working towards certifcation

  • Renewable Energy Systems and companies
  • Working towards zero emissions technology and footprint
  • Emergency services
  • Time critical medical support and supplies
  • Community engagement

AAM Command Centre

To support AAM testing, as well as ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, an AAM Command Centre will be operational by June 2026. Initially it will operate from the airport terminal, however the command centre will relocate to the Launch Pad on its construction.

The Command Centre will support flight testing from early trials through to commercial operations, providing real time tracking and airspace awareness to enable safe and regulatory compliant beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) testing and evaluation.

Anchoring the Precinct will be the LaunchPad building, a flexible and future-focused building that has been designed to evolve with the needs of emerging industries and technologies.

The two storey, 1,225 square metre building incorporates modular architecture to support staged development, allowing spaces to be reconfigured and expanded over time. This adaptability ensures the building remains relevant as the Advanced Air Mobility sector matures, supporting startups, research and clean energy innovation.

The Launch Pad has been designed to interconnect industry, innovators, suppliers and educational institutions to enable the development, assembly, testing and evaluation, and commercialisation of AAM and associated renewable energy systems

Construction of the Launch Pad is targeted for late 2026 to early 2027.

Latrobe Aerospace Technology Precinct

Advanced Air Mobility

Operators and Investors

Community Information

Latrobe Regional Airport