Base aérienne 101 Toulouse-Francazal (Général Robert Aubinière)
Base aérienne 101 Toulouse-Francazal (also Général Robert Aubinière) is an active joint civil-military airfield in France, operated by the French Air and Space Force. Home to Centre de commandement et de contrôle des opérations spatiales, Centre opérationnel de surveillance militaire des objets spatiaux, Escadron de conduite des actions spatiales, Centre de renseignement d’intérêt spatial and 4 other units.
Facility Details
43.5492°N, 1.3572°E · 163 m elevation
| Operating Country | 🇫🇷 France |
| Location | 🇫🇷 France |
| Status | Active |
| Usage | Dual |
| Year built | 1934 |
| Year closed | 2009 |
| Operating Organization | French Air and Space Force |
| Units |
Centre de commandement et de contrôle des opérations spatialesCentre opérationnel de surveillance militaire des objets spatiauxEscadron de conduite des actions spatialesCentre de renseignement d’intérêt spatialCentre de formation aux opérations spatiales militairesEscadron de soutien aux opérations spatialesLaboratoire d’innovation spatial des arméesÉquipe de marque des programmes spatiaux
|
| Elevation | 163 m (535 ft) |
- 53 km Montauban 9e régiment de soutien aéromobile (escadrille de transport et de convoyage de matériel)
- 145 km Pau-Pyrénées 5e régiment d'hélicoptères de combat
- 155 km Base aérienne 118 Mont-de-Marsan 30e Escadre de chasse
- 196 km Dax-Seyresse École de l'aviation légère de l'Armée de terre (EALAT) — base école Général Navelet
- 217 km Base aérienne 106 Bordeaux-Mérignac Escadron de transport et d’entrainement 43 Médoc
- 227 km Base aérienne 120 Cazaux 8e escadre de chasse
Description
Base aérienne 101 Toulouse, also known as Toulouse-Francazal, is a French Air and Space Force base located in Haute-Garonne, Toulouse. It was opened in 1934 with the creation of the Air Force and was a significant base for military air transport and flight instruction. Initially named in honor of General Lionel de Marmier, it was dissolved on September 1, 2009, as part of military reforms. Following its dissolution, the site continued to host military activities, including the National Pole for Airborne Operations of the 11th Parachute Brigade, which prepares parachutists for rapid deployments. The aerodrome also opened to public air traffic, accommodating business aviation, SAFIRE, ATR Aircraft, and Aura Aéro. In 2024, a decision was made to reactivate BA 101 as a 'space-oriented air base.' It is scheduled to be recreated on July 2, 2025, and named 'Général Robert Aubinière,' becoming France's first space-oriented air base. The new BA 101 will host nine units under the Space Command, including control centers for space operations, a military space object surveillance center, a space action squadron, a space intelligence center, a military space operations training center, a space operations support squadron, an armed forces space innovation laboratory, and a space programs brand team. The base is projected to have approximately 500 personnel by 2030.