Brétigny-sur-Orge Air Base

The closure was a direct result of a nationwide restructuring of the French Armed Forces, announced in the 2008 French White Paper on Defence and National Security. This plan aimed to modernize the military and achieve cost savings by consolidating forces and closing numerous bases. The primary flight testing activities had already been moved to Istres and Cazaux air bases a decade earlier, making Brétigny redundant for its main historical purpose.

The vast 750-hectare site has been completely demilitarized and is undergoing a massive redevelopment project known as 'La Base 217', managed by the Cœur d'Essonne Agglomération. The current uses are diverse and focus on economic and ecological conversion:
- **Logistics Hub:** It hosts one of Europe's largest Amazon fulfillment centers, which opened in 2019.
- **Drone and UAV Cluster:** It is home to the 'Cluster Drones Paris Region', a major European center for drone testing, development, and training, utilizing the open space and parts of the former runways.
- **Event Venue:** The large, open spaces are used for major events, including music festivals (e.g., Download Festival Paris in 2017-2018), film shoots, and corporate events.
- **Automotive and Mobility Testing:** Sections of the runways and taxiways are used for vehicle testing.
- **Urban Agriculture and Energy:** There are ongoing projects to establish large-scale greenhouses and a significant photovoltaic (solar) power plant.
- **Recreation:** Portions of the site are being converted into public parks and recreational areas.

Brétigny-sur-Orge Air Base (former ICAO: LFPY), also known as Base Aérienne 217, was one of the most important aerospace sites in Europe. Established in 1938, it became the main location for the French Flight Test Center (Centre d'Essais en Vol - CEV) after WWII. Often called the 'French Edwards Air Force Base,' it was the primary site for testing and certifying nearly all French military and civilian aircraft prototypes from the late 1940s until the late 1990s. Key operations included:
- First flights and development of iconic Dassault aircraft like the Ouragan, Mystère, Mirage series, and the Rafale.
- Testing for civilian airliners such as the Sud Aviation Caravelle and various Airbus models.
- Critical development work for the Concorde SST, including testing its automatic landing system and conducting zero-gravity parabolic flights using a modified Caravelle.
- Testing of engines, avionics, weapons systems, and parachutes.
Its role was central to the independence and success of the French aerospace industry for over 50 years.

There are no prospects for reopening the site as a traditional airport. The closure is permanent, and the land has been fully re-purposed for civilian economic, recreational, and environmental projects. The construction of large, permanent structures like the Amazon warehouse and the establishment of the drone cluster have physically and legally precluded any return to conventional aviation operations. The remaining runway segments are no longer certified for aircraft use and are integrated into the new functions of the site.