Quebec's Eastern Townships chosen for giant cargo airship project

A French company has chosen Quebec's Eastern Townships as its future cargo airship assembly centre for its North and South American markets.

Flying Whales reached an agreement in principle with the City of Sherbrooke, Cookshire-Eaton and Sherbrooke's airport to build a factory on the grounds of the airport. 

The company plans to build a 50-hectare site to assemble, test, and launch airships — a project expected to create some 300 jobs. 

Sherbrooke Mayor Évelyne Beaudin believes this will benefit both the economic and social development of the region. 

"People will want to come here, will want to see those Flying Whales being built and maybe fly one day," she said. 

"I believe in this project. I think it really answers a real problem that we have about air transportation."

The mayor stated that if consultations were needed, the municipality would be open to holding them.

"We are very positive about what is happening," Beaudin said. 

Airships to help reduce carbon footprint, CEO says

The agreement in principle enables the involved parties to move forward with environmental, technical, regulatory and financial studies — steps deemed necessary before construction of the facility can begin.

Vincent Guibout, CEO of Flying Whales and president of Flying Whales Quebec, said multiple sites were initially considered and were narrowed down to two "good offers," one from Trois-Rivières and the other from Cookshire-Eaton. 

The company had also been eyeing Drummondville, where it had conducted studies. 

"The decision to choose [Cookshire-Eaton] is mostly linked to the fact that we had more certainty on that side," said Guibout. 

A year ago, Flying Whales entered a collaboration agreement with Chantiers Chibougamau to transport lumber, but the partnership fell through.

The future airships will carry large loads like wind turbine blades, transmission towers, large equipment and materials. 

Guibout explained that this will speed up the deployment of technologies required for generating more energy and reduce the carbon footprint "significantly."

As for potential environmental concerns, he said that the site, which is already on industrial land, presents a number of "advantages." 

"It was forecast for the industry and a number of precautions were taken so that we do not destroy protected species on the site," he said.

When asked about failed projects in Quebec or those that face uncertainty, such as Northvolt, Guibout said his company would rely on existing technologies and that the market was "huge." 

Construction of the plant is scheduled to start in 2027, airship production in 2028 and commercial operations in 2029.