Tampere plans Teisko drone testing site with state funding

Tampere plans to develop the Teisko airfield area into a research and testing environment for drones, Yle reports. The city is investing 53,000 euros in the project, while the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom is providing 100,000 euros.

The city decided last week to launch a development project running until the end of 2027. One company interested in the area is Tampere-based Insta, which develops drones for the Finnish Defence Forces.

The Teisko airfield, located in Kaanaa, is currently used for recreational aviation and motor sports. The association operating the area says it does not know whether its activities can continue after the end of the year.

Insta has tested drones in Teisko for years

Insta said the city had contacted the company about the project. The company has tested drones in Teisko for several years and demonstrated its equipment to customers there as recently as this week.

“A nearby testing area like this is important to us. It helps us test drones flexibly,” said Tuure Lehtoranta, Insta’s director of sales, marketing and public affairs.

Insta develops unmanned aircraft for Finland’s defence and for export markets. This week, the company announced that it had signed a multiyear agreement with the Finnish Defence Forces to supply FPV drones designed for the training of Finnish conscripts.

Lehtoranta said Teisko could also serve developers of drones intended for civilian use. Other operators have used the area as well. For example, Joensuu-based technology company Kelluu has conducted research flights from Teisko with hydrogen-powered airships it is developing.

Project will assess the area’s potential

Traficom’s state grant will be used to hire a project manager, purchase services and develop the airfield’s infrastructure.

“At this stage, this is a preparation and assessment project to strengthen the competitiveness and growth of the Tampere region,” said Irene Vekkeli, Tampere’s director of economic development and innovation.

The aim is to assess the airfield’s potential as an environment for research, development and testing. The city has not made decisions on investments, funding or the area’s final use.

Preparatory work has been carried out with companies and research organisations in the area. Vekkeli said the project was primarily about assessing the area’s potential and that no individual company had a special position in it.

Motor sports association uncertain about future

Tampere Vauhtipuisto, the association running motor sports activities at the area, was surprised by the city’s development project. It is not certain whether its activities can continue after the turn of the year.

“We have an agreement until the end of the year, and a new service agreement was supposed to be put out to tender in the spring. We would have hoped for a solution to that,” said Ahti Laakso, the association’s chair.

According to Laakso, the association is broadly positive about developing the area. However, it has not been told whether recreational activities can continue in Teisko.

In the spring, Tampere said in its service network plan that it would give up the Kaanaa aviation and motor sports centre in the coming years. The aim is nevertheless to allow recreational activities to continue without direct financial support from the city.

Because of the need to balance its finances, the city will no longer sign an agreement to purchase recreational facilities in their current form. “The aim is to find an operator that would take responsibility for maintaining and developing the area’s recreational facilities without funding from the city’s service agreement,” Vekkeli said.