As a child, Ernest was already passionate about mechanics and speed and convinced his grandmother to buy him probably one of the first motorcycles in Switzerland, and later an automobile.

On 10 May 1910, with Failloubaz at the controls, it took off, flew, and landed smoothly, on the first flight in Switzerland of an aircraft built and flown by a Swiss citizen.

Failloubaz went to Paris at the end of May 1910, to buy a Santos-Dumont Demoiselle, and brought it back immediately to Avenches, where he trained daily.

From October 8 to 10, at the Bern meeting, he set a national record for the longest flight, with 58 minutes and 17 seconds.

[citation needed] On 11 May 1911, the airport company and flying school of Avenches was founded, with Failloubaz the main financier.

[citation needed] Guided by counsellors, Failloubaz invested all his money in the first Swiss flight school, an aircraft production facility, and the airport in Avenches.

Failloubaz is commemorated in a Swiss postage stamp issued on 4 March 2010, to celebrate 100 years aviation in Switzerland.