Arctic logistics has historically been a case of doing the best we can with what we have. Consistent delivery success has limitations and transportation costs in the Arctic are extremely expensive. Requirement to store large quantities of goods for a whole season also requires larger warehouses and bigger fuel storage tanks. Opportunities for resource development languish due to the costs of access and exploitation.
A new generation of cargo airships would have a revolutionary impact on northern transportation and logistics.
The 5th Airships to the Arctic is a business conference focusing on effective use of airships in the northern latitudes. The conference will examine the demand for transportation in northern Canada and provide an update on the supply of airship technology worldwide and potential deployment opportunities to respond to the northern challenges.
One hundred years of technological change has created the opportunity to build large, robust airships that could deliver cargo to the most inhospitable corners of the earth. At the present time, over 16 teams are working in 8 different countries with actual airships and aerostats. The development of a cargo airship is inevitable, and the race is on to find the dominant design. The commercial tipping point is in sight, it just needs a final push to make it become a reality.
