AIRSHIPS? We Get Polite Smiles - Alaska Get's RESULTS!

[Ocklawaha]

For more then a couple of years Stephendare and Myself have jumped up and down, shouted, pointed skyward and asked everyone from JIA to JPA to XYZ, what the harm would be in letting NASA and the world know that Jacksonville (think Imeson - near the port) would roll out the red carpet for the world airship industry, incentives and all. Every time we suggest such things 'knowing' people just nod, smile, and move away! Well our dream of a heavy haul EU - JACKSONVILLE airship link might come true...   IN ALASKA.

Cargo Airships For Northern Operations Workshop

Heavy lift airships could play a vital role in the transportation mix serving rural and remote Alaska and this technology appears poised to emerge in the near term. Alaska would provide an excellent proving ground for the technology.

The State of Alaska signed a Space Act agreement with NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) in November of 2010. The Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) coordinates the aeronautics annex stemming from this agreement. As a part of that agreement the DOT&PF collaborated with NASA ARC in the development of a Heavy Lift Airship Workshop held at the University of Alaska Anchorage on August 24th and 25th. The aeronautical roundtable identified several areas of collaboration, supported by stakeholders, having relevance to Alaska. The Heavy Lift Airship Annex was completed as a result of this.

The intent of the airship workshop was to expose the industry to the unique challenges of Alaska while exposing Alaska to the industry. An overarching objective is to shift some of the research and development within the industry to Alaska and develop an airship design specifically suited for northern operations.

Participants from Italy, Germany, England, Russia, Canada, Alaska and the Continental US brought forth concepts of airship design, operational factors, and economic considerations. Experts spoke to lift capacity, range, and flight performance. A major portion of the workshop was dedicated to defining the requirements for Alaskan applications based upon remote transportation needs.

This workshop was fee based and supported by participant registration and sponsor revenue. More information can be found at the event website:

http://event.arc.nasa.gov/airships/welcome