The emergence of cargo airships: An opportunity for airports

An airship is an aircraft that utilises both aerodynamic and aerostatic lift (buoyancy through a lighter than air gas), the new old technology.

This technology predated heavier than air aircraft by 50 years and held the record for the longest single passenger flight for more than 47 years until the introduction of the B747SP in 1975.

When people hear the word airship the name Hindenburg would most likely be the first thought that comes to mind, but it has now been over 80 years since the Hindenburg disaster, and airships, like other aircraft, have progressed significantly in technology. Airships may be perceived to be old technology, but the modern generation of airships employ some of the most advanced technology in the aeronautical and aerospace industries. These airships utilise modern technology such as material sciences in the form of light-weight polymers for the envelope and carbon fibre frames, vectored thrust propeller engines, and modern avionics. The best example of modern airship technology in operation are the Zepplin NTs operating with DZR and Goodyear, primarily for scenic flights and filming. Theses airships utilise modern technology to achieve a more cost effective, faster and safer operation than airships in the past, demonstrating the potential of the modern form of this mode of transportation.

Airships are unlikely to significantly challenge traditional heavier than air (HTA) aircraft for passenger operations, however they are well suited to the transportation of cargo with its reduced priority on speed and the airship’s ability to offer a more cost effective service. Cargo airships are an emerging mode of freight transportation (designed specifically for the transportation and handling of freight) which have had many theorised designs and uses over the years, but now look to be finally emerging from the realms of theory into production in the near future, with Lockheed Martin’s LMH-1 having signed letters of intent for 24 airships and production looking to start in early 2019 . There are many designs for cargo airships, however what has changed in recent years is that several manufacturers have now flown demonstration models and in the case of UK manufacturer Hybrid Air Vehicles the full sized demonstrator “Airlander” is currently the largest aircraft (by length) in the world.

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