Opportunities in the Airship market

What are airships?

Airships are a type of aircraft that use lighter-than-air gases, such as helium or hydrogen, to lift and stay aloft. They are sometimes referred to as dirigibles or blimps.

Airships have a long history, with the first successful flight of a powered airship taking place in 1852. In the early 20th century, airships were used extensively for commercial and military purposes. The most famous example is probably the Hindenburg, a German airship that famously caught fire and crashed in 1937, resulting in the deaths of 36 people.

Airships come in different shapes and sizes, but most consist of a gas-filled envelope that contains one or more compartments for passengers, cargo, and fuel. They are propelled by engines and steered by rudders and elevators.

Today, airships are mostly used for advertising and surveillance purposes, as well as for scientific research and exploration. They offer certain advantages over other types of aircraft, such as their ability to hover and stay aloft for long periods of time, and their relative fuel efficiency. However, their relatively low speed and susceptibility to wind and weather conditions limit their practical use for most applications.

How do you see airships evolve in the coming years?

In the coming years, it is possible that airships will continue to evolve and find new uses and applications. Here are some potential areas of development for airships:

1. Cargo transport: Airships have the potential to transport heavy and bulky cargo over long distances with lower fuel consumption compared to airplanes. Therefore, it is possible that airships will find increased use in cargo transport, especially for remote areas that are difficult to reach by traditional means.
2. Tourism: Airships could also become a popular mode of travel for sightseeing and tourism. In recent years, there has been renewed interest in airship travel for luxury tourism, offering passengers the chance to experience stunning views of landscapes from the sky.
3. Emergency response: Airships could be used in emergency response situations, such as search and rescue missions, firefighting, and disaster relief efforts. Airships have the ability to stay aloft for long periods of time and access remote areas, making them a potentially useful tool in emergency situations.
4. Scientific research: Airships could also be used for scientific research, such as studying weather patterns, monitoring the environment, and conducting research in the upper atmosphere.

Advances in technology, such as the use of new materials, advanced propulsion systems, and advanced control systems, could also contribute to the further development and evolution of airships. However, it is worth noting that airships face certain challenges and limitations, such as their susceptibility to weather conditions and relatively slow speed, that will need to be addressed in order to make them a more practical and widely used mode of transportation.

Who are the main players in the market for airships?

The market for airships is relatively small compared to other segments of the aerospace industry, but there are still several companies and organizations involved in the design, manufacturing, and operation of airships. Here are some of the main players in the market for airships:

1. Aeroscraft: This US-based company is developing a new type of airship, known as the Aeroscraft, which uses a proprietary buoyancy management system to control its altitude and hover in place. The Aeroscraft is designed for cargo transport, and its unique features could make it well-suited for delivering heavy or oversized cargo to remote areas.
2. Aeros: Aeros’ latest airship was developed for enhanced multi‐role mission capability, flexibility and efficiency, especially for intelligence gathering (ISR) missions. The 40E is a mobile aerial sensory platform with capabilities well beyond traditional advertising and event broadcast support.
3. American Blimp Corporation: Blimp Advertising is the?climax of Outdoor Advertising.?With the?highest engagement factor?on social media, above any other form of outdoor advertising, blimps provide advertisers with not only a?massive branding platform?but a?powerful catalyst?to drive their message.
4. Cargolifter: CargoLifter?offers?unique?and?sophisticated?solutions?for?lifting?and?transportation?of?goods?on?critical?terrain?and?in?remote?areas?by?lighter-than-air(LTA)?technology.?Using?the?air?as?infrastructure?allows?us?to?go?higher,?further?and?lighter?than?anyone?else.
5. Thales Alenia Space: StratobusTM?can survey the ground to several 100 km away, for precise, permanent monitoring and surveillance. Winds at its stationary altitude are moderate and stable, allowing the airship to remain in place through its electric propulsion system.?Mid-way between a drone and a satellite, the Stratobus is cost-efficient as it needs no launcher and operates using only solar energy and green technologies.?It is first positioned through electrical propulsion. Among the breakthrough technologies that makes the Stratobus?TM?possible: a lightweight, watertight, highly resistant envelope developed by Airstar Aeropace
6. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company: When the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898, America was feeling the full effects of the Industrial Revolution. Capitalising on that momentum and looking for unique ways to expand beyond tires, Goodyear entered into the business of lighter-than-air balloons and aircraft. This eventually led to the creation of one of America's most enduring corporate icons, the Goodyear Blimp.
7. Hybrid Air Vehicles: This UK-based company specializes in the design and manufacture of hybrid airships, which combine features of traditional blimps and fixed-wing aircraft. Its airships can be used for cargo transport, tourism, and other applications.
8. Lindstrand Technologies: Situated for nearly 30 years in a quiet corner of Shropshire, in Oswestry, the Lindstrand Technologies factory has produced some of the most advanced lighter-than-air airships and inflatable structures in the world.
9. Lockheed Martin: This aerospace and defense company is one of the largest manufacturers of airships in the world. Its airships are used for a variety of applications, including surveillance, cargo transport, and scientific research.
10. Solar Ship: In 1983 two high school friends, Jay Godsall and Michel Rugema, attended an African diplomatic lunch for landlocked countries, hosted in Ottawa. Michel was trying to help Jay expand his lawn mowing business in the embassy community and it was supposed to be a simple intro meal. Halfway through lunch, a diplomat from Burundi named Ladislas suggested that central Africa is the harshest place in the world for transport, but that landlocked Africa could be the land of opportunity if they could only get a transport system.?This resulted in several models of airships and balloons. Development is still ongoing.

Other players in the airship market include government organizations, such as the US military, which uses airships for surveillance and other applications, and research institutions that are exploring the potential uses of airships for scientific research and exploration.

Do you know about successful projects in the market for airships?

There have been a number of successful airship projects in recent years, with many companies and organizations using airships for a variety of applications. Here are a few examples of successful airship projects:

1. Stratobus: This is a project by French company Thales Alenia Space to develop a high-altitude airship that can stay in the stratosphere for long periods of time. The Stratobus is designed to provide surveillance and telecommunications services and could be used for a variety of other applications.
2. Hybrid Air Vehicles Airlander 10: This airship is one of the largest in the world and is designed to be used for a variety of applications, including tourism, cargo transport, and surveillance. In 2016, the Airlander 10 completed its first test flight, which was deemed a success.
3. Lockheed Martin P-791: This is a prototype hybrid airship developed by Lockheed Martin that is designed for cargo transport. The P-791 completed a successful flight test in 2006 and has been used for a variety of demonstrations and tests since then.
4. Aeroscraft ML866: This is a cargo airship developed by Aeroscraft that is designed to transport heavy and oversized cargo to remote areas. The ML866 completed a successful flight test in 2013 and has since been used for a variety of cargo transport missions.
5. Northrop Grumman Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle (LEMV): This is an airship developed by Northrop Grumman for use by the US military. The LEMV is designed for surveillance and intelligence gathering and completed a successful test flight in 2012.

These are just a few examples of successful airship projects. While the airship industry is relatively small, there is still a lot of interest in using airships for a variety of applications, and we may see more successful projects in the future.

Are jobs available in the sector of airships?

Yes, there are job opportunities available in the sector of airships, although the number of jobs may be smaller compared to other segments of the aerospace industry.

The types of jobs available in the airship sector vary, depending on the specific area of application. For example, companies involved in the design and manufacturing of airships may hire engineers, designers, technicians, and other skilled workers. Companies that operate airships for commercial or military purposes may hire pilots, navigators, maintenance personnel, and support staff.

In addition, there are research institutions and government organizations that are exploring the potential uses of airships and may hire scientists, engineers, and other research professionals.

If you are interested in working in the airship sector, it is important to have a strong background in relevant fields, such as aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or physics. Additionally, experience in related industries, such as aviation or space, may be helpful.

Job openings in the airship sector can be found on job search websites, company websites, and through professional organizations and networks. Networking with professionals in the industry and attending industry events, such as trade shows and conferences, can also be helpful in identifying job opportunities.

Peter Auwerx, chatting to chatGPT