[ShepherdsDog]

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story ... itoba.html

This is just one of the stories we're hearing about the loss of ice roads and the problems that are being faced by residents in Canada's near north and far North.

The idea has been pitched before about using airships to resupply isolated northern communities, and we've discussed here as well, and I think its time that it needs to be reconsidered.

I've lived in a fly in community in northern Manitoba and the costs are ridiculous. What can't be brought in during the short ice road season has to be hauled in via cargo flights, which makes perishables damned expensive. And, when it rains and the runways go to mud, air cargo is not posssible either.

The only alternatives as I see them are permanent roads, expensive to build and even more expensive to maintain, or a cheaper form of air travel that can haul freight yet not require a runway, just a mooring post and a large clearing. Large rigid body airships have proven themselves capable of this, and while not as fast as a DC-3, they can deliver freight almost as fast and in larger quantities. Another benefit is that they can operate on cleaner energy sources. Electrical(solar collectors on the hull could reduce this even further), hydrogen cells or natural gas powered motors are all viable considerations.

Funding could also be subsidised by tourism. Most of the eastern Shore of Lake Winnipeg is looking at being declared a UNESCO World heritage site. That's a big reason no roads or hydro lines run through this area. With airships, you can show the land(lower speed and altitudes than airplanes with larger viewing decks) to tourists with a minimal impact on the environment.

It's something that needs to be seriously considered because prices aren't going down in the north, nor are conditions getting better. Some freight companies may want to look at this as a viable alternative to tractor trailers.

Here's a brief study into the logistics and applications.
http://www.apegm.mb.ca/pdf/PD_Papers/Airships.pdf

[Gunnair]

I thought some European consortiums were pushing hard for zepplin cargo ships about five years back.

[ShepherdsDog]

It's the cleanest form of air travel and transport that is economically viable. The rigid airships will be able to travel at higher speeds. The semi rigid airships while easier and cheaper to produce, are more limited by speed and altitude. Helium is cheaper to produce nowadays so that makes all airships even safer. The only hudrogen they should require is for fuel cells and that can utilize waste water, ballast and such to produce the required energy.

Smaller ones could also be used for police(cities and highways). Just think a big zepplin hovering over the freeways and highways with high powered cameras and radar, monitoring traffic. Coast guard operations(fisheries and environmental), natural resources, Customs and revenue. The applications are endless.

[Gunnair]

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=awst&id=news/020606p2.xml

[andyt]

What are those little villages accomplishing anyway? There's no economic reason to be there, most people don't have jobs and just sit around on welfare. If there were a resource industry going there, that would be a different matter, but then the money flowing out of that could pay for flying in supplies. But otherwise, maybe we should close those places down and consolidate them somewhere where actual jobs exist, or are generated just by the critical mass of people. If some natives don't want to move, let em go back to their traditional ways of living off the land, no white man's food required. (my tongue is somewhat planted in my cheek here, but I think it's a valid question)

[herbie]

Like the $4 million school they built 75 miles up the lake to educate 12 kids? The one with the swooping 'traditional flight of the eagle roof'? We all know the roof swoops down so low so the kids have to walk right up to the damn school and throw the rocks upwards to smash the windows.