Revolutionizing Supply Chains: The Future of Airships
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Chapter 1: A New Perspective on Air Transport
When you hear the term "airship," what images spring to mind? Let’s be honest: it’s likely either the catastrophic Hindenburg or the familiar Goodyear blimp floating above sporting events. Not exactly reassuring, right?
The advent of airplanes rendered airships seemingly obsolete—akin to black-and-white televisions or leaded gasoline. Yet, appearances can be misleading. These airships were actively used by the military well into the 1950s.
Remarkably, the U.S. Navy's Snow Bird achieved a staggering endurance flight in 1957, covering nearly 9,500 miles over eleven days without stopping for fuel or landing.
The Snow Bird managed this incredible feat using only one of its two engines to conserve fuel. While the Hindenburg is remembered for its tragic end, it successfully flew from Germany to Tokyo in 1929, prompting England to consider developing a fleet of similar airships to connect their empire in the late 1920s and early 30s.
While airplanes became the preferred choice for passenger travel, maritime trade has remained dominant. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a staggering 90% of global trade occurs via the sea. However, what happens during port strikes or shutdowns?
This leads to significant supply chain disruptions, as reported by CNBC:
“Ocean carriers continue to cite congestion at U.S. and Canadian ports as the reason for canceling sailings in September, a cut in vessel service that has been flagged in previous CNBC reporting, and the latest CNBC Supply Chain Heat Map shows the congestion is not subsiding.”
Now, imagine not needing ports to transport goods from one location to another. This could alleviate bottlenecks, wouldn’t it?
Section 1.1: The Historical Context of Trade Routes
Historian Will Durant, in his book Lessons From History, posits that sea trade has always been a catalyst for empires. The Greeks didn’t engage in war with Troy simply over a kidnapped queen; it was fundamentally about trade.
Once they gained access to key territories, they clashed with the Persians, who sought control over the Dardanelles for access to the Black Sea trade routes. After defeating the Persians, the Greeks dominated the Mediterranean trade until the Romans, and later the Italians, leveraged this wealth to fuel the Renaissance.
However, the discovery of the Americas in the 1400s shifted this power dynamic. Durant suggests that the airplane is now forging new trade routes that disregard the complexities of maritime pathways, paving the way for land nations to regain prominence.
While it's true that container ships can carry significantly more cargo than airplanes, a new alternative has emerged that you may have already encountered.
Subsection 1.1.1: Enter the Airlander
Meet the Airlander from Hybrid Air Vehicles. Think of it as a modern-day Snow Bird, reimagined for contemporary needs. As Jon Kelvey from Smithsonian explains, airships fall into two categories: rigid and non-rigid. Rigid airships, like the Hindenburg, have a structural framework, while non-rigid types resemble traditional blimps.
The Airlander operates on a different principle. Though it contains helium like a blimp, it requires lift to ascend. This may seem counterintuitive, but CEO Tom Grundy explains that traditional airships struggled to manage weight effectively. Upon unloading cargo, they would shoot upwards, akin to releasing a submerged inflatable ball.
In contrast, the Airlander descends when engine power is reduced, eliminating the need for complex mooring techniques and costly helium replenishment each time it lands. This means it can operate without a traditional airport.
Its engines are similar to those found in vertical take-off aircraft like the V-22 Osprey. The Airlander 10 can remain airborne for up to five days, carry ten tons of cargo, and travel 4,000 nautical miles. There’s also a larger model, the Airlander 50, which can transport fifty tons or six TEUs along with forty-eight passengers for nearly 1,400 miles.
According to HAV’s website, the Airlander 10 consumes just a quarter of the fuel used by similar heavy-lift aircraft, with future plans for hydrogen-fuel cell engines, promising zero emissions.
Section 1.2: Will Air Trade Routes Supplant Maritime Routes?
After considering this information, it’s clear to see the world Durant envisioned in 1968. Modern airships could operate freely, unbound by coastlines and port limitations, while traditional freighters might become relics of the past.
However, there is still a long way to go. The largest container ships can carry between 10,000 and 20,000 TEUs, far exceeding the Airlander’s current capacity of six. Yet, the potential benefits of this technology are undeniable.
The maritime shipping industry generated nearly $200 billion in 2021. If Hybrid Air Vehicles were to capture even a small fraction of that market, it could amount to $4 billion, not to mention easing some of the pressure on ports.
Other companies are also exploring this technology. Amazon has patented floating warehouses, and Google has employed Loon Balloons to deliver internet access to remote areas and disaster zones.
Thus, while it may seem unconventional, airship technology could very well transform our congested supply chains.
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