Anchorage company, PRL Logistics Inc., announced a partnership today with Staightline Aviation, based in the United Kingdom, to introduce the world’s first heavy-lift Hybrid Airship, which will debut in Alaska in 2019.
President and Chief Executive Officer for PRL Logistics Inc., Ron Hyde…
Hyde: “The Hybrid Airship that’s coming to Alaska represents a new age in aviation. Meaning that we have the ability now to carry sizeable cargo loads that would normally require existing or new infrastructure in which to land.”
In addition to cargo that can be carried by this airship, passengers can travel, too. This airship can offer assistance to rural Alaska communities, as well as many oil and gas companies all over the state.
Hyde: “It’s an opportunity to reach locations for oil and gas, mining, construction. It also allows for the response to, for example, emergency response or disaster management support.”
Unlike an airplane or boat, the technology used to create the airship makes it lighter than any other mode of cargo transportation.
Hyde: “It’s very environmentally friendly. It’s basically helium, it’s an aerodynamic shape to the craft, the envelope itself, which they refer to as the body of the aircraft is aerodynamic and provides some of its own lift. There’s four engines on it for propulsion and it lands on the water, the snow, gravel, pretty much any surface. On the bottom of the ship are hovercraft engines that can be used to hover but also can be reversed and used to hold the craft to the ground while it’s being unloaded.”
In 2019, the first of the Hybrid Airships will be delivered, carrying up to 22 tons of freight, crew and 18 passengers.