Second Annual AIRSHIPS FOR NORTHERN OPERATIONS Workshop

    Second Annual AIRSHIPS FOR NORTHERN OPERATIONS Workshop

                   University of Anchorage, Fairbanks, Alaska                                                   The Alaska University Transportation Center  

WITH       The NASA Ames Research Center   AND    ISO Polar  

Normally, it doesn't make sense to just cut-and-paste material directly from the web. Two exceptions to that Governing Rule apply here:

1. This is from NASA's web site so that the usual copyright laws do not apply (Federal government material is not copyright) AND

2. We felt that it was important to spread the word about this initiative of the Federal government to encourage sensible use of Lighter-Than-Air craft, not subject to the often sophomoric whining of Forum responders :       ["It can be brought down by a pistol shot", "needs a one-hundred-member ground crew to bring it safely to the ground", "It will explode as soon as it accumulates some static electricity", etc.]

Here it is, copied directly from the NASA web site --- they need as much publicity for this excellent program as we can provide. Please note that it is also supported by ISO Polar --- the admirable extension of the "Airships to the Arctic" program.

The first Cargo Airships for Northern Operations Workshop in 2011 met with great success as a venue that brought together potential users of modern heavy lift airship services with representatives from the aerospace community that are developing modern cargo airships. The second workshop will follow up the achievements of the first one by further facilitating the formation of near-term business opportunities for the manufacturers and users of heavy lift airships with representatives from the aerospace community that are developing modern cargo airships.

The second workshop will follow up the achievements of the first one by further facilitating the formation of near-term business opportunities for the manufacturers and users of heavy lift airships.

Researchers from NASA Ames Research Center will provide insights into the new technologies that form the solid engineering basis for modern cargo airship systems. Speakers from the mining, oil, and gas industries will describe their transportation challenges and how they plan to exploit cargo airships in support of their businesses. Local Alaskan air freight firms will discuss how cargo airships can complement existing air transport fleets by providing additional capability and expanding air shipping services. The world’s leading developers of airships will provide design and operational details on the new cargo airships they’re currently developing and preparing to deploy for commercial service. Representatives from the financial community will present the many options available for what has often been the missing element of airship development and operations, funding.

Workshop Themes
The second cargo airship workshop will focus on fostering the business of cargo airship operations by demonstrating that the cargo airship is now at the threshold of deployment. Workshop attendees will learn how cargo airships can be utilized generally, and deployed specifically for their business operations. The overall workshop message will be that the time has come for the cargo airship to get down to business.

Workshop Format
The first two days of the workshop are intended to be a time for the exchange of ideas, information, and for generating business opportunities for cargo airship development and deployment. Speakers will provide insights into topics that follow the principal themes of the workshop. To further support collaboration among the attendees a “Speed Networking” session will provide meeting rooms where airship developers, potential users, and potential investors/funders can conduct private discussions. The morning of the third day will feature a visit to Lynden Air Cargo, an Anchorage based air cargo company that operates commercial Lockheed Hercules aircraft where participants will learn about the challenges of air freighting cargo into remote northern regions.

Audience
• Commercial shipping companies, air freight companies
• Airship companies and aerospace vendors
• US and Canadian government organizations that employ cargo transport systems
• Construction companies, fisheries, resource extraction companies (Oil, Gas, and Mining companies)
• Venture capitalists, investment fund managers, private equity firms
• Researchers from government and academia
• Government agencies, State and Federal transportation program managers, Federal Aviation Administration, Transport Canada, military organizations
• Non-governmental organizations (NGO's), humanitarian relief agencies

Registration and Additional Information
Workshop announcements, including registration information will be e-mailed within the next week. The workshop’s website is being updated and will include announcements, venue information, registration information and exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities.

Our experience has shown that anything produced by ISO Polar or associated with them is authentic, first class, and worthwhile. Needless to say, NASA is Top Drawer.

As soon as we can provide more SPECIFIC information, we shall be sure to do so, and wil post it on the Airship Universe BLOG... OR you can GOOGLE on the search term ISO Polar or University of Alaska, Anchorage .