Translated, the ancient Latin catchphrase means that the light comes from the East. In relation to aviation, the East stands for a new dynamic since the forces in international aviation are shifting. In this case, from West to East.This tendency is demonstrated when taking a closer look at the Gulf region. Not only has it developed into a center for innovation, but the number of aviation congresses held there is constantly increasing. The latest project is the planned construction of the Flying Whale airship in Abu Dhabi.
With Qatar Airways and Emirates, the Gulf region meanwhile hosts the world’s two leading intercontinental passenger and cargo airlines. Drones from manufacturer Dronamics will soon start transporting parcels and mail in the UAE and beyond its boundaries, on behalf of the Emirates Post Group. And the next innovation in the aviation sector, which is likely to radiate far beyond the Middle East, is just around the corner: the assembly and deployment of huge airships.
Abu Dhabi to become an airship base
As far as the latter project is concerned, it’s about a flying giant driven forward by a French-Canadian consortium and called Flying Whale. Marketed as LCA60T, it includes the construction of several production facilities. The first and most important site will be set up in Laruscade in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France, 50 km north of Bordeaux. According to management, additional plants will be built in Quebec, Canada, and in the Australian state of Victoria. Just a few weeks ago, Abu Dhabi was named as the fourth location for setting up a plant, enabling the Flying Whales to serve markets in the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, and parts of Africa from its future UAE base. As Sébastien Bougon, Chairman and CEO of Flying Whales, stressed during a recent visit to the UAE, numerous suppliers will follow suit and incept own production facilities in the vicinity, including well-known names such as Honeywell, Thales, and Safran. This results in targeted industrial support and dedicated services provided by suppliers, creating hundreds of local jobs and boosting technical development. Abu Dhabi officials expect that the entire industrial project will lead to 300 direct and over 1000 indirect new jobs.
No landing sites required
Over in France, the dimensions of the first production line are breathtaking. According to its design, the building is 65 meters high and 265 meters long. Space that is needed in view of the size of the giant LCA60T, that measures 200 meters in length. It uses helium gas for uplift and is able to hover over a given location. This specific flight characteristic, similar to a helicopter standing in the air above a target, means that loading or unloading can be carried out without the need of a landing site. The shipments are hydraulically pulled into the cargo hold of the Flying Whale by cable, for example from container ships that anchor off Dubai or similar ports. The same goes for industrial plants, where heavy and bulky goods are produced, awaiting distribution. The consignments are hydraulically pulled into the Flying Whale while the airship hovers above the industrial complex. As a side effect, feeder transports via road or rail become superfluous this way.
Cost advantages
During his recent stay in the UAE, CEO Bougon claimed that air transports performed by his airships are 20 times cheaper compared to helicopters or cargo aircraft. A main reason for this, apart from the low helium consumption, is that only a limited network of ground stations is required for the operations given that loading and unloading is carried out while hovering. The executive confirmed that not a single LCA60T will be sold, but instead will be operated exclusively by the company’s subsidiary, Flying Whales Services.
Founded in 2012, Flying Whales are designed to carry oversized loads of up to 60 tons. The airships will first be equipped with hybrid propulsion, then operate fully electric, causing nearly zero greenhouse gas emissions. This latter aspect is becoming increasingly important in global aviation.
