The Aeros 40D is manufactured by Worldwide Aeros
Corp., the commercial division of Aeros Holdings Inc., at its
manufacturing plant in Los Angeles.
The lighter-than-air craft uses gas buoyancy and
traditional aerodynamics to fly.
Worldwide Aeros officials recently participated
in a University of Alaska roundtable discussion about the use of airships
in Alaska.
According to Aeros officials, the final assembly
and testing of its airships will take place at the assembly and
flight-testing facility in San Bernardino, Calif.
The first flight of the Aeros 40D is scheduled
later this month, with completion of its certification by the U.S. Federal
Aviation Administration.
“The Aeros 40D program is moving ahead at a good
pace,” said Shenny Yao, project manager of the Aeros 40D program, “and by
the end of December, the airship will be delivered to the customer.”
The $3 million airship will have seats for one
pilot and four passengers, and is being built for a new Chinese airline
company, according to Aeros officials.
The Aeros 40D is a mid-sized airship. “Our new
airship was custom-designed for optimum performance for advertising,
broadcasting, surveillance and tourism applications, and it will satisfy a
broad range of values for operators, and airport communities,” said Fred
Edworthy, Aeros vice president of business development. “Airport
communities will appreciate the clean, quiet operation.”
Aeros officials said they are waiting for a
return invitation to Alaska to further discuss the use of the airships in
the north.
Rob Stapleton can be reached at
rob.stapleton@alaskajournal.com.
