Canadian North signs deal to design airship

Nunavut’s largest airline takes the first step towards launching airships in northern Canada.

Canada President and CEO Michael Rodyniuk signed a memorandum of understanding with French-based company Flying Whales, which has an office in Quebec, at the Paris Airshow in late June.

“We decided that we would work with them to help them develop an aircraft that will be able to fly in the Arctic and [Canada’s] North,” said Rodyniuk.

Canadian North has not contributed any money to Flying Whales and the project is still in the design phase. The design will not be completed until 2025 at the earliest. It must be approved by Transport Canada.

“I think the partnership we’ve established is really interesting because you have an operator helping with the development phase of a new … airframe that’s going to be a game changer in the north,” said Rodyniuk.

For its part, Flying Whales described the agreement in a press release as something to be proud of. It said it hopes Canadian North can give it a better understanding of what it takes – and what challenges lie ahead – for moving cargo to remote areas in the north.

Giving wings to a long discussed idea

The idea of ​​airships has been floated in Canada for years. The government of Quebec has also signed an agreement with Flying Whales, contributing $30 million to get the idea off the ground.

Rodyniuk argues that airships can “dramatically reduce” the cost of goods in the north.

“If we can have some sort of flying warehouse that runs on hybrid electric power that doesn’t necessarily need the infrastructure on the ground to deliver its cargo, we could dramatically reduce the cost of goods in the North by flying them on an airship.” Rodyniuk said.

Flying Whales airships use 180,000 cubic meters of helium to stay afloat, unlike a jet engine in an airplane.

Rodyniuk said airships could save money on fuel, which could ultimately lower the price of cargo when it hits the shelves.

Challenges to come

There are many challenges when it comes to piloting an airship in the north. Strong winds, cold temperatures and unpredictable weather all cause problems.

Barry Prentice, the director of the Transport Institute at the University of Manitoba, has been trying to get airships north for two decades.

An airship needs only a quarter of its fuel and aircraft needs, Prentice said.

“There really isn’t a good substitute in terms of airplanes,” he said. “The North needs a better form of freight transport.”

Prentice also noted that airships are not currently regulated in Canada.

“There are still no rules in Canada that would allow someone to be qualified to fly an airship here. You can’t even get a license or a mechanic’s license to work on an airship,” Prentice said.

Flying Whales airships can carry about 60,000 pounds of cargo, which is about 30 percent more than Canadian North’s planes can carry, Rodyniuk said.

But airships also need specific infrastructure to offload that cargo, since they technically float rather than land.

Prentice said airships can stay aloft for “weeks at a time.”

“The wind can blow really hard sometimes … you’re not going to be flying airships on those days,” Prentice said.

He added that “the control window for an airship is about the same as that for an airplane.”

Rodyniuk said airships could also bring mobile hospitals to communities in the north,

“A fully serviced hospital can show up in one community and stay there before moving to another community,” he said.