Economics of modern long-haul cargo airshipsThe economic characteristics and historical trends of long-haul air transportation are discussed. Various published estimates of modern airship direct operating costs are presented and comparatively analyzed. The large discrepancies in these estimates are in large measure explained, allowing airship direct operating costs to be estimated with some confidence. Indirect costs are also briefly discussed. Projected airship operating costs are compared with actual costs of competing modes such as airplanes, trucks, rail, and pipelines, and it is concluded that airships cannot economically compete with other long-haul modes. Thus attention is drawn to short-haul applications of the airship; and because short-haul missions lead to vehicle requirements that are considerably different from those for long-haul missions, it is concluded that the civil airship of the future is likely to bear little resemblance to those of the past.
Document ID
19770058910
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Ardema, M. D. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, Calif., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1977
Subject Category
Economics And Cost Analysis
Report/Patent Number
AIAA PAPER 77-1192
Meeting Information
Meeting: Lighter Than Air Systems Technology Conference