In central Alberta last week, a unique aerial spectacle caught the attention of onlookers, prompting questions about a 20-meter airship spotted in the sky. Although the sight of a Goodyear Blimp at a sports event is not uncommon, encountering such an airship in rural Alberta is a rare occurrence.
The airship in question was a solar-powered craft, comparable in size to a school bus, conducting aerial survey tests near Rocky Mountain House, approximately 200 kilometers southwest of Edmonton. A collaborative team from Cloudline, a South African aerospace company responsible for the airship’s production, and its Canadian operational partner, 3 Points in Space Media, conducted flight trials from the Rocky Mountain House Airport.
Describing the airship as akin to a helium party balloon, Sean Adams, the founder and CEO of 3 Points in Space Media, highlighted the innovative nature of the technology being employed. The integration of control systems with the airship transforms it into an autonomous aircraft, distinguishing it from traditional blimps.
During the pre-flight phase, crews fill the airship’s envelope with helium and perform diagnostic checks while the craft is tethered. Following clearance, operators release the airship for calibration runs before embarking on extensive survey missions, as explained by Adams. The airship’s classification as a remotely piloted aircraft system with automated flight controls enhances its utility for data collection in remote areas, such as monitoring pipelines and infrastructure.
Cloudline’s CEO, Spencer Horne, emphasized the airship’s payload capacity of 40 kilograms, enabling it to carry heavier camera and LiDAR sensors over greater distances compared to standard drones. While crewed aircraft may outperform airships in extreme weather conditions, efforts are underway to enhance the airship’s capabilities for such scenarios.
Joe Zhou, vice-president of pipeline integrity at TC Energy, commended the research initiative for its ability to gather diverse data types in a single flight, highlighting the quieter operation of the airship compared to conventional aircraft.
For Michael Adams, vice-president of research and development at 3 Points in Space Media, operating the airship represents a chance to revitalize a historic aviation technology that saw a decline in the 1930s. To bridge the past and present, a piece of fabric from the Graf Zeppelin, a renowned airship from the 1920s, was incorporated into the airship’s payload.
The presence of the airship in the Rocky Mountain House area generated significant interest among locals, with Mayor Shane Boniface expressing surprise at the rare sighting. The airship’s operations are part of a broader international initiative by Cloudline, with plans for cold-weather testing in northern Ontario to prepare for sub-zero and Arctic conditions.