Highlands and Islands to explore Airlander’s potential

Hybrid Air Vehicles [HAV] has announced a first of its kind concept study to explore the use case for introducing Airlander 10 aircraft for passenger transport and freight in the Highlands and Islands.

The study is supported by a consortium of key organisations including Highlands and Islands Airport [HIAL], Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership [HiTrans), Highlands and Islands Enterprise [HIE], Orkney Island Council [OIC] and Loganair.

It is expected that the study – which will take three months to complete - will seek to understand how Airlander 10 could support sustainable mobility in the region, and both diversify and boost connectivity for communities across the Highlands and Islands.

Airlander 10 could significantly cut emissions for travel in the Highlands and Islands, a region where air travel is a lifeline, not a luxury. HAV is currently designing an all-electric variant of the Airlander which will be a zero-carbon emissions aircraft, scheduled to be operational by the end of the decade.

The study will compare emission reductions with existing transport options and assess the opportunities to operate at non-airport locations, taking advantage of the aircraft’s water operation capability.

The project will also consider Airlander’s potential to deliver freight with a combi variant of the aircraft. With a 10-tonne payload, Airlander 10 could help to boost both regional passenger connectivity and logistics.

More broadly, it is hoped that by transforming connectivity in the region it will better connect communities that are cut off from other modes of transport and attract more visitors and residents, thereby also creating an economic proposition for the region.

Inglis Lyon, managing director, HIAL, said: “HIAL’s aim is to become a net-zero carbon regional airport group. To achieve this, we need to investigate innovative solutions for sustainable air travel. This collaboration allows us to explore the potential use of Airlander 10 as part of the region's transport network. A network that provides essential and lifeline services to some of Scotland’s most remote regions.”

www.hybridairvehicles.com