Airships to the Arctic VI

December 5-6, 2011

Seattle, Washington - ISO Polar and the Van Horne Institute organized the Airships to the Arctic Conference for diverse stakeholders interested in the advances in lighter-than-air technologies. The conference program focused on utilizing airships for global economic development and infrastructure replacement.

Government, industry, finance and academic delegates from the United Kingdom, Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Canada, Germany, United States, and France attended the proceedings. It was observed that all governments around the world have similar needs for reducing and controlling transportation infrastructure investments. The positive (reduced) environmental impact and controlling costs for building infrastructure are factors that every government must balance as they invest in future and sustainable economic development. Among the attendees, the Brazil Development Bank was represented by an economist, a technology science officer and a senior program lending officer. According to their stated review of the proceedings, "Airships potentially represent a major savings for the environment and a technology leap for accessing shut-in resources." The

During the conference, the World Air League, ISO Polar and the Van Horne Institute announced their collaboration to promote the ongoing development of lighter-than-air technologies. "We confirm that ISO Polar and the Van Horne Institute share with the World Air League, the vision that lighter-than-air will have a key role in the future development of society on a global basis in creating a sustainable environment. We welcome and applaud the efforts of the World Air League in creating a program that will be used and seen in classrooms around the world for promoting learning and discussions of this important solution ." stated Dr. Barry E. Prentice, Transport Institute, University of Manitoba and ISO Polar.