During the transport and logistical solution meeting with members of the European Commission, the successful flight of the Aeroscraft's demonstration vehicle was discussed, along with the technical innovations of the Aeroscraft, how it provides a more energy efficient method of cargo transport, and the opportunities and benefits arising from future operation of the Aeroscraft within European logistics chains.
The Aeroscraft prototype, Dragon Dream, was successful in establishing its internal variable buoyancy technology - control of static heaviness (COSH) - in January, 2013. The advanced prototype demonstrated integration of this key technology with other innovative sub-systems during flight operations in autumn of this year.
This evidence of technological maturity leads Aeros into fleet development with two configurations of the innovative aircraft this decade - a smaller 66-tonne capacity vehicle, ML866, and a larger 250-tonne capacity vehicle, ML868.
Parties in Brussels were particularly interested in the Aeroscraft's environmentally friendly benefits, burning only a third of the fuel of conventional cargo aircraft.
Also discussed was the Aeroscraft's oversized cargo bay, which has greater dimensions than the largest cargo carrying aircraft on the market today. Furthermore, because the cargo is loaded and off-loaded from the bottom of the aircraft, it is not limited to traditional nose-loading size restrictions.
At the end of the meeting, members agreed to host follow-up assemblies to further explore how the Aeroscraft could be integrated into European logistics supply chains.
Aeros expects the first Aeroscraft to be ready for operation in the next two to three years.