World Surveillance Group Inc (fka WSGI)

[nilremerlin]

26 January 2006
Thanks to Sig Geist

Fourth Zeppelin NT 07 Gets Green Light Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik GmbH (ZLT) shareholders on 1/20/2006 gave the airship company the green light to build a fourth Zeppelin NT 07. The 12-seat passenger airship is reported to take to the skies by spring 2008 to coincide with the annual start of Deutsche Zeppelin Reederei's (DZR) operating season. By then it will almost double DZR's present passenger capacity. In the meantime the Reederei has to make do - as it has since summer 2005 - with the current NT 07 airship (one Zep NT 07 was sold to Japan earlier, the other is in South Africa since September searching for diamonds). ZLT's go-ahead was based on the growth of the enterprise (around 10,000 passengers in 2005) and a steadily increasing number of inquiries for tourism, advertising and special missions as well. In the past, sometimes such inquiries could not be followed through. Hence Thomas Brandt, ZLT's new CEO in a quote from the regional press assuredly said: "It's only through the build of a new zeppelin that we are going to be able to increase our flight capacity". Furthermore and critically important, the new build assures the continuation of ZLT's base of operation at Friedrichshafen for years to come. According to ZLT's press office - following the procurement of parts and components from vendor/supplier sources around the world - building and assembly work for the 4th Zep NT 07 will commence in late fall of 2006. Since the beginning of the Zep NT project (mid 1990's), US-based ILC Dover, Delaware has successfully manufactured and installed the envelope for each of the previous three NT airships. With ZLT's priorities now being shifted toward a fourth Zeppelin NT 07, its current 19-seater "Zeppelin NT 14" project continues to be pursued and in parallel to the smaller NT 07 build. Actually, its status has progressed well and would be further along had it not been for the temporary assignment of personnel and resources for special missions in 2005, such as the Paris Airshow, preparing the Friedrichshafen airship for transport and operations in South Africa as well as providing traffic monitoring with the remaining airship during Cologne's World Youth Day with the Pope in attendance. By-line to Zeppelin NT in Africa: The mission so far has proven to be quite satisfactory. Flights carried out todate are ahead of schedule. Men and machines are performing better than expected, often under demanding regional conditions. In dealing with the region's intense heat, ZLT personnel has devised a helium management system. DeBeers is pleased with results todate, though understandably, won't elaborate on details. With DZR's crowded season begining March 23, 2006, the number of flying days will now increase from six to seven days a week and airship maintenance will be performed overnight. In addition to DZR's 2006 multi-destination passenger flight schedule, the airship will be engaged in aerial advertising missions as it goes on tour (quite profitable) for a major German car maker in April and in June will be circling over Munich during the opening ceremonies for World Cup Soccer 2006. Note: the above article was composed based on information obtained from ZLT's press office and regional German language news print.

http://spot.colorado.edu/~dziadeck/airship/announcements.htm

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