Business
10 October, 2024
Mount Isa to become aerial freight hub after deal struck with Flying Whales
A big announcement is expected to be made this morning.
Mount Isa could become the aerial freight capital of Queensland after a deal was struck with French-Canadian company Flying Whales to build its Australian base in the Outback.
Mount Isa City Council is today expected to sign an agreement with the international consortium, although Mayor Peta MacRae was tight-lipped when contacted by North West Weekly.
VIP invitations to the event, to be held upstairs at the Mount Isa Civic Centre, simply said:
MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT
Mount Isa City Council, in conjunction with a French company, are launching an innovative industrial transportation system.
Details to be provided.
However, some digging by this masthead, including finding a brief mention of Flying Whales in the Mayoral Minute at last month’s council meeting, led us to the French-Canadian outfit.
A source told North West Weekly that it would be a major coup for the city and the region.
“This won’t be a burden on the ratepayers because it won’t cost them any money and should only bring economic benefits to the region,” they said.
“It should create a lot of jobs, although I would expect that there will be many indirect jobs created because of the freight capabilities brought to the region.”
So apart from the image, which depicts a blimp-like transporter, what is Flying Whales and what will it achieve for the North West?
The aeronautics company says that its hybrid-electric, helium-lift vessel will change the shape of sustainable transport.
Flying Whales said it could help solve the problem of how to transport cargo “when infrastructure is lacking, or just doesn’t exist at all”.
In an interview last year, the company’s head of communications said: “We are going to add new possibilities to global logistics, while overcoming obstacles and problems on the ground.”
He said Flying Whales was developing a 200-metre-long airship that would be lifted by 14 cells filled with helium gas, and then propelled through the air by a hybrid-electric system powered with sustainable aviation fuel.
The airships will be able to up to transport 60 tons of cargo.
The air vessels are designed to carry heavy, bulky items such as blades for wind turbines, or construction materials being delivered to remote, isolated locations.
Airships could also deliver food or aid after natural disasters when railways or roads might be inaccessible.
Mount Isa was likely picked for several reasons – predictable weather, the rise of wind projects in the North West, the proximity to remote mines, and the city’s appetite for new jobs.
More details will be revealed at today’s launch, with Flying Whales CEO Sebastien Bougon expected to make an appearance.