![]() There were other attempts to use airships to deploy smaller aircraft. government was hoarding the world’s supply of helium as a strategic material. It exploded because it used highly flammable hydrogen gas as its lifting medium since the U.S. The Hindenburg, now known only for its spectacular landing explosion in Lakehurst, N.J., was actually a passenger aircraft designed for revenue service. In the period before World War II, there was plenty of experimentation with lighter-than air transportation. While it all sounds futuristic, in fact the idea of using lighter-than-air craft for airborne transportation and delivery isn’t new at all. The airborne warehouse would land only occasionally if at all. Other shuttle craft would deliver crew and merchandise, perform refueling tasks, and offload trash. There are of course other obstacles, most of them regulatory.Īs Amazon envisions its airborne fulfillment center, it would fly in the lower stratosphere-around 45000 feet-where the delivery drones would be serviced and loaded. But the fact is that there’s no technical or engineering reason why such a blimp couldn’t work. Those drones would pick up merchandise that had been ordered by a customer below and then descend and deliver the purchase.Ī number of observers have said idea of an Amazon warehouse blimp sounds like something out of a science fiction novels, most of them dystopian. Online retailer Amazon has been catching a fair amount of derision over its recently disclosed patent for an airborne fulfillment center that uses drones for delivery.Īmazon’s patent application, which was filed on April 5, 2016, describes how a blimp-like lighter-than-air aircraft would hover near potential markets carrying merchandise that would then be delivered by unmanned drones. ![]() We may make money when you click on links to our partners. It’s also about financial accessibility.EWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. And so, it’s not just about physical accessibility. The Southwest customer size policy helps many travelers offset the disproportionate costs that we incur because of needing extra room. Plus-size travel expert Jae’lynn Chaney told Fox News Digital, “I hope to see more airlines implement customer-of-size policies. According to the wording of the company policy, “Customers who encroach upon any part of the neighboring seat(s) may proactively purchase the needed number of seats prior to travel to ensure the additional seat(s) is available … The purchase of additional seats serves as a notification of a special seating need and allows us to adequately plan for the number of occupied seats onboard.” Presumably, availability of vacant seats will be a factor in the gate agent’s decision, but other passengers could be moved to accommodate the oversize passenger’s needs.Īlternatively, Southwest said, passengers can purchase an extra seat ahead of time, and request a refund if their needs can be met at the time of departure. At the agent’s discretion, a second or third seat will be complimentary. ![]() The policy involves passengers of size to purchase one seat, and then discuss their needs with a customer service agent at the gate.
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