February 4, 2014 – (LOS ANGELES) – Bertling Logistics in Houston (Bertling) and Aeroscraft Corporation (Aeros) are working together to establish a strategic partnership supporting global project logistics. Aeros, the innovator of a new variable-buoyancy cargo airship known as the Aeroscraft, and Bertling, a global leader in transport logistics, ship-owning & chartering have signed a memorandum of understanding to evaluate the costs, benefits, and structure for various business relationships including a potential joint-venture (JV).
The two leaders are now exploring potential capabilities and future project implementation of Aeroscraft’s fleet of new rigid-hulled cargo aircraft. Bertling believes the Aeroscraft could be a breakthrough approach to addressing serious logistical problems of the 21st century.
This partnership will allow Bertling to:
• Become a launch partner for the Aeroscraft 66 short ton ML866 and the 250 short ton ML868 vehicles, to continue
acquiring state-of-the-art tools and products that can secure and advance Bertling’s competitive position in the market
• Offer Aeroscraft logistics service access to partners and clients in project development
• Take advantage of priority availability of the Aeroscraft service
“In the ever-evolving world of global logistics, any innovative approach implies new business horizons resulting in more challenging but rewarding projects,” explains Konstantin Vekshin, Vice President of Air Freight Charters at Bertling Logistics in Houston. “In today’s extremely competitive environment, any cutting edge solution means growing and sustainable business, and the Aeroscraft could be a breakthrough approach in addressing some of the most complicated and demanding logistics projects commensurate with the realities of the 21st Century.”
The partnership will allow Aeros to:
• Broaden Aeroscraft’s customer base through Bertling’s worldwide client network.
• Leverage Bertling’s network and expertise in providing engineering and load management services for future projects
• Seamlessly develop a concept of operations for Aeroscraft’s customers
“Bertling specializes in the safe, effective, and timely delivery of specialty cargo to challenging or remote locations, whether across difficult terrains or seas—making them an effective and attractive strategic partner for Aeros,” explains Igor Pasternak, CEO of Aeros. “Bertling is globally known for solutions in project cargo transportation and has clients all over the world. We are looking forward to the future of new possibilities available through collaboration.”
Bertling Logistics in Houston, TX is part of the Bertling Group headquartered in Hamburg. Since being founded in 1865 in Luebeck (Germany), Bertling has grown into a global solutions provider with 100 subsidiaries in 45 countries, spread across 9 global regions, and remains an independent and privately-owned company employing over 1,500 people. Bertling has an established reputation for excellence in the fields of ship owning, chartering, transport logistics and project freight management.
Bertling and Aeros first discussed the Aeroscraft cargo airship in mid-2013, and the companies have been addressing the benefits of a potential partnership ever since; Bertling expressed interest in becoming a global partner with Aeros to introduce the innovative technology to the cargo and aviation markets.
The Aeroscraft will solve current logistical problems through its vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability when moving project cargo, and ability to transport ISO containers vertically, delivering to the full range of Bertling’s global reach. Project cargo generally describes large, heavy, high-value or project-critical pieces of equipment, including modular components which require disassembly and reassembly after delivery. Poised to enhance the air transportation industry, the Aeroscraft will deliver opportunities for commerce, humanity and ecology by accessing remote locations with less impact through this new VTOL cargo delivery capability that eliminates infrastructure development requirements.
The proof-of-design technology demonstration vehicle for the Aeroscraft was successful in establishing its internal variable buoyancy technology in January 2013, known as COSH or control-of-static-heaviness, and the advanced prototype demonstrated integration of this key technology with other innovative sub-systems during flight operations in the fall of last year. The demonstration of technological maturity now leads Aeros into fleet development for two configurations of the innovative aircraft this decade, a smaller 66-ton capacity vehicle (ML866), and a larger 250- ton capacity vehicle (ML868). The smaller ML866 will have an impressive cargo volume of 264,000 cubic feet, while the larger ML866 will have a cargo volume exceeding one million cubic feet.
Aeros initial fleet will comprise 22 vehicles capable of vertically airlifting cargo (VTOL), with the first scheduled to enter operation in 2016. The 66-ton capacity ML866 will have a range of up to 3,100 miles, while the 250-ton ML868’s range will exceed 6,000 miles. This fleet will operate on a fleet access model, providing client services including aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance.
About Bertling: Bertling is a privately owned company bringing its almost 150 years of experience in multi-modal transportation to its clients’ global needs. With 1,500 professionals in more than 90 offices, Bertling belongs to the key players in the logistics industry. Whether goods are transported by truck, train, plane, or ship – Bertling provides reliable, flexible, and professional logistics solutions in the fields of IT, QHSSE, risk management, warehousing, technical and commercial consulting, and heavy lift engineering.
About the Aeroscraft: An Aeroscraft is a new type of Rigid Variable Buoyancy Air Vehicle, designed to control lift in all stages of air or ground operations, including the ability to off-load heavy payloads without the need to re-ballast. For the first time in history, an aircraft has been designed to control and adjust buoyant and dynamic lift, creating a new paradigm for global air transportation and logistics. Poised to enhance the air transportation industry, the Aeroscraft will deliver opportunities for business and consumers globally through access to remote locations and by new VTOL cargo delivery capabilities. The key features of the Aeroscraft include a rigid structure, vertical takeoff and landing, and operational abilities at low speed, in hover, and from unprepared surfaces.
The Aeroscraft Solution: The Aeroscraft vehicle is a vertical logistical solution to many of the difficulties facing the cargo world today, and is poised to disrupt the current hub-and-spoke distributional model characterized by intermodal cargo transfers and distribution delays. The benefits of the Aeroscraft are expected to be globally transformational and significant to humanity. The Aeroscraft fleet will introduce global point-to-point air cargo delivery services for oversized and overweight project cargos, as well as general cargo, with capability to deliver to virtually any topographical location in under 72 hours. The network of globally positioned Aeroscraft vehicles will help take the chain out of the current supply chain while providing Aeros’ clients unlimited transcontinental reach.
About Aeros: Founded 27 years ago in the U.S., the Aeroscraft Corporation (Aeros) has grown from a small aerostat production manufacturer to a leading FAA-certified airship producer and R&D firm for the aerospace industry. Aeros has achieved multiple FAA airship type certificates and operates with an FAA Production Certificate, while featuring a product line that includes advanced airships and tethered aerostats utilized in commercial and government applications throughout the world. Learn more at www.aeroscraft.com
