French-Canadian company Flying Whales signs MOU with Mount Isa City Council

Massive cargo airships are coming to regional Queensland as French-Canadian company Flying Whales reveals bold plans to make an outback town its first Asia-Pacific base.

French-Canadian company Flying Whales has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Mount Isa City Council to develop an airship base.

A French-Canadian company has set its sights on developing an airship base in Mount Isa, which would become the first site for its Asia-Pacific expansion.

In an overdue sign of positivity for the outback mining city a Memorandum of Understanding between the Mount Isa City Council and aeronautical manufacturing company Flying Whales was signed, which would enable both to collaborate on developing a base by 2028.

A council spokeswoman said the feasibility of the project was only possible because mining company Glencore had agreed to release the necessary land to be used for the project and for a Critical Minerals Industrial Precinct.

Flying Whales intended to deploy the LCA60T airship which could carry or sling cargo of up to 60 tonnes, and would have a hybrid propulsion system that would allow it to run entirely on electricity, and therefore if green powered would not emit emissions.

But the capability of lifting cargo while motionless in the air could also be of enormous benefit to the remote North West Minerals Province, which in places was limited by supply chain issues, inaccessibility, and flooding on its rail corridor to the Townsville Port.

Flying Whales LCA60T airship in action. Picture: Flying Whales

Flying Whales aims to launch five bases across Australia which is expected to create 800 jobs in total, but the appeal with Mount Isa is its central location in the North West while also being able to cater to the needs of the Northern Territory.

French-Canadian company Flying Whales has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Mount Isa City Council to develop an airship base.

Flying Whales president Sebastien Bougon said he looked forward to having a productive relationship with the council, believing that the airship was a “cutting edge solution” for the region.

It would allow sustainable transportation for industrial logistics and heavy loads for the remote region.

Flying Whales president Sebastien Bougon announced an MOU with the Mount Isa City Council to develop an airship base in Mount Isa.

“Thanks to the location of Mount Isa City, and thanks to the great proactivity of the Council management, Mount Isa provides the ideal base for our LCA60T to deliver new solutions in logistics and transport to Queensland and the Northern Territory,” he said.

Mount Isa Mayor Peta MacRae said airships had “captured the imagination of our council”.

“We are especially eager to work on the solutions we can provide to the challenges faced by remote communities in these areas.”

Flying Whales planned to construct 46 bases across the Asia-Pacific and 160 bases worldwide.

Mount Isa Mayor Peta MacRae said the idea has “captured the imagination of our council” and would address national net zero targets would also supporting industry.

She said Mount Isa was a strategic middle ground between southeast Asia and the coast, while also being the hub of outback Queensland.

The mining city is facing an economic transition as 1200 Glencore jobs are set to be lost as its Mount Isa Mines copper operations close at the middle of next year.

While the State Government has offered a $50m package to fast track mining projects and for jobs creation, council representatives including Ms McRae has warned more investment was needed considering the significance it would have on the region’s economy.

And politicians such as Ms MacRae said Mount Isa’s economy was linked to coastal hubs such as Townsville.

Originally published as French-Canadian company Flying Whales signs MOU with Mount Isa City Council