Log in

Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute


Institut aéronautique et spatial du Canada

Ottawa Branch

The mission of the Ottawa Branch is to support local CASI members in their professional career development through monthly events, resources and educational tools. The Branch contributes to national activities like inter-branch initiatives, section development, mentoring and professional development. Close associations are maintained with academic institutions in Ottawa and the Branch likes to organize site visits at various facilities in the NCR. We give priority access to CASI members for these tours where we get to meet interesting people but still provide a good talk to the general public who are welcome to join us – but encouraged to join CASI!

Any members of the Canadian aerospace community willing to participate can contact the branch co-chairs listed below.

The Ottawa Branch Workspace is open to any Member of CASI.

Branch Executive

Position Incumbent Organisation
Branch Chairs

Jeff Bird

Omer Majeed

TECnos

MDS Aero Support

Secretary/Treasurer Jim Thompson Davis Engineering
Chair Emeritus Paul Penna Retired – NRC Aerodynamics Lab
Branch Councillor Jeff Bird TECnos
Branch Executive Members Prof. Catherine Mavriplis Ottawa University
  Prof. Jeremy Laliberté

Carleton University

  Steve Hall Celeris
  Pervez Canteenwalla

NRC Gas Turbine


Each year an executive member of the Carleton Mechanical and Aeronautical Society (CMAS) is invited to serve on the executive.

Thanks to recent members who have served with distinction and moved on: Shaun Horning, Nezih Mrad and David Zimcik.

Upcoming events

    • March 19, 2024
    • 18:00 - 21:00
    • Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6
    • 242
    Register


    CASI Ottawa Branch

    The Case for Large Cargo Airships

    in the Canadian North

    March 19, 2024 | 18:00 - 21:00

    A CASI Hybrid Event

    In-Person Meeting begins at 18:00

    Virtual Meeting begins at 19:00


    Jointly sponsored by the

    Carleton Mechanical and Aeronautical Society (CMAS)

    Guest Speaker:

    Dr. Barry E. Prentice | Professor of Supply Chain Management, University of Manitoba and President of Buoyant Aircraft Systems International, Inc. (BASI) and the ISO Polar Airship Association

    Hosts:

    Jeff BirdCASI Ottawa

    Malcolm Imray | CASI Ottawa

    Luke Boguski | CASI Ottawa


    Location:

    Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive

    Nideyinàn Building (formerly University Centre)

    Room NN180 (Room 180 ground floor)


    Parking:

    P2 is open and an active visitor lot even if it doesn't show on that other map, right next to buildings NI/NN/HS.

    People can also park in P4, just on the other side of

    the O-Tracks if P2 is full

    Parking Map

    Meeting Details


    The lack of reliable, all season transportation infrastructure is a major impediment to the economic development of Canada's North and to the improving of the quality of life of those living there. Building roads is extremely expensive, and the ice road season is shorter each passing year. Despite the long coastline, there are few ports capable of accepting large surface vessels and sea ice is an ongoing hazard that keeps the shipping season short.

    Cargo airships offer a tantalizing solution to many of these problems. Over the past two decades there has been an increasing resurgence of interest and investment in large airships and there are several now in flight testing.

    Prospective end users such as mining companies, isolated northern communities, provincial and territorial governments and even military branches are all interested in the potential offered by airships, yet, there remain financial and technical obstacles to overcome.

    Dr. Barry Prentice will outline the economic case for cargo airships and the need for a suitable cold weather testing facility to support their introduction in the Canadian environment.

    Light refreshments will be served courtesy of CASI Ottawa Branch and CMAS.

    Speaker Bio:

    Dr. Barry E. Prentice is a Professor of Supply Chain Management, at the University of Manitoba and the President of Buoyant Aircraft Systems International, Inc. (BASI) and the ISO Polar Airship Association.

    In 2002, Dr. Prentice organized the first Airships to the Arctic conference. This began the public interest in Canada of using cargo airships for Northern transportation.

    In 2005, he co-founded ISO Polar as a not-for-profit institute to coordinate airship research, cold-weather testing and to hold further Airships to the Arctic Conferences. In 2011, Dr. Prentice established Buoyant Aircraft Systems International (BASI), to undertake airship and drone research at a newly constructed hanger at St. Andrews Airport. A 24-meter airship was built as a research platform and a smaller 18-meter, radio-controlled airship was flown to test systems for the shipment of supplies to remote communities and mines. The entire research facility and aircraft were destroyed in a violent storm in 2015 www.buoyantaircraft.com.

    Since that time, BASI has focused on the development of an electrically-powered, hydrogen-filled, remotely-piloted, rigid airships for cargo transportation.

    Agenda

    18:00 - 19:00 | Light Refreshments / Meet & Greet

    19:00 - 20:30 | Presentation / Q&A


    Registration Fees

    CASI or CMAS Members | Complimentary

    Non-Members | $15.00


    Why not join CASI today and save?

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software