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Cargo Airships Are Happening

(www.elidourado.com)
220 points elidourado | 2 comments | 14 Oct 24 16:31 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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fernly ◴[15 Oct 24 04:11 UTC] No.41844873[source]▶
Maybe a smaller issue than wind, but something is wrong with this claim:

"If you can pick up goods directly from a customer on one side and deliver them directly to a customer on the other..."

How do you handle customs inspections and duties on imports? As TFA states, in current air freight, "there is a trucking company, a warehouse, a customs broker..." Freight has to go through the warehouse on arrival in-country so the customs inspectors can look at it and assess duties. The article seems to envision the airship dropping down directly at the destination address, which would be that nation's customs agency's worst nightmare.

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xg15 ◴[15 Oct 24 13:13 UTC] No.41848235[source]▶
Not sure how realistic, but could the inspectors go to the airship instead? They are not planes: Not only can they "park" while airborne, but at least there were concepts of boarding/unboarding in the air as well: https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/26/realestate/26scapes.html
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rtkwe ◴[15 Oct 24 13:34 UTC] No.41848428[source]▶
They could in theory but I'm dubious governments will be willing to shape their customs enforcement to accommodate this company. Best case I think they might be able to do a drop off at a place for customs inspections and pick them up again with a different craft once cleared.
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acdha ◴[15 Oct 24 15:28 UTC] No.41849601[source]▶
Is that really so different from how customs officers go on board trains now?
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1. rtkwe ◴[16 Oct 24 17:54 UTC] No.41861801{3}[source]▶
There are a limited number of rail crossings they need to work with and it's conveniently on the ground. This company is pitching direct shipper to receiver deliveries via air so getting agents onto the ships is a lot harder and the company wants to drop off directly at customers all over the country meaning no proper port of entry. There are ways to do that but they're regulated as import/export businesses.
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2. acdha ◴[17 Oct 24 18:26 UTC] No.41872277[source]▶
Rail lines go all over the country but they check when you cross even if that’s not your destination. I would expect the same to be true here: e.g. an airship leaving Mexico would go to, say, Riverside via a customs stop in San Diego or Calexico.