$15M blimp to make July landing

The third blimp purchased by Government for $15 million is scheduled to arrive in Trinidad in the second week of July.

The blimp, also referred to as an airship or skyship, was purchased from Skyship Management.

Skyship Management is the same company from which Government leased its second red, white and blue 12-year old foreign-used blimp.

Government had paid US $100,000 a month for the second blimp, but the lease expired at the end of May.

The company decided to ground the blimp pending the purchase of a third one.

Government was able to negotiate with Skyship Management to take possession of the Aeros 40 B, the first blimp which went on the blink, in exchange for another blimp at a cost of $15 million.

Government spent $27 million for the Aeros 40 B which patrolled the skies for a mere seven months, before officials from the Special Anti Crime Unit (SAUTT) confirmed late December that the sensors aboard the blimp were affecting its operation. Prior to this announcement, SAUTT officials issued a press release denying that the Aeros 40 B was not functional. SAUTT claimed the blimp was in a hangar and added that the runway at Cumuto was being repaired. Late December, Brigadier Peter Joseph confirmed a Newsday report that the first blimp was under repairs.

When Newsday visited the Cumuto military headquarters yesterday, where the two blimps are housed, the Aeros 40 B was not seen but the Skyship 600 was seen behind the SAUTT building.

Fred Edworthy, the man from whom Government purchased the first blimp, told Newsday last week that Aeros personnel were not involved with the installation of any equipment other than what was purchased for it.

He gave no view on whether or not any additional equipment would adversely affect the blimp.