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Oil-Spotting Blimp Arrives In the Gulf

Posted by samzenpus on from the lazy-eye-in-the-sky dept.

GAMP writes "A Navy blimp to assist oil skimming operations will be arriving to the Gulf Coast Wednesday evening, according to the Unified Command Joint Information Center. 'The airship will operate relatively close to shore, primarily supporting skimmers to maximize their effectiveness,' said US Coast Guard Capt. Kevin Sareault."

3 of 109 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Fantastic!!!! by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Heh well I suppose you have a point... wouldn't it be nice if we could do a swap? Have Bush handle this disaster and have Obama handle 9-11?

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  2. Blimp details by girlintraining · · Score: 5, Informative

    The article doesn't mention that this is the MZ-3. It is currently assigned to Scientific Development Squadron ONE (VXS-1), based out of NAS Patuxent River, MD. It was being tested in Yuma, AZ until its recent assignment to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill cleanup efforts. Its crew are contractors from Integrated Systems Solutions, Inc. -- they have a website, but it's too crappy to bother linking here. The crew includes Commanding Officer Cmdr. Chris Janke, Burt Race, a retired Navy pilot, Chief Pilot Peter Buckley, second pilot Russell Mills, and up to five other positions available.

    For those of you wondering if reporters are going to be on this blimp -- probably not. It is not a civilian vessel, and space for personnel is at a premium. As well, as a fully vetted and operating Navy aircraft, it also contains military communications equipment. Very little in the way of surveillance equipment has been fitted on the airframe; Weight is a major concern for such a craft.

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  3. Remediation Theatre by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 5, Informative

    Why does this seem like something that would appear in the plot of a Simpsons or South Park episode?

    Because they're not really trying to clean up the oil leak.

    They've rejected the best available technology for cleaning up the oil because the water it returns, in situ, isn't quite pure enough for EPA regulations.

    Instead, they're attempting to pump the Gulf of Mexico into ships and cart it to land, for storage and later processing.

    It's so absurd it can't be due to ignorance.

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