Technical partner of Jean-Louis Étienne [ Return towards  Sustainable Development  ]

The airship was at Fayence (in the south of France), when a particularly violent wind gust – 170km/h – pulled the balloon from its moorings where it was anchored during the night. It came to rest against a house some distance away. Following the collision, all the helium was lost (helium is an odorless, color-free, non flammable and non-toxic gas).

No-one was injured and only some property damage sustained. However, the future of the expedition is compromised.

The Total Pole Airship expedition had planned to leave Paris on 1st March for a 2-month crossing over the North Pole, in order to measure the thickness of the pack-ice of the Arctic Ocean, which evidences climate change. The French physician and explorer had chosen the airship as a clean, efficient and autonomous means of transport (1000 km).

During the first measurement campaign in May 2007, the Air Liquide subsidiary Aqua Lung supplied specialized equipment for diving under the pack-ice, in water at -1.8° C, and Air Liquide Healthcare provided the medical oxygen to counter possible decompression accidents. In September 2007, Air Liquide filled the airship balloon with 4700 m³ of helium.

Jean-Louis Etienne’s teams are currently studying the follow-up of the expedition which may be postponed to next year. This is the third time that Air Liquide has supported a Jean-Louis Etienne expedition and Air Liquide will keep supporting his endeavors.

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