For argument&#x27;s sake, say we have 1000 (high estimate) active cargo airships in the world. To further simplify the problem, let&#x27;s assume they all have the same volume as the Dragon Dream (17,000m^3)[1]. So 1000 airships would take up 17,000,000m^3 of gas - less than 10% of current global consumption of helium (180,000,000m^3 pa [2].<p>Yes, this is grossly oversimplified (e.g. how often do airships need to replenish their lifting gas?) and yes we should be concerned about a major growth industry dependent on a scarce resource. On the other hand, is this a price worth paying considering the possible benefits to society it could bring via delivery of goods&#x2F;aid to hard to reach areas and a reduction in fuel intensive cargo planes?<p>[1]<a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Dragon_Dream" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Dragon_Dream</a>
[2]<a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.forbes.com&#x2F;sites&#x2F;timworstall&#x2F;2012&#x2F;08&#x2F;27&#x2F;what-great-helium-shortage&#x2F;#5921f6ea7c69" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.forbes.com&#x2F;sites&#x2F;timworstall&#x2F;2012&#x2F;08&#x2F;27&#x2F;what-grea...</a>