AIR CUSHION VEHICLES: THEIR POTENTIAL FOR CANADA

THE AIMS WERE: (1) TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER ACV'S ARE ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE FOR USE AND FOR MANUFACTURE IN CANADA; (2) TO IDENTIFY PARTICULAR APPLICATIONS; AND (3) TO OUTLINE THE SCOPE OF THE MARKET. A NUMBER OF SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS OF CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ACV'S IN CANADA ARE IDENTIFIED. THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF EACH HAS BEEN ASSESSED AND CONCLUSIONS DRAWN IN THE LIGHT OF CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS, CURRENT TECHNOLOGY AND LIMITATIONS. THERE ARE DEFINABLE MARKETS FOR CERTAIN ACV'S THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED OR ARE ALREADY UNDER DEVELOPMENT, AND IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THESE MARKETS WILL GROW NOT ONLY AS THE CAPABILITIES OF THE NEW VEHICLES ARE DEMONSTRATED, BUT AS ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY IMPROVE THEIR COST EFFECTIVENESS. CARE MUST BE EXERCISED IN SELECTING THE RIGHT VEHICLE FOR THE TASK. THERE ARE PARTICULAR REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF ACV'S THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN DEVELOPED, BUT WHICH COULD CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO SOLVING SPECIAL TRANSPORT PROBLEMS IN CANADA, AND WHICH WOULD PROBABLY GAIN AN EXPORT MARKET. CANADIAN INDUSTRY HAS THE CAPABILITY TO UNDERTAKE SUCH DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. IT IS CONCLUDED, THEREFORE, THAT A VIABLE ACV INDUSTRY CAN BE ESTABLISHED IN CANADA, PROVIDED APPROPRIATE CARE IS TAKEN IN SELECTING THE ACV'S FOR DEVELOPMENT. CANADA HAS EXTREME CLIMATIC AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS, THE SPECIAL TRANSPORT PROBLEMS OF A DEVELOPING COUNTRY, AND AN ADVANCED TECHNICAL CAPABILITY. THE FOUNDING OF AN INDUSTRY AND THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION OF ACV'S TO MEET CANADIAN REQUIREMENTS WOULD NOT ONLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE COUNTRY'S DEVELOPMENT BUT SHOULD HAVE SIGNIFICANT EXPORT POTENTIAL. /RATAOC/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • 11 APP
• Corporate Authors:

  National Research Council, Ottawa /Can

  ,    
• Authors:
  • German, A
• Publication Date: 1969-12

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 544 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air cushion vehicles; Applications; Benefit cost analysis; Cost effectiveness; Market value; Markets
• Subject Areas: Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00222651
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Roads & Transportation Assoc /Canada
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 7 1972 12:00AM