Immigrant may have transportation answer.

In recent weeks, the media have been flooded with stories related to the issue of immigration. Many of these stories have taken a negative view toward immigrants and focus on ways to keep immigrants out of America. Some suggest that we should develop ways to allow those immigrants who are already here to be able to assimilate into our society and remain in America. But even those expressing this idea seem to be looking at the issue as a means of tolerating a condition instead of welcoming the immigration. We are all aware that America was built on immigration and that all of us have ancestors from other countries. Unfortunately many of the stories we here about current day immigrants depict them as non-productive members of society with little motivation, a lack of desire to assimilate into our society and a reluctance to adopt the customs and ways of mainstream Americans. For many immigrants this negative depiction is untrue.

Many times when we use harsh medicine to treat diseases such as cancer, we wind up killing the good cells along with the bad. The same holds true when we take a stance of blocking immigrants from coming to America. In our attempt to keep undesirables out of California and America, we may be turning away someone who, with the benefits of American education and technology could discover a cure for cancer, or perhaps, a more efficient, clean, alternative fuel source.

Throughout history there are many examples of immigrants that have significantly improved our society and our nation. A couple of weeks ago, I met an immigrant who may have the formula to significantly reduce California's transportation problems, generate up to 15,000 new jobs within the next five years and substantially increase the amount of goods able to be distributed through our ports. Currently more than 40 percent of all goods manufactured in Asia and sold in the U.S. utilize California's ports. However, because of current difficulties in moving goods to their destinations quickly, our ports are jammed to capacity with cargo ships lined-up waiting to be unloaded. If we don't find a solution soon we will lose much of this business to ports in Washington, Oregon, Texas and Mexico. The loss of a sizeable amount of the port business will, of course, cause the loss of many jobs.

The gentleman I recently met is Igor Pasternak. In 1988, after earning a degree in civil engineering, Pasternak formed his own company and began working on a Soviet project to develop enormous airships to transport cargo to the remote Siberian oil fields. It was one of the first private aeronautics ventures permitted under Mikhail Gorbachev's perestroika reforms. In 1993, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Mr. Pasternak, together with six of his employees (who he persuaded to join him) and their families emigrated from the Ukraine.

Igor Pasternak is a blimp-maker. His company, Worldwide Aeros Corp., located in Tarzana, is one of only two manufacturers of commercial blimps in the United States. Since its inception, approximately 10 years ago, Worldwide Aeros has produced 30 blimps at a cost of $2 million to $3 million each. The blimps' components are made in Tarzana and assembly is done in hangars in San Bernardino or Palmdale. They are used for many purposes ranging from utilization as flying billboards to surveillance to locate and capture Caribbean drug smugglers.

Eyed by Pentagon

Mr. Pasternak's solution to California's transportation problems is unconventional, utilizes his expertise as a blimp-maker and has captured the eyes and ears of the U. S. Pentagon. Referred to simply as the Aeroscraft, the concept vehicle is similar to but different than a blimp. It will be approximately 900 feet long, capable of transporting 500 tons with a cruising range of 12,000 nautical miles at a speed of up to 120 knots or approximately 138 mph. By combining a rigid composite hull with a complete active control system and adding nonflammable helium, the Aeroscraft can effectively land and take off vertically from unprepared surfaces, thus eliminating the need for costly infrastructure. Unlike airplanes, helicopters and conventional blimps, it will generate lift through a combination of aerodynamics, thrust vectoring and gas buoyancy generation and management, and for much of the time it will fly heavier than air (conventional blimps fly lighter than air).

Last summer Aeros was awarded a $3 million contract from the Pentagon to do preliminary design work. The Pentagon hopes that the Aeroscraft can help move U.S. troops and equipment more quickly and closer to their ultimate destination due to their lack of need for suitable runways. Currently, personnel and equipment travel separately; heavy weapons and tanks are transported by ship, which can take more than a month. A similar move of heavy equipment could be accomplished by the Aeroscraft in approximately 5 days.

Cargo hauler

Although the Pentagon's use will be primarily to move troops and heavy equipment, Pasternak's goal is to adapt the craft to a cost effective low density cargo or perishable goods hauler. It can also be adapted to luxury tour travel, allowing an unordinary space allotment to each passenger (similar to hotel rooms).

The ability of the Aeroscraft to reach places which are not accessible by airplanes, its ability to deliver products from the manufacturer to the end user, avoiding the inter-model phase, and ability to deliver oversized cargo, such as oil derricks, building frames and bridges intact will enable California businesses to reach new markets and develop new opportunities, and most importantly, reduce traffic congestion and create jobs.

The craft will be capable of lifting tons of freight vertically and cross the U.S. in less than a day with practically door-to-door delivery and, with the ability to load perishables at the farm and deliver them across oceans to a hungry world, Californian growers and producers will be able to locate and tap new markets. In short, the Aeroscraft can provide a solution to expand California's export and import markets without placing more burdens on the highways, ports and rail yards and, in fact, reduce the burdens that already exist.

Gregory N. Lippe, CPA, is managing partner of the Woodland Hills-based CPA firm of Lippe, Hellie, Hoffer & Allison, LLP and a director and vice-chair of the Valley Industry and Commerce Association. (VICA).