They were once the modern way to travel..

Now a group of northern Manitoba First Nations is hoping to launch an airship industry as a more effective way to deliver supplies to remote communities.

They’ve invited experts from around the world to a conference next month, looking at ways to replace costly and unreliable ice roads  with the lighter-than-air aircraft over the next few years.

Grand Chief David Harper says involvement from Ottawa and private partners is vital and the involved bands are eager to look into developing the technology.

Airships were the first aircraft to enable controlled, powered flight and were widely used before the 1940s.

Their use decreased over time as their capabilities were surpassed by those of airplanes.