This internal bladder holds helium, a lighter than air, non-flammable gas that gives the airship its lift. There are more astronauts in the world than airship pilots. More people know how to land the shuttle than know how to land an airship. There are currently only about 25 blimps in the entire world. Many people think they have seen hundreds, but in the U.S. there are only about 10 airships.
Hand signals are the method of communicating on an airship crew.
These special signals allow the pilot to communicate with his crew chief who stands in front of the blimp and gives his pilot instructions. There are no brakes on the airship. The ground crew actually act as the brakes by grabbing a hold of the ropes that hang off the front of the airship and bringing it down to earth gently. Airships are flown from city to city, not deflated and transported. There is a misconception that airships are deflated and shipped to the next destination.