Yep i think it just landmark displaying that the city is this way if you zoom in there not really that you can see that can hold a person.
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Been there forever. I've always had the vibe that Ul'dah's design was loosely based off of the Gestahlt Empire from FFIII [or six if you prefer]. The floating stuff has always reminded me of it.
I've always thought of them as machines that are supposed to be doing something either economically or militarily.
There's also one of these in LL, and I can only assume in gridania aswell.
Maybe the devs decided to actually implement the goblin airmen: http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...ghlight=goblin
Prepare your anus
Maybe they are floating traffic lights =o