AIR TRACTOR, INC. JOINS USUBC
Manufactures specialized agricultural aircraft in Olney, Texas
USUBC, Washington, D.C., March 27, 2008
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The executive committee of the U.S.-Ukraine
Business Council (USUBC), on behalf of the membership, is most
pleased to announce that Air Tractor, Inc. of Olney, Texas has been
approved for USUBC membership.
Air Tractor, Inc. is the leading manufacturer of agricultural aircraft for
crop spaying and protection. They have produced more than 2,000
especially designed and manufactured aircraft in their Olney, Texas
assembly line that have moved into the hangars of agricultural operators
across the globe. These planes have shaped the evolution of agricultural
aviation.
Air Tractor aircraft can be found working not only across the United
States, but also in Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, South
Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Croatia, Saudi Arabia and South
Korea.
THE UKRAINIAN MARKETPLACE -----
To date their planes have had little use in Ukraine. Air Tractor, Inc.
believes their aircraft would be a much needed addition to the huge and
rapidly growing agriculture market in Ukraine. Their planes are state of
the art technology. Currently, Air Tractor, Inc. is presently working to
develop contacts and marketing sources for Ukraine.
USUBC has been working with David Ickert, Vice President - Finance,
Air Tractor, Inc., related to their work to expand into the Ukraine market.
With the growth of massive farming operations in Ukraine, where time and
size is such a critical and limiting factor, agricultural airplanes will certainly
be part of the future equipment mix that will be utilized.
AIR TRACTOR IS USUBC'S 64TH MEMBER -----
Air Tractor, Inc. is the 64rd member for USUBC, the 11th new member
for 2008 and the 42nd new member for USUBC since January of 2007.
The other new members in 2008 are MaxWell USA, Baker and McKenzie
law firm, Och-Ziff Capital Management Group, Dipol Chemical International,
MJA Asset Management, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Halliburton,
DLA Piper law firm, EPAM Systems and DHL International Ukraine.
AIR TRACTOR'S AGRICULTURAL AIRCRAFT LINEUP -
Air Tractor offers the widest range of aircraft to fit any operation, from
small to large. You can select from no less than eight type-certified
aircraft models with hopper capacities ranging from 400 to 800 gallons.
All Air Tractor models provide superb visibility, light control forces,
speed, and maneuverability for the pilot. Air Tractor offers a choice of
powerplants for each size aircraft so you can tailor the aircraft to meet
the needs of your particular operating environment.
AIR TRACTORS FIREFIGHTING AIRCRAFT ------
The AT-802F is an innovative initial attack firefighting aircraft that
rivals the performance of twin-engine tankers at a fraction of the cost.
Designed from the wheels up to fight wildfires, it uses an advanced,
patented computer-controlled firegate to deliver optimum coverage levels
with extreme accuracy.
Equipped with Wipaire amphibious floats, the AT-802F "Fire Boss" can
land on nearby lakes and return over the front lines faster. After fire
season, the AT-802F can do reseeding after the fire, spray for pests, and
spread fertilizer for faster tree growth
GLOBAL DEALER NETWORK -----
Air Tractor has the industry's most extensive and established global dealer
network. Air Tractor dealers know the aerial application business; in fact
many dealers began as operators themselves.
So they know the challenges operators face every day, every season.
Whether it's a question about an airplane part, or about the business
economics of moving up to a bigger aircraft, Air Tractor dealers have the
answers.
HISTORY OF THE COMPANY ---- OVER 50 YEARS
Leland Snow began designing his first ag airplane, the S-1, in 1951. The
23-year old Snow completed test flights with the S-1 in 1953. Snow's S-1
flew dusting and spraying jobs in the Texas Rio Grande Valley and in
Nicaragua until 1957. He followed-up the S-1 with the models S-2A and
S-2B, which were built when Snow moved to production facilities in Olney,
Texas in 1958.
In 1965, Leland Snow sold his company to Rockwell-Standard and was
appointed a Vice President of the Aero Commander division. During this
time, the Model S-2R was developed and named the Thrush.
The first 100 Thrush aircraft were built at the Olney Division before the
plant was closed and Thrush production moved to Georgia in 1970. More
than 500 aircraft were produced under Snow Aeronautical Corporation and
Rockwell-Standard in Olney.
Snow resigned from Rockwell and devoted the next two years designing the
Air Tractor. Construction began in 1972 on the AT-300, which later became
the AT-301. Air Tractor's first turbine model, the AT-302, was introduced in
1977.
Sixteen years later, Air Tractor delivered its 1,100th airplane and soon
began expanding the Olney plant for increased capacity. Less than five
years later, the 2,000th Snow-designed, Olney-built aircraft rolled out the
factory doors in 1997.
Today, Air Tractor produces a line of aircraft that includes 400, 500, 600
and 800-gallon capacity planes powered by Pratt & Whitney piston or
turbine engines.
Full information about Air Tractor, Inc. can be found on their website
at www.AirTractor.com.
USUBC is most pleased to welcome Air Tractor, Inc. into its rapidly
expanding membership of companies working in the Ukrainian market.