Harley Curless To Be New Air Tractor Dealer for Midwest

Harley Curless

Long-time Illinois aerial applicator Harley Curless will become the Air Tractor dealer for the Midwest region of the United States in January, 2010. Curless will assume ownership and operations of Farm Air, Inc. when current owner, Bill Taylor, retires at the end of 2009.

Farm Air, located in Fairfield Illinois, is the authorized Air Tractor distributor for Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio. Air Tractor Vice President of Sales Kristin Edwards says Farm Air has been an Air Tractor distributor since 1976. “Bill Taylor has built an excellent dealership. He has been a strong and responsive Air Tractor dealer in this very important region for aerial application,” says Edwards. “We’re pleased that Harley Curless will be stepping into that role. He has a successful aerial application business of his own, he’s a familiar face to operators in the region, and he has been an example and active promoter of best practices for our industry.”

”I’ve got some huge shoes to fill,” says Harley Curless. “Bill Taylor and Leland Snow have been my heroes for a long time. Bill and I have visited about the Farm Air dealership off and on for a couple of years. Bill called me shortly after the first of the year, and said it’s time to get started, so that he can be retired by the beginning of 2010. Our goal is to do things so that customers shouldn’t notice any difference other than the location from where they receive their parts or where they come to pick up their airplane.”

Curless plans to move the Farm Air parts inventory and dealership operations to his main location in Astoria, Illinois. Farm Air’s spraying service will continue to operate from the Fairfield Municipal Airport. Curless is building a new hangar at the Astoria location for the dealership and maintenance facilities and will provide services such as inspections, wing modifications, airframe repairs and maintenance. “There’s really nothing like that in the Midwest for doing heavy air frame maintenance, so we’re really excited about offering those new capabilities,” says Curless.

Bill Taylor

Bill Taylor will continue to be involved in the dealership during 2010, helping with the relocation of operations to the Astoria facility and assisting as needed to assure a smooth transition for Farm Air customers. Harley has been a longtime owner of Air Tractors,” says Taylor “He’s bought a lot of them and has done a good job and run a successful business. Harley is well thought of in the industry. So I hope I can help him, and his son Joe, ease into the dealership business, and am happy to help them in any way.”

“I’ve really enjoyed the last 30 years here working with Leland, Kristin, Kara and all the employees at Air Tractor,” says Taylor. “All I’ve ever done is fly airplanes since 1966 when I was in the Navy. I grew up on a farm and studied agronomy in college, so the two just fell in together with aerial spraying. But there comes a time when you start thinking about what’s best for my company and Air Tractor in the long run. So I started talking with Leland a couple of years ago about a transition so that Farm Air can continue going for another 30 years. I wanted to plan a smooth transition, as well as keep the dealership located in the corn belt.” 

Farm Air sells and supports the complete line of Air Tractor agricultural and firefighting aircraft, ranging from the 400-gallon capacity Air Tractor AT-401 to the wildfire-fighting, 800-gallon AT-802F single engine air tanker.

For more information about Farm Air, contact Bill Taylor at farmair@fairfieldwireless.net or call
(618) 842-7121. Harley Curless can be reached at cfsfly@winco.net or by calling (309) 759-4826.

AT-802F "Fire Boss" SEATs Sold To Croatia

The first three AT-802AF SEATs arrived in March

Two Air Tractor AT-802AF air tankers were sold in August to the Republic of Croatia Defense Ministry by Air Tractor Europe, Valencia Spain.  The two aircraft were delivered to Zadar-Zemunik Airbase on the western coast of Croatia.  The sale follows on the heels of a delivery in March of three AT-802AF aircraft to the Republic of Croatia for the 2008 summer firefighting season.

As with the sale to Croatia in March, the latest AT-802AF aircraft purchase contract included training for pilots, mechanics and engineers provided by Air Tractor Europe.  Delivery of Air Tractor AT-802AF #296 occurred August 1.  AT-802AF “Fire Boss” #290 was delivered August 8.

The aircraft sale included truckloads of tools, spare parts and aircraft maintenance equipment.

The Air Tractor AT-802AF single engine air tanker carries an 800-gallon payload of water, foam or fire retardant and is used extensively around the world for initial attack fire suppression, as well as for heavy tanker and ground crew support.  The rugged construction of the turbo-prop AT-802AF allows it to be staged near wildfires and to take off and land from unpaved landing strips.  Its fast ferrying speed and multi-drop capability in a single load make it a versatile and effective air tanker suitable for a range of fire suppression and support missions. 

According to Croatia’s Minister of Defense Branko Vukelic, the two Air Tractor aircraft were deployed in early September and joined the fleet of three other Air Tractor “Fire Boss” single engine air tankers already being used for patrol flights, training and firefighting sorties along the Croatian Adriatic coastline.

Vicente Huerta, Jr. (right) concludes sales contract with former Croatia Minister of Defense Berislav Roncevic (left).

Hugo Arceo, of Air Tractor Europe, has worked closely with the Croatian Air Force firefighting task force since the aircraft arrived in Croatia.  He says that during the fire fighting season, the number of drops per hour with the AT-802AF has been the highest he has seen, with a rate of drops of about 2-3 minutes per drop. This translates into between 20 and 30 drops per hour of flight, with a total number of around 20,000 gallons delivered per hour of flight.  According to Arceo, this has been the most gruelling test of the amphibious 802s that he has witnessed.

Says Arceo, “Even though the AT-802AF is not new to the Croatian Air Force, the amphibious “Fire Boss” model is new for them.”  And because of the planes’ reliability, almost no AOGs have occurred.”  Arceo adds, “The reliability of the plane, together with our training for the Croatian Air Force mechanics and the presence of our own mechanic at the fire base resulted in having the planes in flight a huge percentage of the time.”

Each AT-802AF has seen more than 200 hours of flight time since their delivery, says Arceo.   “The Croatian pilots, mechanics and Ministry of Defense are really happy with these planes because of their high efficiency and easiness for maintenance.”

Vicente Huerta, Jr., President of Air Tractor Europe reports Defense Minister Vukelic also expressed interest in purchasing a dual cockpit AT-802F in time for the 2009 firefighting season.  “Our delivery and service for the first three aircraft made the sale of these two additional aircraft much easier,” noted Huerta.  “This time, we were able to deliver #296 earlier than expected and our training staff, tech support, ferry man and the entire sales support team did a perfect job.”

During the signing of the second sales contract, Minister of Defense Branko Vukelic commented that “never before was response so fast as that from Air Tractor Europe on delivery of the new aircraft.”  Vukelic said that the exceptional delivery support of the three AT-802AF delivered in July prompted him to reallocate funds earmarked for leasing Canadair CL 415 water bombers to the purchase the two new AT-802AF air tankers.  Vicente Huerta, also at the contract signing, says that Vukelic expressed interest in purchasing a dual cockpit AT-802 to be delivered in time to be operational for the 2009 wildfire season.

During an August 12th tour of the Croatian Air Force firefighting task force at Zemunik Airbase, Minister of Defense Vukelic expressed his satisfaction with the firefighting efforts during the 2008 summer wildfire season.  “Today we have two new Air Tractors joining the squadron, of which their acquisition was agreed only fifteen days ago.  This is a major accomplishment and demonstrates how much progress we have achieved since 2007.  During this year’s fire season, some 20 aircraft were used for wildfire suppression missions with exceptional effectiveness.  We are now well-equipped to respond to wildfires.  In 2009 two additional aircraft will join the fleet, bringing the total number of aircraft dedicated to aerial fire suppression to 22.”

At the same event, Operational Fire-Fighting Command Brigadier General Zvonko Peternel also reported that since the beginning of the 2008 firefighting season, Croatia’s aerial firefighting assets were deployed to 61 wildfires along the Adriatic coastline, flying 5,497 sorties.  Pilots flew a combined 833 hours and dropped more than 23,000 tons of water and fire retardant.

At the end of the fire season, both AT-802AF aircraft are returning to Spain for installation of additional avionics, special equipment and amphibious floats for #296, according to Hugo Arceo.  The aircraft will return to service in Croatia in time for the 2009 wildfire season. 

The 300th Air Tractor AT-802 Ready To Take Flight

 
AT-802 Serial No. 300

Just three years after the delivery of its 200th AT-802, the 300th Air Tractor AT-802 has rolled off the assembly line at the Air Tractor manufacturing facility beside Olney Municipal Airport.  The two-seat, amphibious, float-ready AT-802 will soon be transported across the Pacific Ocean to Ballidu, Western Australia for its new owner, Dunn Aviation.  It will be the fourth AT-802 to be added to that company’s aerial application and firefighting fleet.

“This is a another important milestone for Air Tractor, and one we are quite proud of,” says Leland Snow, president of Air Tractor, Inc. “It further demonstrates the major role that the AT-802 has come to play in aerial application and initial attack aerial firefighting operations all over the world in a very short period of time. We are very pleased that Dunn Aviation has given Air Tractor another vote of confidence by adding AT-802 Serial #300 to the Air Tractors already in their fleet”. 

Dunn Aviation Australia, established in 1986 and based in Ballidu, Australia, provides agricultural application services as well as offering emergency response services for aerial fire suppression.

Dunn Aviation Australia

Says Neville Dunn, owner and managing director, “With the Air Tractor AT-802's, AT-602's and other aircraft in our fleet, Dunn Aviation can provide a “one-stop shop” for all aerial agricultural and emergency services needs in Western Australia. Our company policy is to operate new equipment and maintain an unblemished dependability record. When it comes to dependability, the AT-802 is unmatched in our experience."

The AT-802/802A is the world's largest single engine aerial application aircraft, and its popularity reflects the industry's trend to larger, high-production turbine equipment. With a payload of 9,500 lbs, the AT-802 provides more working capacity than any other single-engine ag plane flying today.

“In 2002 Dunn Aviation put into operation its first AT-802 for aerial firefighting in Western Australia, and we are extremely pleased with its performance since then,” says Dunn.  “Our reputation has been built on our company's ability to offer a rapid response to our client's needs, whether they require ag spraying or aerial firefighting. In both areas the AT-802 has been a reliable and cost-efficient aircraft for us.” 

The 800-gallon capacity AT-802 can operate from small airports for quick ferry time and fuel economy, allowing operators like Dunn Aviation to establish multiple smaller bases to better provide fast, effective initial attack on small fires as well as for extended attack in support of ground crews.

During the Australian summer months Dunn Aviation aircraft are on standby 12 hours-a-day and can be airborne in between 5 and 15 minutes.  The company maintains four operations bases - around 80 miles apart - with two aircraft stationed at each base.

“Compared with other aircraft types”, says Dunn, “the low hourly cost of operation of the Air Tractors allows fire agencies to keep aircraft circling overhead during the latter stages of the fire, thus allowing any hop-overs or flare-ups to be quickly attacked and extinguished.”

All Dunn Aviation's Air Tractor aircraft operate on fires during summer months then switch roles to dry land wheat work during the Australian winter with several 802s being relocated to Europe each year for fire fighting duties.

“Along with the Air Tractor company, we at Dunn Aviation are honored to take delivery of the 300th AT-802,” said Dunn.  “It represents a milestone for both companies. And, hopefully, it will soon be time for us to begin talking with Air Tractor about AT-802 Serial #400.”

AT-802 Serial No. 300 assembly team

Celebration Honors 50-Year Career Of

Ag Aviation Pioneer Leland Snow

Olney, TX , April 5, 2008 – The 50-year aviation career of Leland Snow, the man many call “the father of the modern crop dusting aircraft”, or aerial application aircraft, was celebrated Saturday by Air Tractor employees, dealers, vendors, Olney residents and elected dignitaries in a day of festivities hosted at the company's Olney, Texas manufacturing facility. The occasion honored not just the man, his career and innovations, but also the many people who, through the years, helped Leland Snow make his vision, literally, take flight.

Beginning at 1:00 p.m., an aerobatic demonstration held celebration guests looking skyward as top aerobatic aircraft pilots performed thrilling aerial maneuvers.

At 2:30 p.m. an open house and tour of the Air Tractor manufacturing facilities offered guests a glimpse of the processes involved in building the world's most advanced agricultural aircraft.

A presentation ceremony followed at 4:30 p.m. providing attendees a brief look back at the history of Air Tractor and the role that Snow's many innovations and accomplishments played in the development of modern aerial application aircraft.

In addition to honoring Leland Snow, two Air Tractor manufacturing buildings were renamed and dedicated in memory of long-time Air Tractor employees Jim Schmidt and Sam Cooke. A dinner for around 700 guests, followed by a dance and spectacular fireworks display concluded the day of festivities.

A History of Innovation

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, 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.

In 1997, the 2,000th Snow-designed, Olney-built aircraft rolled out the factory doors, and the company hosted a 40th Anniversary celebration in March of 1998. In 2002, the first of many highly-modified and armored AT-802s was delivered to the United States Department of State for use in narcotic crop eradication in Colombia. In 2004 the 2000th Air Tractor, an AT-502B, was delivered to a Nebraska operator.

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. They are used for agricultural purposes, fire fighting, narcotic crop eradication, fuel-hauling, fighting locust plagues, and cleaning up oil spills in coastal waters. Air Tractor aircraft are found working not only across the United States, but around the globe, in Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, North and South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Croatia, Saudi Arabia and South Korea.

Get 50th Anniversary Commemorative Souvenirs Here!

“The ‘Fire Boss’ has been used extensively for firefighting in Canada and Europe, but this was its first operational mission in the United States,” said Sheldon Mack, DNR Aviation Supervisor. “We have the ability to use the Fire Boss both on its own and in conjunction with our CL215 water scoopers. It will give us another tool in our aviation toolbox,” says Mack.

The Fire Boss is an initial attack fire suppression aircraft that is capable of scooping up to 800 gallons of water from lakes and rivers near the fire. Wipaire, Inc. of St. Paul, Minnesota designed and manufactures the floats that transform the Air Tractor AT-802F single engine air tanker into an amphibious fire-fighting scooper aircraft. According to Mark Mathisen of Fire Boss LLC, “This aircraft delivers cycle times and gallons per hour quantities far exceeding other aircraft at a fraction of the cost, both in acquisition and operating expense.” Operating from fire bases or from nearby lakes and rivers, the Fire Boss represents a new approach to the initial attack phase of spotting and stopping fires at their early stages. Its fast response capability, 150 mph ferry speed and low altitude maneuverability make it well suited for fighting wildland/urban interface fires, as well.

“The Fire Boss lends itself very well to hit the fire early and get it out before it gets big,” said Bob Wiplinger, President of Wipaire, Inc. He notes that following the destructive 2006 fire season in northern Minnesota, the DNR was ready to try the Fire Boss for the 2007 season. He reports that the Fire Boss is performing well. “Right now, the Fire Boss is getting to the fires before the CL-215s. It’s carrying a load of water right to the fire on its first load from the airport. The Fire Boss operates for about 1/30^th of the cost of a CL-215 and carries more than half of the water of those aircraft. Obviously, we think the Fire Boss is a smart addition to the DNR aerial firefighting fleet.”

On its first fire mission near Aitkin, Minnesota, the Fire Boss was called on scene after the fire had grown to 335 acres and had jumped initial fire lines. According to the Aitkin fire incident commander Brian Pisarek, the aircraft used a payload between 500 and 600 gallons and dropped with good accuracy. The nearest water source was approximately eight miles from the fire, and the Fire Boss loaded and returned to the drop zone within 10-15 minutes. In total, the Fire Boss dropped seven loads of water before being released from the fire.

“We’re happy to see the AT-802F Fire Boss working in the United States this year,” said Kristin Edwards, Air Tractor’s Vice-President, Sales. “They are being used extensively in Spain and Canada. The amphibious floats add another level of versatility to an already great fire fighting tool.”

Kristin Edwards, Air Tractor’s Vice-President, Sales said, “We recognize that Brazil is a very large country with a growing agricultural economy. With such a large market, we believe that it is beneficial to have more than one dealer assigned to the territory. Frost and Lane have excellent track records of sales and customer service in the United States, and we’re excited to add AGSUR AVIONES to the Air Tractor team, as they are conveniently located in Argentina.” She continued, “We think the Brazilian aerial applicators will have excellent service from any of these three dealers.”

AGSUR AVIONES’ headquarters for sales and service is in the city of Pergamino, located about 200 km northwest of Buenos Aires, Argentina. From this location, the company will offer the full line of Air Tractor agricultural aircraft, as well as the AT-802F single engine air tanker for aerial firefighting. The Pergamino FBO has a full-time administrative staff and also has a shop dedicated to Air Tractor maintenance and repair with factory-trained technicians. AGSUR AVIONES is certified to provide a wide range of airframe and engine maintenance and repair, including PT6 hot section inspection. The Pergamino headquarters and the organization’s satellite facilities have an inventory of Air Tractor parts to support operators in Argentina and Brazil. In Brazil, AGSUR AVIONES will provide Air Tractor sales and support through a network of allied representatives and service providers.

Alejandro Moreno, General Manager of AGSUR said, “We are happy to be Air Tractor’s newest dealer. We are dedicated to offering aerial applicators in our area the best equipment, service and latest technology to help Brazil’s ag operators maintain peak performance, safety and efficiency."

John Mishler of Crosslands International will be assisting AGSUR AVIONES with Air Tractor sales, marketing and support to customers in Brazil. Mishler has more than 13 years of experience in the South American market, and is well known by customers in the region. Mishler is based in Arlington, Texas and travels frequently to South America.

Frost Flying is a full-line, full-service Air Tractor dealer serving customers in the U.S. and in Central and South America from the company’s headquarters in Marianna, Arkansas. As one of Air Tractor’s leading dealerships, Frost Flying has an extensive Air Tractor parts department, along with a complete Air Tractor maintenance facility with the ability to provide a range of Air Tractor factory-authorized maintenance and repair services, including annual inspections, hot section inspections, wing spar cap replacement, as well as Del Norte and Wingman installations.

Owner Jack Frost said, “Since our beginnings as an aerial application operator in 1972, Frost Flying has always been a service-oriented company, where customer satisfaction is the number one priority. We’re excited about this opportunity to serve aerial applicators in Brazil.”

Grant Lane, owner and president of Lane Aviation has developed many long-standing customers in the southern hemisphere and continues supporting them with new aircraft and Air Tractor parts and service. Lane Aviation has made a significant commitment to become a one-call Air Tractor parts source, with a responsive shipping staff and a computerized parts inventory. Responding to the demanding schedules of today’s ag operators, Lane Aviation’s parts staff quickly fills orders and provides the right parts when they are needed. Lane Aviation also sells, installs and supports a range of aerial application accessories, including GPS positioning technology, flow monitors, pumps, valves and spreaders.

Full-time Air Tractor service technicians and an aircraft inspector at Lane Aviation handle every kind of aircraft maintenance and repair service for Lane Aviation customers, from routine inspections and periodic airframe maintenance to major engine repairs and exchanges.

Said Lane, “We’re pleased to be the Air Tractor dealer for many of the leading aerial applicators in North, Central and South America. Our customers tell us that they like working with us because we respond to their needs quickly and help them find better ways to be more profitable and productive.”

More information about Lane Aviation is available at its website: www.laneaviation.com. Contact Grant Lane at +1 281 342 5451 or send e-mail to: glane@laneav.com.

To contact Frost Flying, telephone Jack Frost at +1 870 295 6213, or send an e-mail to jrfrost47@hotmail.com. On the Internet, go to www.frostflying.com.

To learn more about AGSUR AVIONES, S.A., contact Alejandro Moreno at
+54 2477 432090, or send e-mail to amoreno@waycomnet.com.ar. In the United States, contact John Mishler at +1 817 492 0336, or send e-mail to john@crosslandsinternational.com. The company’s website address is: www.agsuraviones.com.ar

In business since 1974, Air Tractor, Inc. manufactures more aircraft for the agricultural aviation industry than any other company in the world at its production facilities in Olney, Texas. For more information about Air Tractor aircraft, contact Air Tractor, Inc. at +1 940 564 5616. Additional information can also be found at the Air Tractor website: www.airtractor.com.

AGSUR AVIONES’ headquarters for sales and service is in the city of Pergamino, located about 200 km northwest of Buenos Aires, Argentina. From this location, the company will offer the full line of Air Tractor agricultural aircraft, as well as the AT-802F single engine air tanker for aerial firefighting. The Pergamino FBO has a full-time administrative staff and a dedicated Air Tractor maintenance and repair facility with factory-trained technicians. AGSUR AVIONES is certified to provide a wide range of airframe and engine maintenance and repair, including PT6 hot section inspection. The Pergamino headquarters and the organization’s satellite facilities have an extensive inventory of Air Tractor parts to support operators in Argentina.

According to AGSUR AVIONES General Manager Alejandro Moreno, an investor group of six Air Tractor aerial application operators formed the new dealership and are partners in the organization. The AGSUR AVIONES investor group operates a total of 12 Air Tractor AT-502 aircraft and one AT-602. They were the first aerial application operators in Argentina to purchase turbine Air Tractors, and they operate in various parts of Argentina, including Santa Fe and Tucuman.

Says Moreno, "Our group of Air Tractor operators had a common need for high quality aerial application support services in Argentina. We pooled our resources and worked with Air Tractor to develop a dealership and first-rate service facilities. We are dedicated to offering aerial applicators in our area the best equipment, service and latest technology to help Argentina’s ag operators maintain peak performance, safety and efficiency."

AGSUR AVIONES serves as the Air Tractor dealer for all of Argentina, covering the principal farming regions in the provinces of the provinces of La Pampa, Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Entre Rios and Cordoba, and northern provinces.

John Mishler of Crosslands International will be assisting AGSUR AVIONES with Air Tractor sales, marketing and support to customers in Argentina. Mishler has more than 13 years of experience in the South American market, and is well known by customers in the region. Mishler is based in Arlington, Texas and travels frequently to South America.

For more information about AGSUR AVIONES, S.A., contact Alejandro Moreno at
+54 2477 432090, or send e-mail to amoreno@waycomnet.com.ar. In the United States, contact John Mishler at +1 817 492 0336, or send e-mail to john@crosslandsinternational.com. The company’s website address is: www.agsuraviones.com.ar

In business since 1974, Air Tractor, Inc. manufactures more aircraft for the agricultural aviation industry than any other company in the world at its production facilities in Olney, Texas. For more information about Air Tractor aircraft, contact Air Tractor, Inc. at 940-564-5616. Additional information can also be found at the Air Tractor website: www.airtractor.com.

Hugo Arceo, spokesperson for Avialsa, says the turboprop airplanes are being used for fire patrol and initial attack on wildfires that spring up across the dry, mountainous, forested areas and high plains. Active patrolling during high fire danger days reduces the initial attack time to the fire, Arceo reports. On larger fires, the airplanes can be applied in a support role to heavy airtankers.

Avialsa’s Fire Boss pilots typically begin their patrol sorties with a load of Fire-Trol^® retardant, or water and concentrated FireFoam^®. The aircraft can mix and drop in variable coverage levels, depending upon the fuels burning. When a fire is observed or reported, the pilots can immediately attack the fire while it is still in its initial stage. After their 820-gallon (3 100 L) payload is exhausted, the planes can scoop water from island sea coves, lakes or reservoirs and return to the fire. The Air Tractor AT-802F has a ferry speed of almost 200 m.p.h. (322 kph), so cycle times to and from the fire are minimized.

Sardinia, as with other parts of Europe, is experiencing an unusually hot summer this year. The fire season started in June, says Arceo, and the Air Tractor Fire Boss 802s have been busy. “The aircraft have flown on one or two fires every day between July 1 and July 28 – about 35 different grass and forest fires in all. The vegetation is very dry during this time of year. In most of these fires, the 802s put out the fires within the first two hours, without requiring additional fire suppression resources,” says Arceo. Should the fire grow into a major incident, The Regione Autonoma de la Sardegna has larger firefighting airtankers on call for large fires, including a Canadair CL 415, Bell 412 helicopters and a big Erickson Air-Crane S-64 helitanker.

During high fire danger days, the two Fire Boss 802s fly individual 2-hour patrol routes over the island, which has an area of 9,298 square miles (24,090 km²). It takes about 35 minutes flying time to travel from their base to the farthest point on the island, according to Arceo. When a fire is spotted, the planes can join up and work together to suppress, contain and extinguish the fire. Both aircraft are equipped with the Air Tractor fire gate and computerized Fire Retardant Control System. Says Arceo, “The aircraft are performing initial attack and massive attacks with really good results. We are performing up to 10-12 drops per hour.” Arceo also remarked that the Air Tractor AT-802F is very easy to support, operate and maintain.

“This is a trial program for the Regione Autonoma de la Sardegna,” notes Arceo. “In past years, aerial firefighting resources on Sardinia have only been deployed once a fire grew very large. This new approach, using the AT-802F on patrol and initial attack, is modeled after Avialsa’s operations in Spain and Portugal which have been very successful and economically cost-effective.”

Sardinia suffers from widespread aridity in the summer, especially in the south. Fewer than three percent of the rainy days in the year occur in July and August, and only about 20 percent from May to September. This fire season promises to be a good trial for the Fire Boss 802s. “We anticipate a very hot, dry and windy August and that the fire season will finish very late,” says Arceo.

The Sardinia Italy project has been supported by Air Tractor Europe, exclusive dealer of Air

 Tractor Inc. for Europe and the North of Africa. Air Tractor Europe also promotes Air Tractor

 aircraft in other countries. For additional information or demonstration flights, visit

www.airtractoreurope.com or contact h.arceo@airtractoreurope.com

 
Gene Williams with Dona Jorden, Parts Department Manager at
Lane Aviation, Inc.; 2005 NAAA Convention, Reno.

The native Texan will hang up his ever-present cowboy hat at Air Tractor when he retires in December 2006. It will mark the close of a career that’s spanned some of the most dynamic years in the agricultural aviation industry.

“I came to work for Leland Snow the first time in 1965. It was Snow Aeronautical then, and I started as a fitter in the weld shop,” says Williams. “I’d been working in the oil patch, and it starts warming up in May -- so I thought this would be a shady place to spend the summer.” 

He stayed there for the next five years, through the company’s acquisition by Rockwell, working his way up to Material Manager. When Rockwell moved the factory to Georgia in 1970, Williams went back to the oil patch and started an oil well servicing company. He returned to Air Tractor in 1987, working with the husband and wife team of Wayne and Myrtle Bacon in the spare parts department.

During his career and association with Leland Snow, Williams has watched the transformation of the aerial application business from “mom and pop,” seat-of-the-pants operations into an exacting, high-tech and professional industry. Gene is also among a handful of Air Tractor employees to witness the development and evolution of the modern, purpose-built agricultural aircraft. “I’ve been the parts guy for every airplane that Leland ever designed, from the S2A until present day,” notes Williams.

Reflecting back on his years at Air Tractor, Williams says that the most striking change he witnessed in the industry was the move to turboprop-powered aircraft. “Putting turbine engines in ag planes was probably the biggest change I’ve seen during my career. It transformed everything – changed the whole complexion of the industry, including Air Tractor. With the advent of speedier turboprop aircraft, operators have been able to cover more ground in a workday, carry bigger payloads and streamline their operations down to fewer planes that require less maintenance. “All of a sudden we were dealing with so much more money, in what it took to build the airplanes and for the guys buying them,” observes Williams. “The downside is that there’s just so much money and financial risk involved now. It seems to have made competition a little more fierce among ag operators -- at least it seems so, as I’ve seen it from my vantage point.” 

 
Gene Williams reclines in Montana hunting lodge during mule
deer hunt, November 2004.

Gene says he’s also noticed a change in the kind of people who fly ag planes. “Operators are a lot more willing to try new technology. The attitudes are a lot more enlightened. Operators today are much quicker to embrace new innovations. Part of it is a generational thing, but even the ‘old-timers’ are taking the lead in new technologies. There’s a lot more professionalism in the industry today than back in the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s.”

Being in the service end of the business, it’s no surprise that Williams has developed many, many friendships through the years. “When I retire, that’s the thing I’ll miss the most -- the customers, aircraft operators, the mechanics and the dealers -- the Air Tractor people,” said Williams. “That’s the best thing about my job: the relationships I’ve developed. I get a good feeling when I am able to help people. So what could be better than getting paid to help people? It don’t get much better than that!”

On the other side of the coin, Williams doesn’t hold back his opinion on the not-so-fun side of this business. “The only downside of my job has been the frustration in dealing with the FAA, as it is today. Along with the industry changing, FAA regulators have changed, too. When I’ve tried to help an aircraft owner, there’s been more than one instance where the regulators became an obstacle in getting a solution to a problem. I’ve seen too many times when owners’ issues are created by the FAA and we’re powerless to help them.”

In spite of the occasional frustrations, Williams has successfully led the Parts Sales Department to a 600% increase in sales since the late 1980’s. “With more Air Tractors in the field year after year, spare parts availability and customer support are critical. If our customers didn’t have confidence that they’d be able to get support when they have an A.O.G., I doubt we’d be selling as many new airplanes.”

Gene Williams and hunting buddies in Montana, November 2004.
L-R: Gene Williams, Mack Adams, Rex Thompson, Jack Frost

As Parts Sales Manager and later as Air Tractor’s first Customer Service Manager, Williams has shared his knowledge and expertise directly with Air Tractor owners as well as helping Air Tractor dealers answer questions about common service issues that typically arise. He established a “Customer Assistance Group” in which the customer goes first to his Air Tractor dealer for help with a problem. If the dealer doesn’t know the answer, he’ll find it through a network of factory and outside experts and report back to the customer. “By educating the dealers and making them the first point of contact, we took a burden off of our engineering staff,” he says.

In preparing for his eventual departure from Air Tractor, Williams has trained his staff to keep things running smoothly. “The department is a tight-knit group, and each one has his own area of responsibility. They have a strong work ethic and want to do whatever is necessary to help a customer who is in a bind.”

In February, Jeff Dobbs was promoted into the role of Customer Service Manager at Air Tractor. Until his retirement in December, Williams will serve as Director of Aftermarket Services and will primarily handle customers’ wing A.D. questions and related issues.

So what will Williams do after he retires? Gene says, “I’ll be available for special assignments. But if I really wanted to have anything to do with yellow airplanes, I wouldn’t retire in the first place! Actually, I’m not sure what I want to do. Of course I’ll hunt. But you can’t hunt and fish all the time. I’m going to use my time to figure out how I want to spend my retirement days.”

“Air Tractor and our dealers wanted to do something to help families of pilots lost while doing their part to provide our nation with safe and abundant food crops,” says Kristin Edwards, vice president, sales of Air Tractor, Inc. This is a way families and businesses within the ag aviation community can help each other. Our worldwide dealer organization agreed to work together with us to set aside the profit from sales of Air Tractor label replacement aircraft batteries for this important fund. Batteries are an ordinary item that everyone uses, so we believe battery sales will be a steady, renewable source of income for the SOAR Fund.” The fund already has a $24,000 balance to begin the program in January 2006, reports Edwards.

According to Edwards, the Air Tractor SOAR Fund will provide US $1,000 - $2,000 (depending on number of applicants) per year toward college tuition for qualifying students attending accredited universities and junior colleges. SOAR Fund awards are available to students in the United States as well as those studying outside of the U.S.

“We’ve already had so much positive support during the planning and establishment of the SOAR Fund. Aerial application is an international industry, yet it’s still a very small, tight knit community. Our national conventions are like family reunions. It’s very gratifying to see how our dealers and the community have gotten so involved with this program so quickly,” says Edwards. “It says a lot about respect we have for these fallen pilots, the compassion we all have for their families, and the quality of people in this business.”

Parents and students can download the SOAR Fund requirements and an application here.