Tag: Air Tugs

Drones and Small Aircraft – Can They Co-Exist?

Do Drones Impinge on Airspace for Aircraft?
Do Drones Impinge on Airspace for Aircraft or Can They Co-Exist?

Our battery-powered aircraft caddy lets workers safely maneuver small planes on the ground. Do drones pose a safety risk to small aircraft in flight?

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) seems to believe the answer is yes, and the agency is dragging its feet establishing permanent regulations for drones. Studies show that small aircraft and drones can actually safely share the skies.

Threat of Drone-Aircraft Collisions

With the FAA on high alert about drones in the airspace, they currently receive more than 100 reports per month concerning unmanned aircraft operating near manned aircraft. According to the Academy of Model Aeronautics, few of these incidents involve true risk to passengers.

In 2015, Bard College conducted a study about drones in close encounters with manned aircraft. The analysis of 921 reports showed that drones came within 200 feet of an aircraft in 158 cases, while only 28 pilots took evasive action.

Greater Risk: Drones or Birds?

With approximately 10 billion birds in the U.S., these flyers are far more likely than drones to be found in the air at any time. Using the assumption that drones are similar to birds in size and ability to evade aircraft, a pair of researchers from George Mason University estimated the likelihood of a serious drone-aircraft collision.

– Drones are likely to strike aircraft once per 374,000 hours of drone operation.

– One million two-kilogram drones in flight 24/7 would cause injury to an aircraft passenger once every 187 years.

Why Choose an Aircraft Caddy from DJ Products?

Our ergonomically designed aircraft caddy safely navigates small planes across snow or grass while negotiating the tightest hangar quarters. Use our handy online chat feature and let our friendly sales engineers help you find the right aircraft caddy for your applications.

Small Aircraft Hangars Become Market Investments

Stacks of Ten Thousand Dollars Cash
Can a Hangar Investment Make You Cash?

Could you need an aircraft caddy sometime in the near future? The subleasing of hangar space is on the rise, and increasingly popular, due to the potential to operate space without the building and management headaches.

Space for Rent
So-called ‘condominium’ hangar space and long-term prepaid hangar leases offer a great return-on-investment. Depreciating (for tax purposes) and resalable, they offer sky-high earnings potential, with areas near airports showcasing a strong demand for space, as these companies attest:

Ribeiro Companies
Ribeiro Companies’ Quail Air Center offers hangar space adjacent to Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport. Outfitted offsite, tenants taxi aircraft though security gates to runways. Buy outright, rent or sublease. Alongside available hangar and office space for rent, Quail offers not-for-profit ground-support services. Tenant-only fuel services offer substantial savings: Enough for some frequent-flyers to pay for hangar space. Also in the works: Two-upcoming projects: Henderson Quail Commercial Aviation Center and Henderson Quail Air Center.

Ascend Development
Ascend’s $100-million, prepaid hangar project, 68-miles north of New York City where the cost of living is low, is second to its already operational SanFran Hayward Air Terminal. It will feature luxury accommodations, optional office space, and long-term 40+ year leases. Area airports will provide all fuel and ground services. With scarce land and fewer airports being erected, demand (and value) are expected to rise.

Premier Jet Facility
This McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, California spans 15-acres, including 19-hangars offered on a 30-year, prepaid-lease basis. An FBO, it offers special fuel pricing, sub-leasing opportunities, and the potential to operate your business via office space available at the facility.

Outfitting your hangar? Entice tenants with our terrific tugs. Safely move aircraft, navigate tight spaces, prevent injuries and reduce liability with an aircraft caddy from DJ Products today.

Are Drones Threatening to Intrude on Small Aircraft Space?

Quadrocopter Drone
Quadrocopter Drone

Drone traffic creates new hurdles for small aircraft operators, as we’ve now seen a drone crash into a helicopter over New York City and another collide with a plane in Canada. On the ground, we have tools like an aircraft tug to assist with traffic on the ground, but how should aviators move forward in a sky filled with civilian-operated quadcopters?

Thankfully, the recent drone encounters did not leave anyone harmed. Flying at altitudes higher than allowed in each jurisdiction, the drones damaged the helicopter and plane but did not crash through the windshield or enter a turbine.

Drone Safety Research

It was only a matter of time before a small aircraft collision with a drone. As Scientific American has reported, researchers had already been examining the possible damage and methods of avoiding such accidents. The University of Buffalo’s CRASH Lab, for example, simulates drone crashes to explore the potential damage to various aircraft parts, in every imaginable situation.

Just as airplane crashes are less common than most people think, drone accidents appear to be exceedingly rare. A report by George Mason University compares the situation to the fact that birds rarely collide with aircraft.

New Frontiers in Small Aircraft Safety

As consumer drones become more widespread, the public should become more educated about altitude regulations, air space restrictions, and general safety.

Small aircraft pilots should stay vigilant while flying low and be aware that drone operators may not respect or adhere to the law.

At DJ Products, makers of the Lindbergh aircraft tug, we help pilots and ground crews save time and avoid injuries that occur maneuvering around the hangar and runway. A battery-powered aircraft tug gives you one less thing to worry about in a constantly changing world.

Celebrating 90 Meacham Airport is Ready to Grow

Handshake with map of the world in background
Time To Expand

In the early days of American aviation, Meacham Airport of Fort Worth, Texas opened for operations in 1925. Almost a century later, the airport has recently announced new municipal funding of $17.5 million for terminal renovations and new hangars.

Meacham’s rich history was recently spotlighted by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram:

  • Opened in 1925 to continue aviation in Fort Worth after the U.S. Army ceased its local flight operations.
  • Named for Fort Worth mayor Henry Clay Meacham, who donated money to build living quarters for the airport manager.
  • U.S. mail flew from Fort Worth to Chicago out of Meacham beginning in 1926. Passenger travel began in 1928.
  • World War II planes stopped at Meacham en route to the Pacific from New England.
  • American Airways (now American Airlines) opened regional headquarters in 1933.
  • Since 1953, Meacham has served corporate and private aviation.

The history and future growth of Meacham Airport show how dynamic small and regional airports have become. With increasing interest in private jets and flight schools, Meacham stands to expand and thrive.

All this growth has been made possible largely by new technology. We at DJ Products serve the small and private plane industry with aircraft tugs that help maneuver planes around tight hangars and across airport grounds. Instead of the old style of aircraft tugs built on lawn mower engines, we have innovated with powerful and reliable machinery adapted from the industrial material handling sector.

Aircraft tugs from DJ Products are available for weight classes of 4k, 8k, 15k, and 35k pounds as well as helicopters. For more information about aircraft towing and tuggers, visit DJProducts.com.

Summer Small Aircraft Reminder Guide

Close up of a private aircraft flying through stormy weather
Lindy Aircraft Tugs help you get in the sky fast.

Hot weather brings special considerations for flying. Your small aircraft has to contend with hot temperatures on the ground and chilly temperatures at altitude. Be prepared with proper summer maintenance and smart planning for each trip.

Tips for Summer Flying

Summer weather brings opportunities for vacations and plenty of great weather, but hot weather has its pitfalls. Some important reminders for summer flying:

  • When flying from a colder area in the north to a warmer location, make sure you have removed any winterization kits.
  • Just in case an unexpected stop becomes necessary, the Business Aircraft Jet Center reminds pilots and passengers to pack and prepare for varying weather and conditions. Summer flights often cover ground with mild weather and extremely hot and humid conditions.
  • Long summer days create more daylight flying hours, so pilots should be extra careful to stay rested and hydrated.
  • Engines, batteries, and various parts can overheat. Make use of small aircraft tuggers and take planes out for inspection and maintenance throughout the summer.
  • Hot and humid weather can affect visibility and flight conditions. A route that you have previously frozen in the winter may feel very differently in the summer.

Be sure to keep your aircraft safe and maintained throughout the summer to avoid damage from the hot weather. Small aircraft tuggers help you efficiently examine planes, even in tight hangars. Better to spot problems early to avoid surprises when it’s time to fly.

Lindbergh’s AircraftCaddy provides smooth towing for planes up to 35,000 pounds, and we have smaller models for ultralight aircraft. Contact us for more info about small aircraft tuggers to simplify your aviation.