aircraft tugs Archives

Richard Branson Shakes Up the Industry by Creating a Small Private Airport for Commercial Passenger Use

Is your business undergoing a bit of a shake-up? Does it need one? A recent article about a businessman named Richard Branson highlights how to cause a reverberating stir. He is shaking things up in a big way by creating his own Private Small Airport for commercial use.

It’s a revolutionary concept in the states but has been gaining popularity in other countries. Taking on the high demands associated with flight transportation can be a high-pressure job. Like Richard Branson, if you’re involved in the aircraft transportation sector you can revolutionize the industry with new concepts, technology, and with a little help from quality machinery.

Facilitating Flight

The aircraft industry relies on organization, efficiency and quality customer service. High-quality aircraft machinery that supports all three characteristics are usually wise investments that benefit employees and customers, and also enhance safety procedures and time management.

An aircraft moving caddy allows private airports a method to lower labor cost and raise service quality, helping them to remain competitive in this often tumultuous industry. If private airport facilities take off, the need for compact, reliable products will increase. But whether you own or work with small aircraft, an aircraft moving caddy is one step closer to ensuring the best experience for all those involved.

Let DJ Products Bring New Opportunity

If you’re seeking a way to compete with smaller or larger transportation businesses, battery-operated aircraft moving caddy products ensure tasks big and small are completed safely and with precision. Let your employees know you understand their needs while creating an environment that welcomes new ideas, new opportunity, and positive change. In logistics and in the air, timing and efficiency matters! Today is always the right time to trust the aircraft line of DJ Products!

Are Drones Threatening to Intrude on Small Aircraft Space?

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.

DoD Service Contract Program Change is on a Slow Track

Government Procurement Drives Demand for Industrial Handling Solutions

In January 2016, the Department of Defense instituted a policy aimed at streamlining their services contracting with better oversight and control. While the new policy is expected to make the process more cohesive, it may take another dozen years before coming to full fruition.

“A 15-Year Effort”

More than half of the Department’s procurement budget is allocated to services, with the remainder for purchases such as contract equipment. According to Ken Brennan, deputy director of services acquisition, the goal is for contracts to become part of “the general culture and policy” rather than standalones.

In Brennan’s view, the new policy is “a 15-year effort” that is already about three years along. Brennan adds that is making significant progress, and he anticipates potential for guidance soon in the areas of small businesses and administrative services.

Functional Domain Experts

One major change involves the creation of functional domain experts, or FDEs, to lead each of the individual service sectors. Claire Grady, director of defense procurement and acquisition strategy, explains that this lets people with particular expertise create strategies to improve planning and execution while reducing costs.

FDEs will also implement metrics to monitor contract performance, determine best practices and recommend policies. Grady says will be paying close attention to the metrics established by these new domain leaders.

Military and Material Handling Solutions

DJ Products offers quality options for contract equipment. Our battery-powered tugs and movers handle applications like maneuvering aircraft in and out of hangars and pulling heavy engines and parts. Visit our website to have your questions answered online by one of our knowledgeable sales engineers.

Understanding the Big Dollars Involved: How the Military Uses Its Budget

When people talk about military spending, the conversation often revolves around an expensive new fighter jet or futuristic technology. Often, those investments total billions of dollars at a time. But how does the sizable U.S. military budget really break down?

Business Insider has demystified military spending with a series of simple infographics about the 2015 budget. It’s an interesting read and you may be surprised at how money gets spread across each branch of service, and among different purposes.

Notable highlights of the budget analysis include:

The base budget comprises 80% of spending. This includes equipment and operations. Overseas contingencies and growth initiatives make up much of the rest.

Out of the $496 base budget, about half pays for personnel and operations. About 13% goes toward R&D.

The Navy takes the lion’s share of the budget, followed by the Air Force. These branches also spend the largest amounts on big-ticket investments such as the $8.3 billion F-35 fighter jet and the $6.3 billion SSN 774 Virginia submarine.

On one hand, it’s true that the military spends the vast majority of its money on day-to-day operations. On the other hand, a single fighter plane cost almost 2% of the annual budget.

Military spending receives special scrutiny, and everyone can appreciate smart steps to improve the efficiency of operations.

DJ Products offers GSA-approved industrial tugs for DOD use. From aircraft tugs to equipment cart movers and beyond, our industrial tugs make it easy for military staff to maneuver and relocate equipment and vehicles with speed and efficiency.

Electric Aircraft – the Newest Trend in Aviation

What’s new for aircraft power sources?

Ground vehicles are not the only form of transportation making strides in eco-friendly technology. Before long, your aircraft tugs may be pulling electric planes and helicopters in and out of hangars.

What’s New in Alternative Power Sources for Aircraft?

Rapidly developing technology is advancing a number of potential green alternatives to traditional fuel-dependent aircraft. Options in development include super capacitors that may be able to partially or completely replace batteries, along with range extenders such as fuel cells and multiple energy harvesting.

Electric power is finding its way into all levels of aircraft, ranging from gliders and sailplanes up to helicopters and airliners. Hybrid vehicles feature electric nose wheel drives that turn aircraft into electric-powered vehicles on the ground.

Benefits of Electric Aircraft

• Electric aircraft are quieter, enabling near-silent take-off and landing of feeder aircraft.

• Electricity burns cleaner, reducing air and ground pollution.

• Dependence on foreign oil sources is greatly reduced.

• Aircraft contribute less to global warming.

• Aircraft safety is greatly improved. For example, electric backup could allow a helicopter to complete a controlled landing in the event of a system failure.

• Leisure aircraft can be completely powered by solar cells in hangars.

• The aircraft industry has expanded and modernized, creating additional applications for new electrical components and systems.

Electric-Powered Aircraft Tugs: Another Eco-Friendly Solution

Battery powered electric aircraft tugs from DJ Products are powerful enough to handle vehicles up to 35,000 pounds, but they are easy enough for one person to maneuver. Visit our website and use our convenient online chat feature to get assistance from one of our helpful sales engineers.

How Ergonomics Directs Force

AircraftCaddy 4K-8K Aircraft Tow

Muscling an airplane out of a hangar and onto the runway takes a fair amount of physical effort. Exert just a little too much force while your body twists during maneuvering and you could be spending weeks at the chiropractor. Ergonomic design directs force with maximum efficiency. When applied to aircraft tugs like Lindy’s motorized AircraftCaddys, ergonomic design allows airplane owners and FBO ground crews to move aircraft with minimum physical effort, significantly decreasing the risk of muscle strain and injury.

Think about the forces at work when you push and pull an aircraft out of the hangar and onto the runway. Four forces come into play:

Starting force. The greatest effort is required to initiate movement. Considerable effort must be exerted to overcome resistance created by inertia, friction and gravity. Greater force is always necessary to start or stop a wheel turning than to keep that wheel in motion.
Sustained force. Also called rolling force, sustained force is the effort required to keep a moving object in motion. Once a towed aircraft is moving at a constant rate of speed, inertial resistance falls nearly to zero. Some effort may be required for maneuvering — slowing down, speeding up or turning — but little effort is required to keep the plane moving.
Turning force. When an aircraft is turned, two forces create difficulty. Inertia must be overcome to accelerate in a new direction, and friction between the ground and wheel must be overcome. Because momentum will want to keep the plane traveling in its original trajectory, significant force must be applied to change direction. Turning often results in asymmetric and uncomfortable body postures, over extension and overexertion that can result in injury.
Stopping force. As with starting, the same forces must be counteracted to bring a rolling object to a full stop.

Lindy’s motorized AircraftCaddys use ergonomic design to mitigate force and reduce injury risk.

Browse our selection of quality, American made aircraft tugs.

Airtugs From Lindbergh Air Tugs by DJ Products

AircraftCaddy 4K Small Aircraft Tug

While small aircraft and helicopters don’t reach the size of commercial jets, they still present a major challenge for ground crews. Moving these bulky, heavy vehicles through the tight confines of hangars is awkward and time-consuming. With an assist from a Lindbergh air tug, this job becomes easy enough for one person to handle.

Our eco-friendly tugs are battery-powered so they run quietly, eliminating the distraction of loud engines. The walk-behind design means they can be handled by one person for more efficient use of manpower. Variable speed twist-grip handlebars are ergonomically designed to reduce the chance of repetitive use injuries. They can be operated with either hand and allow for smoother acceleration and braking.

Lindbergh tugs are sturdy enough to operate on gravel, dirt, grass and inclines as well as inclement weather conditions such as snow and ice. All larger models are equipped with a lazy susan-style cradle that allows a full 180-degree range of movement without turning the aircraft’s steering mechanism.

We offer a full line of tugs with models that can accommodate aircraft up to 35,000 pounds. In addition to the generous standard features, you can select from a variety of custom options to suit your particular application. Our exceptional customer service team will provide assistance through all stages of your purchase, including follow-up afterwards.

Whatever your needs, DJ Products has a tug to meet them. Our friendly, knowledgeable Sales Engineers are ready to help you find your perfect solution. Please contact us at 800.686.2651 or take advantage of our convenient online chat feature.

New Line of Aircraft Tugs Introduced

Expanding territory, reducing vendor costs, eliminating underperforming products, layoffs and salary reductions were the cost-cutting measures most cited by Manufacturing & Technology eJournal readers in a recent online poll (see our August 3, 2009 post). Surprisingly, innovation didn’t make the list. At DJ Products we’ve had marked success in finding new applications for our ergonomically-designed material handling products and redesigning existing products to meet the specific needs of new applications. A case in point is the new line of Lindy’s Aircraft Tugs and Tractors manufactured by DJ Products’ subsidiary Lindbergh Aircraft Tug Co.

As the world leader in the manufacture of battery-powered, walk-behind carts and tow tugs, we saw an opportunity to apply current technology to a new problem. Working with Fortune 500 companies including Exxon Mobil, GM, GE, Ford, Cardinal Health, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, P&G, Boeing, Pfizer and Caterpillar, our engineers have successfully adapted our CartCaddy products to numerous unique applications to meet our customers’ specific requirements. Drawing on years of experience developing and manufacturing thousands of powered carts, equipment and tow tugs, our engineers applied their expertise to the problem of safely towing aircraft through crowded hangers, busy airports or FBOs. Our ergonomically-designed CartCaddy tugs proved perfectly adaptable to this new application and the Lindbergh Aircraft Tug Co. was born.

Named for famed aviator Charles Lindbergh, who made the first non-stop solo flight from New York to Paris, Lindbergh Aircraft Tug Co. is located in Little Falls, Minnesota, “Lucky Lindy’s” childhood home, where three AircraftCaddys are manufactured:

Lindy’s Aircraft Tow Tractors for airplanes up to 4,000 pounds.
Lindy’s Aircraft Tugs for plans up to 15,000 pounds.
Lindy’s Aircraft Tow for aircraft up to 35,000 pounds, with or without wheel pants.

To learn more, we invite you to visit the new Lindbergh Aircraft Tug Co. website.

Moving a Plane Can Be a Solo Mission with an Aircraft Tug

Do you fly planes as a hobby or does your workplace make use of small aircraft on a regular basis? Before you can begin to fly high, you often need to transport your aircraft to the right place on the ground, but you are not likely to fly the plane to where it needs to be. This is where an aircraft tug or helicopter tug from DJ products can be very useful. We specialize in battery powered tug and tugger solutions that eliminate the strain of manually pulling and pushing heavy equipment, including aircraft.

Now, you may be thinking, that’s great, but how can one person push or pull an aircraft? Well, with an ergonomic material handling solution from DJ Products, you can. Our aircraft tug can easily push or pull an airplane that weighs up to 35,000 pounds, while our helicopter tug can push, pull, or tow a helicopter that weighs up to 15,000 pounds. Watch this video to see how one person can use the DJ Products AirCraftCaddy to push and pull an aircraft without assistance from another person.

Like all of our material handling solutions, our aircraft tugs are designed with maneuverability, ergonomics, affordability, and productivity in mind. You can move an airplane through a hangar and even past other aircraft without worrying about losing control of the plane. You also need not be concerned that you will put strain and stress on your muscles. Our aircraft tugs are available at affordable prices as well, so you don’t have to worry about the strain on your budget.

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