Snorkel Supplies Boom Lift to Australian Military

June 30, 2010
Aerial lift manufacturer Snorkel has delivered a new boom lift to Australia’s first military super-base.

Amberley Air Force Base is now the proud owner of a Snorkel SP18 self-propelled telescopic boom lift. The 18m lift was purchased by Qantas Defence Service Ground Support. The company will use the Snorkel lift for work on an A330 Airbus plane, which the base is converting into a mid-air refuelling unit.

Graham Williams from Qantas Defence Service Ground Support said: “We need a machine that is built to last, which is easy to use and easy to maintain. The Snorkel meets all these criteria - plus the Snorkel guys are close at hand, if we need any additional advice or support.”

Specially designed for the Australian market, the Snorkel SP18 provides a platform height of up to 18.3m (60ft), with an articulating jib for additional flexibility in the air. Engineered for rough terrain applications, the machine has an oscillating axle and 440mm of ground clearance. The SP18 can be driven at full height - and can deal with gradients of up to 40%. The three-section boom utilises a combination of steel and aluminium, to ensure it is lightweight, yet robust and durable.

Brian Peters, Director of Sales for Snorkel Australia, said: “We are extremely proud that a Snorkel lift is helping people at Australia’s premier air base to work at height safely and productively. “Snorkel has a long history of supplying aerial lifts into the military in Australia and we are delighted to see it continue.” Situated approximately 60km outside of Brisbane, Queensland, Amberley Air Base is known as Australia’s first “Super Base”, as it is a combined facility for the Army and Air Force.

Amberley employs 3,500 people and is best known for being the home of the now-defunct F111 Strike Aircraft. The runway can handle any kind of aircraft and is the preferred place to land the Challenger Space Shuttle in the Southern Hemisphere. Amberley is the main deployment base for troops heading to Afghanistan and is also the home of: No 1 Squadron, F18A Hornets fighter aircraft: No 33 Squadron, multi –role tanker transport; No 36 Squadron, C17 Globe Master Heavy Duty Transport Aircraft

Snorkel is a leading global manufacturer of mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs). Snorkel’s comprehensive range of MEWPs delivers safe and efficient working at height, from 2 metres to 40 metres. Snorkel provides the right machine for almost any application, from interior building maintenance through to the toughest construction job sites. Visit www.snorkellifts.com