Los Angeles, California –LEKTRO, Inc. reached a milestone today delivering their 5,000th aircraft tug to American Airlines at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). To date, LEKTRO has produced more towbarless aircraft tugs than any other manufacturer in the world.
The tug, a model AP8950SDB-AL-250, is the Oregon based company’s largest pushback offering, capable of handling aircraft up to 280,000 pounds such as the Boeing 757. It is an upgraded version of LEKTRO’s popular AP8950SDB-AL-200, which was introduced in 2014 and designed to handle aircraft up to 210,000 pounds like the Airbus A321 and Boeing 737. The new tugs are certified to handle every narrow body aircraft in American Airline’s fleet and every regional aircraft they and their sister regional carriers operate.
“Our AP8950SDB-AL-250 is certified to handle virtually any narrow-body down thru Regional aircraft an airline may fly, it is by far, the most versatile towbarless tug available on the market today,” noted LEKTRO President Eric Paulson.
The new units replace several of American Airlines conventional diesel tractors and will ensure safe and reliable pushback operations while lowering the overall carbon emissions at the airport. Conventional pushback methods use combustion engine tractors which attach to the aircraft via a towbar. LEKTRO aircraft tugs are towbarless, eliminating the cost to procure and maintain towbars as well as eliminate the risk of injury to personnel associated with their use. Additionally, LEKTRO vehicles are completely electric and only use energy when in motion or operating its hydraulic winch or cradle, making them very quiet and energy efficient.
Jim Moses, American Airlines’ Managing Director at LAX said: “We have invested over $8million in ground service equipment at LAX this year, as part of our expansion in Los Angeles and our commitment to improving the overall airport experience for our customers and employees. “
Having invented the first towbarless aircraft tug in 1967, LEKTRO has long been an industry leader. Currently their vehicles are in use in 93 countries across the globe. As a testament to their quality of construction and reliability, their second tug ever manufactured is still in operation (the first unit was recently taken out of service so could be displayed in LEKTRO's Warrenton museum).
