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Air Tractor Eyes Asia, Middle East, Latin America

: Apr 5, 2018 - : 8:53 pm

Air Tractor, which has sold 28 of its AT-802U surveillance and light-attack military aircraft, is hoping to sell the aircraft to new customers in Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Africa.

The AT-802U, which is an armoured version of the AT-802 agricultural and fire fighting aircraft, is ideal for countries that have historically not been able to afford hi-tech U.S. fighters like the F-16, Tom Menker, Air Tractor business development representative, said at the ongoing FIDAE.

“We have sold the aircraft to the UAE for their light strike fleet and also to an U.S. ally in the region,” said Menker. “Most of our aircraft have been sold to international customers.”

“Our aircraft is unique in terms of its payload, endurance and the ability to have a variety of sensors. We have an advantage over our competition not just in initial acquisition costs but also in cost per flight hour. We are very affordable in terms of cost of long-term sustainment as well.”

Air Tractor began as an agricultural spray plane. In 1995, the AT-802F was developed for firefighting missions. The aircraft was used in the cocaine eradication program in Colombia in 200, following which the military version was developed in 2009.

“All the three versions of the aircraft are very easy to maintain,” said Menker. “We have sold about 3,500 planes, including 750 of the AT-802 series. A lot of the countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America have firefighting needs; we believe we have the right aircraft for such needs.”

The aircraft can be flown and operated in dirt strips or grass strips. “It does not require a pristine runaway; all it needs is a country road,” said Menker.

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