AircraftOwner Online

It’s not only major companies like Air Canada and Air France (who both reported losses last quarter), that are suffering, pretty much every company in the aviation industry is feeling the pinch. Airlines are having to up the costs of many amenities like: checked bags, in-flight drinks and blankets to try and make up for the lack of people taking to the air.

Smaller operations are also experiencing difficulties because of a lack of funding for the necessary personnel to perform the jobs that are crucial to flight preparation. Without the proper equipment to align the planes on the runway for take off or to store planes in the hanger upon arrival, the job becomes both exceedingly difficult and quite a bit more expensive to perform.

Outdated machines are cumbersome much more difficult to operate and use up gallon after gallon of costly fuel during operation. Running aircraft tugs that aren’t easy to operate or economical has a very large effect on a company’s budget and can quickly turn a profitable part of your business into a financial liability.

Aircraft tugs from Lindbergh are energy efficient, easy to use and run quietly enough for the operator to remain mindful of his or her surroundings while using them. Lindbergh tugs are also ergonomically correct, making them some of the safest tugs for your employees to use.

One of the best ways to bring down costs in the aviation industry is to useequipment that is efficient, reliable and safe for anyone on your staff to use. You’ll know longer waste man hours by having several members of your staff occupied by the work that could be handled by one with the proper tool for the job. Lindbergh tugs can handle aircraft up to 35,000 lbs quickly and easily at a cost of much less to operate than older gas powered tugs.

There are plenty of issues we face everyday in the airline industry, this weekend gave of a perfect example of constraints put on our jobs that are completely out of our control. The East Coast (particularly the Mid-Atlantic region) was pounded with an outrageous storm that dropped anywhere from six up to more than twenty four inches of snow in certain locations. Areas around Washington DC, Philadelphia and the entire State of Delaware where punished particularly hard, making conditions completely impossible to fly in – thousands and thousands of flights in the Mid-Atlantic region were cancelled, leaving travelers stranded and unable to get to their intended destinations.

Mother Nature is responsible for many of the things that make this line of work particularly difficult; snow, rain, ice and clouds can make both the actual flying and all of the prep work to get the planes up into the air dangerous or impossible tasks. This is, unfortunately something that is out of our control, but it doesn’t mean that every facet of our jobs has to be difficult.

Using the proper equipment to get your planes in position on the runway or properly placed in tight hangers once the flight is done makes that part of the job much easier. Using ergonomically correct and reliable airplane tugs reduces both the stress on the body and the mind and makes your crew much happier and more efficient. Once runways have been cleaned and the skies have been cleared for flight you want to ensure that the rest of the process, that part that you and your crew control goes as smoothly and easily as possible and the best possible way to do so is to use the best equipment for the job. We at Lindbergh offer the most versatile, reliable and easy to use equipment for moving aircraft of up to 35,000 lbs. You may not be able to control Mother Nature, but if you’ve got a tug from Lindbergh you’ll have no trouble controlling your plane when it’s time to fly.

As a bush pilot servicing hunters, fishermen and explorers in wildernesses, ranging from Alaska to the Amazon you have a pretty tough job. Not only do you have to deal with flying in adverse weather conditions, you need to land on really rough terrains, from icy plateaus to swampy lagoons and everything else in between. Also, you need to be an expert mechanics as you often will need to repair your aircraft far from a service center.

Additionally, you need to learn first-aid and wilderness survival for emergency situations.  Of course, living the life of a pilot is not without its reward. Being close to nature and taking in some of the most beautiful views is something most folks only dream about.  But it’s totally understandable that you want to find ways to make things easier and better. Why work hard when you can “work smart”!

When you are back home and your aircraft needs servicing or transporting, theLindbergh Aircraft Company provides great solutions for moving your plane in and out of the hangar. Even if your FBO is unpaved, LINDY’S AIRCRAFTCADDY 4K will make moving your plane on gravel, ice or snow as easy as gliding thru clear blue skies.  This battery-powered tug can pull or push aircrafts weighing up to 4,000 lbs and works quietly without all the noise of a typical combustion-engine airplane mover.

You can connect Lindy’s airplane tug to your aircraft effortlessly as you slide the easy-on roller cradle under the nose wheel. You can then easily maneuver your plane with the ability to make 180 degree turns without adjusting the aircraft wheels or steering mechanism. Acceleration and braking is all perfectly controlled, allowing for smooth handling. Unloading the aircraft after you move it is just as easy as you release the locking lever on the handle of the tug.

Take off today knowing that with Lindy’s Aircraft Caddy your job just got easier!

Although they may be happy to have a job in the midst of a recession, American workers are increasingly unhappy with their jobs. A survey by the Conference Board research group found job satisfaction is at its lowest in 22 years. Only 45% of U.S. workers said they were satisfied with their jobs. This is not recession fallout; U.S. worker satisfaction has been decreasing steadily for the past two decades.

“It says something troubling about work in America,” admitted Linda Barrington, a Conference Board managing director. “It is not about the business cycle or one grumpy generation.”

Analysts are concerned that worker dissatisfaction is negatively impacting productivity and innovation, hindering America’s ability to compete (see our January 25 post). With the struggling airline industry unable to offer the salary increases, improved benefits or promotions traditionally used to reward workers, airlines and FBOs must pursue alternate motivational strategies.

Worker job satisfaction improves, experts say, when employers demonstrate that they care about and respect their employees.

• Keep your employees in the loop. Keeping workers informed reduces workplace anxiety, allowing greater job focus.
• Show employees you care. Utilizing ergonomically-designed aircraft tugs demonstrates concern for your employees’ health and safety while making their jobs less strenuous. Ergonomic aircraft tow equipment takes the pain and strain out of maneuvering aircraft around hangers, FBOs and airfields. Using ergonomic aircraft tugs to create a healthier, safer work environment improves worker morale and productivity.
• Share the load. Lindy’s aircraft tugs are so easy to use FBOs can implement customer self-service programs to decrease the strain on overworked staff. Because the ergonomic design of Lindy’s aircraft tugsallows workers of any shape and size to maneuver airplanes with ease, management and other staff can easily lend a hand. Nothing shows workers you care more than rolling up your sleeves and working in the trenches with them!

“Will they work with my wheel pants?” That’s one of the most asked questions we get when talking to customers about innovative Lindy’s aircraft tugs. And the answer is, YES. All three Lindy’s airplane tug models will work on planes both with and without wheel pants. All of our aircraft tugs also work equally well on planes with tricycle or tail-dragger design. Lindy’s aircraft tugs are the most versatile airplane tug on the market.

In designing Lindy’s aircraft tugs, our goal was to create a versatile airplane tug capable of handling any plane in each tug’s weight class. We recognized the need for a useful product that could adapt instantly to the wide variety of airplane configurations on the market. We strove to design and manufacture a superioraircraft tug that by virtue of its versatility would eliminate the need for multiple types of tug equipment. By creating a one-tug-does-it-all product, we help FBOs, ground service facilities, small air fields and corporate and private plane owners save money on equipment investment, maintenance and operation.

While the considerable cost savings Lindy’s aircraft tugs provide draws customers, it’s the less obvious benefits of our innovative airplane tug design that keeps them coming back. A subsidiary of DJ Products, a world leader in the design and manufacture of ergonomically designed industrial and commercial carts and tugs,Lindbergh Aircraft Tug Co. was able to capitalize on the long history and experience of our parent company in creating ergonomic aircraft tug products. 

We applied the same principles of ergonomic design that have made DJ Products a material handling world leader to the design of Lindy’s aircraft tugs. The result is an aircraft tug product line that protects worker health and safety, can be used with equal ease by workers of any physical size and strength, offers superior maneuverability and compact storage. Visit our website to find our more about innovative Lindy’s aircraft tugs.

In America we tend to think that bigger is better. It’s a national philosophy that has worked for us for decades. Bigger cars, bigger houses, bigger banks, supersized fast food — we’ve built our society around the concept that anything worth doing is worth doing BIG!

Well look where that’s gotten us. Fuel-conscious consumers are buying smaller cars. Homeowners are dumping big, high-mortgage homes and looking for smaller, more reasonably priced homes. With obesity becoming the country’s No. 1 health issue, Americans are finally saying no to big portion sizes. And bigger banks? They’re on everyone’s hit list these days. Taking charge of the public lynch mob, President Obama yesterday proposed huge taxes on big banks telling them, “We want our money back!” Bigger is no longer better.

Detroit has caught on to the new American appreciation for small, practical, fuel efficient and affordable. Compacts stole the spotlight at this week’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Detroit’s new motto seems to be “Small Is Better.” It’s a philosophy that seems to be gaining ground as it spreads through American society. Airports, corporate air operations, commercial airlines and FBOs are certainly taking notice.

Behemoth gas-powered aircraft tugs that gulp down fuel, spew out air-fouling exhaust, jack up maintenance bills, require huge amounts of room to maneuver, and take up outsized amounts of space for storage are becoming the dinosaurs of the aviation industry. Smart, energy-conscious ground operations managers are turning to versatile, compact, fuel-efficient, low-maintenance Lindy aircraft tugs and tow tractors to maneuver aircraft safely and efficiently in less space with less hassle.

For more information on how Lindy’s ergonomically-designed aircraft tugs can benefit your ground operation, contact us today.

The future is now and you can see it in Lindy’s aircraft tugs. To remain competitive going into the future, experts predict that the aviation industry and its attendant ground support operations will have to work harder, smarter and leaner. Marketed for FBO, corporate or individual ground operations, Lindy’s versatile aircraft tugs and tow tractors are designed to be the only aircraft tug you’ll ever need.

The ergonomic design of Lindy’s powered aircraft tugs allows a single operator to easily and safely maneuver airplanes up to 4K, 15K, even 35K. Ergonomics is the science of engineering equipment to fit the physical attributes and abilities of the worker. Ergonomics reduces worker discomfort and fatigue and prevents repetitive strain injuries that can lead to long-term disability. Lindy’s ergonomically-designed, battery-operated aircraft tugs allow workers of any size, age or sex to easily maneuver aircraft in and out of crowded hangers and around service areas. Because Lindy’s versatile aircraft tugs are safe and easy enough to be operated by any worker, FBO and ground service/support managers can exercise maximum flexibility in assigning staff. More effective staff utilization helps managers cut costs.

Lindy’s aircraft tugs feature an easy-on cradle that accommodates both tricycle drive and tail dragger aircraft with ease. A lever handle and cable system designed into our airport tows locks and releases the easy-on cradle for safe loading and unloading of the aircraft. When loaded, the cradle functions as a 5th wheel, allowing tugs to pivot a full 180 degrees underneath the wheel of the aircraft without engaging the plane’s wheel or steering mechanism. All of Lindy’s aircraft tow tractors are capable of handling airplanes with and without wheel pants. Versatile design makes Lindy’s aircraft tugs the only tug you’ll need to handle any airplane in your fleet.

For more information about Lindy’s aircraft tugs, visit our website.

Versatile Lindy’s Aircraft Tugs maneuver tail dragger aircraft with the same precision and ease that they move tricycle landing gear aircraft. With Lindy’saircraft tugs and aircraft tractors, maneuvering tail dragger aircraft in and out of crowded hangers or around busy FBO facilities is a one-person job. The same aircraft tug can be used to manipulate aircraft with different landing gear configurations, minimizing the amount of equipment you need to run an efficient operation.

Instead of sliding Lindy’s aircraft tug’s easy-on roller cradle under the forward nose wheel as you would for a tricycle landing gear plane, with tail dragger aircraft the aircraft tug cradle slides under the tail wheel. Click here to watch a video of our aircraft tug being used to move a tail dragger airplane out of a hanger. As you can see in the video, Lindy’s unique aircraft tug cradle allows fifth-wheel turning capability. This permits our aircraft tug to pivot a full 180 degrees under the aircraft wheel without turning the wheel or steering mechanism of the aircraft. The lever handle and cable system designed into our aircraft tug allow the operator to safely lock, hold and release the aircraft safely during loading and unloading into the cradle and while transporting the aircraft, guaranteeing the safety of valuable aircraft.

Lindy’s ergonomically designed aircraft tugs are uniquely designed to be the only aircraft tugs you’ll ever need. The universal choice for FBOs, small air fields, pilot-owners and corporate fleets, Lindy’s aircraft tugs and tractors are designed for use with both tail dragger aircraft and tricycle land gear airplanes. Our 4K Aircraft Tractor is capable of moving aircraft both with and without pants without making any modifications to the aircraft tug. Visit our website to find out more about Lindy’s universal use aircraft tugs.

I’m too young to remember 10 cent Cokes, but I can remember when the guy at the filling station used to pump your gas and clean your windshield, no extra charge. Today, it’s self-service pumps and debit card swipes. I remember when stock boys bagged your groceries and carried them to the car for you. Now, you not only carry your own bags, you scan and bag the groceries yourself. I even remember when dinner out meant linen table cloths and table service. Well, you can still get that today, but it’ll cost you! You’re more likely to order at the window and eat in the car. Not that I’m complaining. Self-service is fast, efficient and cuts the cost of doing business.

For FOB operators, a certain amount of self-service is essential. Particularly now with the recession forcing operators to cut staff to keep things running, you have to rely on your customers to do more for themselves. The problem comes when over-confident customers try to do a little too much instead of calling for help. Like the harried, overweight businessman who flies in and tries to cart his plane out of the way. He’s a pulled back or heart attack waiting to happen. Smart FOB operators solve the problem by keeping a couple of Lindy’s AircraftCaddys on hand.

Lindy’s aircraft tugs come in three sizes. Click the links to watch them in action:

• Lindy’s aircraft tow tractor handles planes up to 4K.
• Lindy’s aircraft tug can maneuver airplanes up to 15K.
• Lindy’s aircraft tow hauls aircraft up to 35K with or without wheel pants.

Ergonomically designed for safe use by anyone — big or small, male or female, in shape or out — Lindy’s aircraft tows maneuver airplanes through crowded hangers and busy air fields with ease — and without muscle strain.

Hope is on the horizon. The airline industry is starting to climb out of the recession, but it could be years before business travel returns to its pre-recession level, if it ever does. Pre-recession, business travel was the most important growth segment for passenger airlines. Unfortunately, the recession forced frequent corporate travelers to adopt less expensive telecommunication strategies. While a mild increase in business travel is anticipated as the recession eases, few analysts expect a return to "the glory days."

The decline of business travel is just one of many pressures forcing change in the airline industry. FBO managers report a decline in customer loyalty directly related to the recession. Cash-strapped aircraft operators shop around for FBOs willing to offer a better price. As reported in our October 19 post, some airlines are taking their maintenance and repair business to foreign FBOs to take advantage of cheap labor.

To survive FBOs will need to provide more services at a better value - do more with less. It's the same problem most U.S. businesses are struggling with these days. Lindy's versatile, ergonomically-designed aircraft tugs allow FBOs to maximize their use of employees while minimizing the number of employees needed to keep operations running smoothly.

Some interesting and creative solutions to improving airline industry revenues are popping up. In Columbus, Ohio, Port Columbus officials recently entered into a five-year pact with 10 airlines guaranteeing them a share of airport revenues in exchange for maintaining and improving services for Columbus travelers and shippers. The Columbus Regional Airport Authority agreed to hold down costs on rent, landing fees and other airline charges. Cooperative partnerships like this could be the wave of the future.