Southwest Airlines to Donate $30,000 Aircraft Tow Tractor to Embry-Riddle

    Nov. 18, 2019
    Representatives from Southwest Airlines’ ground-support division at the Orlando International Airport will present the TUG, which will be used to park and resituate visiting and university aircraft.
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    An aircraft/cargo tow tractor capable of pulling 40,000 pounds will be donated by Southwest Airlines to the Aviation Maintenance Science (AMS) Department at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Daytona Beach Campus at 11 a.m. Nov. 19.

    Outfitted with a fresh custom paintjob, new brakes, an overhauled engine and the latest safety features, the tractor, an MA-50 TUG, will support Embry-Riddle’s state-of-the-art Emil Buehler Aviation Maintenance Science Building and will offer students hands-on experience operating a piece of equipment previously unavailable on campus.

    “Thanks to Southwest’s generous gift, students will graduate from this program and enter the workforce more prepared than ever,” said R. Eric Jones, associate professor and chair of the AMS Department. “There’s no better way to learn than by training on the actual equipment used in the field.”