Within the past 20 months, there have been at least three separate instances in which aircraft has experienced multiple-inflight aircraft engine failures and were forced to make emergency landings. This includes two Cessna Citation 550 twinjets flying air ambulance missions. Thankfully, and very luckily, no one was hurt in any of these incidents. In each case, however, the culprit was found to be fuel accidentally contaminated with diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). DEF is a clear, colorless urea and water solution employed in diesel engines to meet federal emissions guidelines.
When sprayed into a diesel engine’s exhaust system, DEF is excellent for transforming noxious emissions into harmless water and nitrogen. Unfortunately, it is often stored with other fluids used by ground crews and carried on aircraft tugs and other ground support equipment (GSE). This can lead to it repeatedly being mistaken for the Fuel System Icing Inhibitor (FSII) and being added to a fuel system.
Thankfully, there is a surefire solution to the risk of dangerous DEF contamination incidents: employ efficient, effective, and environmentally-friendly GSE from AERO Specialties. They offer a selection of GSE that runs so clean, no DEF is even necessary. Here are a couple of pieces of GSE offered by AERO Specialties to consider:
TLD TMX-150 Pushback & Tow Tractor
AERO Specialties has always been known and respected for their aircraft tow tractor, pushback, and tug selection. So it’s no surprise that they have partnered with world-renowned GSE provider TLD to become an authorized distributor of their TMX-150 (and 250) aircraft pushback and tow tractor line. The TMX series is lauded throughout the aviation industry for its terrific handling, impressive power, ergonomic design, and their All-Wheel Drive and All-Wheel Steering capabilities, which allow for confident aircraft towing in any weather condition. Those features are supported by turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engines boasting both Tier and CARB compliance. It’s a lot of power produced so cleanly, the TLD TMX-150 and 250 series are NO-DEF.
AERO JetGo 300 28V DC Diesel-Hybrid Ground Power Unit
In addition to their aircraft tug and tow tractor renown, AERO Specialties has garnered international recognition for the incredible advances they’ve made to aircraft ground power unit (GPU) technology. The standard-bearer for their incredible GPU innovation is the JetGo line. A perfect example is the AERO JetGo 300 28V DC Diesel-Hybrid Ground Power Unit. The JetGo 300’s three-cylinder, water-cooled Kubota engine provides an incredible level of power in a compact, efficient, and portable package. In fact, the user-friendly JetGo 300 provides safe, instant, ripple-free power that’s traditionally only found in a GPU four times its size! That amazing power is produced so efficiently that it’s fully Tier IV compliant, has an ultra-low dBA signature, and reduced CO2 emissions. Meaning, like the TLD TMX-150 and 250 series, the JetGo 300 is NO-DEF.
