Legal Brief
Econics cleared for take-off at Farnborough
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The UK’s first airfield has underlined its reputation as a centre for technological innovation by introducing a pair of highly sophisticated Mercedes-Benz fuel tankers.
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Based on Econic municipal chassis, they are now in service at TAG London Farnborough Airport, the scene, in 1908, of Britain’s first powered flight.
The trucks started life as 18-tonne Econic 1824LL rigids but were converted to 4x2 tractor unit configuration at the manufacturer’s specialist production facility in Molsheim. Here, as well as being fitted with Jost fifth wheels, they were extensively modified to meet strict ADR safety requirements governing the transport of hazardous goods.
On reaching the UK the chassis were sent to aviation fuelling specialist Flightline Support, of Witney, near Oxford, which installed the hydraulics required to pump fuel using the truck PTOs, the interlock systems that prevent the vehicles from being moved while refuelling is in progress, and the limiters that restrict the Econics’ speed to 20mph; Flightline also painted the trucks in TAG’s corporate Moondust Silver.
The Econic rides on full air suspension and is rapidly establishing itself as the vehicle of choice for airport operators. Its panoramic low-entry cab is air-conditioned and equipped with the latest Allison automatic gearbox, allowing the driver to focus fully on what is going on around them while manoeuvring on the potentially hazardous airfield apron.
The new trucks were supplied by Rossetts Commercials, the reigning Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicle Dealer of the Year, to ExxonMobil Aviation, which is based in Leatherhead, Surrey, and contracted to supply bulk jet fuel to Farnborough Airport. However, the trucks and their 36,000-litre Flightline Support tank trailers are operated on a day-to-day basis by its customer, TAG Aviation, which manages the airport.
Mike Kay, UK Automotive Manager for ExxonMobil Aviation, says: “TAG stipulated when we won this contract a couple of years ago that we should use Mercedes vehicles, so we initially drafted in a couple of second-hand Actros tractors while we developed the Econics in partnership with Mercedes-Benz.
“They are perfectly tailored to the role. TAG’s operatives are in and out of these trucks all day so the low-entry cab is a big plus. Visibility is excellent too, and the fact that he doesn’t have to worry about what gear he’s in means the driver can concentrate fully on steering.”
These sentiments are echoed by Roger Walker, Director, Airport Operations, at TAG London Farnborough Airport. “We are extremely pleased with our two new Econic units,” he says. “Excellent all-round visibility was a prime requirement when we started talking to Exxon about the new design, while the low-entry cabs are proving to be more user-friendly for our fuelling team, who can do over 100 refuels of aircraft per day.
“The appearance and design of the trucks also fits very well with the award-winning buildings here at Farnborough Airport,” he adds.
Farnborough has long been a centre of military and civil aviation research; since 1949 it has also been home to the bi-annual Farnborough International Airshow, which attracted nearly a quarter of a million visitors in 2006.
The trucks started life as 18-tonne Econic 1824LL rigids but were converted to 4x2 tractor unit configuration at the manufacturer’s specialist production facility in Molsheim. Here, as well as being fitted with Jost fifth wheels, they were extensively modified to meet strict ADR safety requirements governing the transport of hazardous goods.
On reaching the UK the chassis were sent to aviation fuelling specialist Flightline Support, of Witney, near Oxford, which installed the hydraulics required to pump fuel using the truck PTOs, the interlock systems that prevent the vehicles from being moved while refuelling is in progress, and the limiters that restrict the Econics’ speed to 20mph; Flightline also painted the trucks in TAG’s corporate Moondust Silver.
The Econic rides on full air suspension and is rapidly establishing itself as the vehicle of choice for airport operators. Its panoramic low-entry cab is air-conditioned and equipped with the latest Allison automatic gearbox, allowing the driver to focus fully on what is going on around them while manoeuvring on the potentially hazardous airfield apron.
The new trucks were supplied by Rossetts Commercials, the reigning Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicle Dealer of the Year, to ExxonMobil Aviation, which is based in Leatherhead, Surrey, and contracted to supply bulk jet fuel to Farnborough Airport. However, the trucks and their 36,000-litre Flightline Support tank trailers are operated on a day-to-day basis by its customer, TAG Aviation, which manages the airport.
Mike Kay, UK Automotive Manager for ExxonMobil Aviation, says: “TAG stipulated when we won this contract a couple of years ago that we should use Mercedes vehicles, so we initially drafted in a couple of second-hand Actros tractors while we developed the Econics in partnership with Mercedes-Benz.
“They are perfectly tailored to the role. TAG’s operatives are in and out of these trucks all day so the low-entry cab is a big plus. Visibility is excellent too, and the fact that he doesn’t have to worry about what gear he’s in means the driver can concentrate fully on steering.”
These sentiments are echoed by Roger Walker, Director, Airport Operations, at TAG London Farnborough Airport. “We are extremely pleased with our two new Econic units,” he says. “Excellent all-round visibility was a prime requirement when we started talking to Exxon about the new design, while the low-entry cabs are proving to be more user-friendly for our fuelling team, who can do over 100 refuels of aircraft per day.
“The appearance and design of the trucks also fits very well with the award-winning buildings here at Farnborough Airport,” he adds.
Farnborough has long been a centre of military and civil aviation research; since 1949 it has also been home to the bi-annual Farnborough International Airshow, which attracted nearly a quarter of a million visitors in 2006.
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