by Randy Nichols | Jan 4, 2022 | Industry Buzz
by Randy Nichols | Nov 3, 2021 | Air Tractor News
On track to build 165+ aircraft in 2021, Air Tractor is ready for an even stronger 2022. Air Tractor is set to produce more than 165 aircraft in 2021 — a 40 percent increase from 2020. This is a remarkable accomplishment in a year in which the production sector at...
by Randy Nichols | Sep 8, 2021 | Air Tractor News
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently approved a new flight helmet standard for use by pilots of Air Tractor® models AT-504, AT-602, AT-802, and AT-802A. This standard was developed by the US Department of the Interior (DOI) Office of Aviation...
by Randy Nichols | Aug 19, 2021 | Industry Buzz
by Randy Nichols | Aug 16, 2021 | Air Tractor News
Australian Air Tractor operator Neville Dunn of Dunn Aviation recently took delivery of AT-802A-0900, the 900th in the 802 ag and firefighting series built by Air Tractor, Inc. in Olney, Texas. It will take its place among eleven other Air Tractor AT-802 series...
by Randy Nichols | Aug 3, 2021 | Air Tractor News
Air Tractor® “Dusty Crophopper” takes its place beside aviation legends. On Aug. 3, the National Agricultural Aviation Association presented to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum the full-sized, fully flight-capable replica of Dusty...
by Randy Nichols | Aug 2, 2021 | Industry Buzz
by Randy Nichols | Jul 22, 2021 | Air Tractor News
Air Tractor Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of Ag Aviation at EAA AirVenture 2021 Oshkosh, WI — Air Tractor joins the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, from July 26 – Aug. 1 to mark the 100th anniversary of ag aviation at...
by Randy Nichols | Jul 1, 2021 | Air Tractor News
Company says farewell to Rick Turner OLNEY, Texas — Air Tractor, Inc. President Jim Hirsch announced today the appointment of Mathew Ickert as Director of Production at the company, effective July 2, 2021. This follows the retirement of Vice President of Operations...
by Randy Nichols | May 24, 2021 | Industry Buzz
by Randy Nichols | May 18, 2021 | Air Tractor News
A distinct yellow and green – not blue – Air Tractor is ready to soar above the fields of Saskatchewan, Canada. The airplane, proudly sporting the colors of the province’s flag, is also the 100th AT-502XP built by Air Tractor. Recently delivered to...
by Randy Nichols | Apr 2, 2021 | Air Tractor News
Air Tractor President Jim Hirsch has been checking the numbers and anticipating this day’s arrival. The serial number of the 502XP sold to Mike Rivenbark of Morehead City, North Carolina differs only one digit from the previous Air Tractor. Yet another airplane in a...
by Randy Nichols | Apr 2, 2021 | Industry Buzz
by Randy Nichols | Mar 11, 2021 | Industry Buzz
by Randy Nichols | Jan 26, 2021 | Air Tractor News
David Ickert’s legacy is Air Tractor’s world-class financial team. After 31 years of service, Air Tractor Vice President of Finance David Ickert has retired. Ickert’s contributions to the agricultural aircraft manufacturer’s success range from...
by Randy Nichols | Dec 13, 2020 | Industry Buzz
by Randy Nichols | Nov 6, 2020 | Industry Buzz
by Randy Nichols | Nov 3, 2020 | Air Tractor News
Air Tractor returns to Savannah at the close of a strong year of aircraft production and sales. Air Tractor President Jim Hirsch reports that despite the worldwide novel coronavirus pandemic, domestic and international demand for agricultural and firefighting aircraft...
by Randy Nichols | Sep 1, 2020 | Air Tractor News
Olney, TX – Agricultural aircraft manufacturer Air Tractor, Inc. announced today the appointment of Jeremy Prather as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Prather will serve as a financial and strategic business advisor to the company president and the Air Tractor...
by Randy Nichols | Aug 28, 2020 | Industry Buzz
by Randy Nichols | Jul 30, 2020 | Industry Buzz
by Randy Nichols | Jul 8, 2020 | Industry Buzz
by Randy Nichols | Jun 29, 2020 | Air Tractor News
Air Tractor Europe recently delivered to Sweden the second of two Air Tractor AT-802F Fire Boss scooper water bombers. The aerial firefighting airplanes, pilots and support crews will fulfill a contract with the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) to enhance...
by Randy Nichols | Jun 22, 2020 | Air Tractor News
L-R, Tommy Lewis, Charlene Heafner and Harold Powers After decades serving ag operators and pilots in the Mississippi Delta, Harold Powers, Jr. will go into well-deserved retirement and shutter the business that he helped build since 1959. Air Tractor parts...
by Randy Nichols | May 4, 2020 | Air Tractor News
A new Gen III FRDS firegate has received STC certification for installation on Air Tractor AT-802F airplanes. Air Tractor, Inc. supplier Trotter Controls, with Air Tractor support, has received a Federal Aviation Administration Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for...
by Randy Nichols | Apr 29, 2020 | Industry Buzz
by Randy Nichols | Apr 17, 2020 | Air Tractor News
Scott Delong of Farmers Cooperative in Dorchester, Nebraska, left, with Garrett Frost of Frost Flying upon delivery of Air Tractor AT-602-1308. The partnership between Texas-based aircraft manufacturer Air Tractor and Pratt & Whitney dates back decades, and...
by Randy Nichols | Mar 31, 2020 | Industry Buzz
by Randy Nichols | Mar 9, 2020 | Air Tractor News
The popular Air Tractor 502XP continues its global reach by taking to the skies above New Zealand, thanks to ag operator Super Air Ltd. John Elliot, manager of Super Air Ltd. in Hamilton, New Zealand, took possession of the 502XP (SN 502A-3149) in late 2019. Following...
by Randy Nichols | Mar 3, 2020 | Air Tractor News, Uncategorized
As the Aerial Firefighting North America 2020 Conference begins this week in Sacramento, California, international firefighting agency attendees will be assessing the damage, intensity and scale of Australia’s January bushfires. More than 15.6 million acres (6.3...
by Randy Nichols | Nov 19, 2019 | Air Tractor News
Tuesday afternoon an Air Tractor custom painted helmet will go to the highest bidder at the NAAA Live Auction. The HGU-55 Kevlar helmet comes equipped with Electret mic with wire boom, microphone mount round, active noise reduction, Lightspeed Zulu H-Mod with...
by Randy Nichols | Nov 19, 2019 | Air Tractor News
This week at the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) Ag Aviation Expo in Orlando, Florida, Air Tractor is displaying an AT-402B with some of the latest equipment updates for 2020 production models. Air Tractor dealer Farm Air, Inc. facilitated the sale...
by Randy Nichols | Nov 19, 2019 | Air Tractor News
This week at the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) Ag Aviation Expo in Orlando, Florida, Brian Hahn, Air Tractor’s Director of Training will be at the Air Tractor exhibit to provide information about the company’s new Air Tractor Maintenance...
by Randy Nichols | Oct 18, 2019 | Air Tractor News
OLNEY, Texas — Air Tractor President Jim Hirsch today has announced a change in the Air Tractor dealers serving the Western United States. Three Air Tractor dealers will service the nine-state territory formerly served by retired Air Tractor dealer Queen Bee Air...
by Randy Nichols | Oct 10, 2019 | Air Tractor News
OLNEY, Texas — Air Tractor President Jim Hirsch announced today the retirement, as an Air Tractor dealer, of Chip Kemper, owner of Queen Bee Air Specialties in Rigby, Idaho. With Kemper’s retirement, Queen Bee Air Specialties will cease operations as an Air Tractor...
by Randy Nichols | Jul 19, 2019 | Air Tractor News
OLNEY, Texas —Two Air Tractor AT-802 series airplanes will be at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, the nation’s largest annual gathering of aviation enthusiasts. The 802 series is known for its versatility and efficiency. It can be adapted for agricultural application,...
by Randy Nichols | May 16, 2019 | Air Tractor News
Manuel Vijarro Air Tractor, Inc. announced the recent addition of Manuel Vijarro as the company’s Director of Quality. He will lead Air Tractor’s quality assurance/quality control efforts encompassing raw materials and components sourcing, manufacturing and aircraft...
by Randy Nichols | May 16, 2019 | Air Tractor News
L-R: Air Tractor Sales Coordinator Chris Lockhart; Michael Hutchins, Custom Air, Inc.; Logan Lane of Lane Aviation; Air Tractor President Jim Hirsch Olney, Texas aircraft manufacturer Air Tractor, Inc. passed a major production milestone on May 6th, 2019 with the...
by Randy Nichols | May 16, 2019 | Air Tractor News
OLNEY, Texas–Air Tractor, the leading manufacturer of single-engine agriculture, firefighting and utility aircraft announced that Craig Jimenez was elected to its board of directors at the April 10 shareholders meeting. He will serve on the...
by Randy Nichols | Feb 19, 2019 | Air Tractor News
Air Tractor recently marked the delivery of its 50th 502XP. It was one of three 502XP airplanes delivered in early February to three Canadian aerial spraying operators. They travelled to Air Tractor’s factory to ferry the 500-gallon capacity airplanes to new homes in...
by Randy Nichols | Feb 11, 2019 | Air Tractor News
Air Tractor, in conjunction with the FAA’s Lubbock Flight Standards District Office, is sponsoring an opportunity for A&P mechanics to fulfill the annual training requirements for renewal of their Inspection Authorization (IA). A free Inspection Authorization...
by Randy Nichols | Dec 14, 2018 | Air Tractor News
At the National Agricultural Aviation Association Ag Aviation Expo Convention in Reno, Nevada, Air Tractor displayed a new tail wheel lock for its airplanes. The tail wheel lock was installed on an AT-802A ag plane to provide trade show attendees an up-close view of...
by Randy Nichols | Oct 9, 2018 | Air Tractor News
L-R: Dave Frisch, Jim Hirsch, Dalton Hill and Natanael Vas Canada’s new Air Tractor dealer recently hosted an open house. Dave Frisch, owner of Portage Aircraft Specialties in Manitoba had a big turnout for his event, including attendance by Air Tractor President Jim...
by Randy Nichols | Jun 28, 2018 | Air Tractor News
Air Tractor aircraft parts manuals are now being updated every six months—each January and July. The manuals, available online as Acrobat PDF files, can be accessed in the Owner Portal of airtractor.com, reports Jeff Dobbs, Air Tractor’s Customer Service Manager....
by Randy Nichols | Jun 20, 2018 | Air Tractor News
A new Air Tractor dealer for Canada: Portage Aircraft Specialties President Dave Frisch Air Tractor, Inc. President Jim Hirsch announced today the addition of a new Air Tractor® dealership for Canada. Portage Aircraft Specialties, located in Portage la Prairie,...
by Randy Nichols | Apr 25, 2018 | Air Tractor News
Air Tractor was the recipient of two awards for Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Communications Excellence at the ESOP Association Southwest Chapter Spring Conference. During the 20th Annual Awards Luncheon, Air Tractor received an award for the ESOP video they...
by Randy Nichols | Apr 3, 2018 | Air Tractor News
Air Tractor AT-802 and AT-802A pilots and pilot instructors now have a more direct way to download the revised Air Tractor AT-802-802A Pilot Training Course and the latest FAA Exemption 5651 document. Both documents are located in a new section titled “Pilot Training...
by Randy Nichols | Apr 2, 2018 | Air Tractor News
Nancy Bacon Snow, age 77, of Wichita Falls passed away on Wednesday morning, March 28, 2018, in House of Hope in Wichita Falls. She spent the last hours of her life in a colorful room, decorated with her own art, and filled with the sounds of the music that she loved,...
by Randy Nichols | Sep 13, 2017 | Air Tractor News
Argentina ag spraying operator Hector Fain is ready to strap into the seat of his new Air Tractor 502XP and begin working. This month marks the start of the spraying season in the Santa Fe province of Argentina. And Air Tractor representative Alejandro Moreno, of...
by Randy Nichols | Jul 20, 2017 | Air Tractor News
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and Build a Plane recently hosted four Olney High School students as the winners of the GAMA/Build a Plane Aviation Design Challenge. The Aviation Design Challenge, now in its fifth year, promotes the real-world...
by Randy Nichols | May 30, 2017 | Air Tractor News
Air Tractor President, Jim Hirsch and Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 engine representatives, Ryan Densham and Mike Lee, were on hand for the delivery of the first 502XP aircraft to be sold on the continent of Africa. The plane was sold and delivered to Castello...
by Randy Nichols | May 17, 2017 | Air Tractor News
The Snow family has announced that Texas A&M Aerospace Engineering student Michelle Gilbert has received the 2017 Leland Snow Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded every year to provide assistance to Texas A&M Aerospace Engineering students who show...
by Randy Nichols | Mar 10, 2017 | Air Tractor News
This spring, Air Tractor and Transland are proud to support a series of Operation S.A.F.E. clinics to be conducted in California and in Texas. Among ag pilots, these events have long been seen as a learning experience, an opportunity to improve their own performance...
by Randy Nichols | Jan 12, 2017 | Industry Buzz
