Oshkosh Airport Products LLC, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK), has delivered and placed its 300th new generation Oshkosh® Striker® aircraft rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) vehicle into service at Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport in Quebec, Canada. The delivery (in mid-December) included a Striker 6 X 6 equipped with the innovative Snozzle® high-reach extendable turret (HRET).
“This 300th new generation Oshkosh Striker vehicle represents an important milestone; we’re really proud to have these apparatus on duty at Québec City International, which is, incidentally, a new Oshkosh ARFF customer,” said Jeff Resch, Oshkosh Airport Products Group vice president and general manager. “The new generation Striker represents an optimal combination of performance, reliability and ease-of-maintenance, and it continues to gain new customers and market share worldwide.”
“Our overriding objectives are safety and to provide firefighters with the best possible equipment on the market,” said Serge St-Laurent, vice-president operations at Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport. “We had to renew our ARFF fleet and the Striker was the very best option for both François Cyr, Fire Chief and Jean-Guy Pelletier Chief Mechanic.”
Team Eagle Ltd., of Campbellford, Ontario, is the Oshkosh dealer providing local service and support. Team Eagle has been an Oshkosh equipment dealer since the 1990s, serving the airfield market for over 30 years with leading technologies and innovative solutions. The company has an established parts distribution network as well as a team of certified and trained technicians.
The Oshkosh Striker 6 x 6 axle configuration, with Oshkosh TAK-4® all wheel and fully independent suspension and an Allison seven-speed electronic automatic transmission, offers a smooth ride and exceptional off-road capabilities. The firefighting system includes an 11,356-liter (3,000-gallon) water tank, a 1590-liter (420-gallon) foam cell, and a 249-kilogram (550-pound) dry chemical system for multiple agent fire suppression capabilities.
The Oshkosh-exclusive Snozzle HRET – equipped with a hardened carbide steel tip, a perforated nozzle, and a forward-looking infrared camera, enables firefighters to discharge from 6.1 meters (20 feet) below grade to elevations as high as 19.8 meters (65 feet). The Striker’s engine power pack components are readily accessed through walk-in doors on either side of the engine compartment for easier servicing.
Both Quebec City Striker apparatus feature a cold weather winterization system providing protection to -40º F/C, and also include a central tire inflation system for enhanced off-road performance. “One of our biggest challenges is the climate; when you combine temperature and snowfall we have the toughest winter weather of all major airports in Canada,” said Mr. St-Laurent. “During the purchase process, we went through the Striker vehicles specs in meticulous detail – especially those that relate to handling extreme cold weather. We have yet to operate the Striker under those conditions but, from what we’ve seen, we’re very satisfied.”
