Magtec and Fluid Transfer International have developed a zero-emission electric aircraft refueller.
The Meteor MKII hydrant dispenser uses a fully electric chassis supplied by Magtec, which has been modified to house Fluid Transfer’s pumping systems.
The new vehicle has the operational flexibility to refuel the largest commercial aircraft or the smallest regional jets.
Its twin-deck hoses have flow rates of up to 3,800 litres per minute. This is around 75 times faster than a standard service station pump for cars.
In addition, its elevating platform can reach up to 4.6 metres to refuel the latest long-range, wide-body, twin-engine jetliners such as the Boeing 777-9.
Keith Townsend, international sales manager at Fluid Transfer International, said:We are delighted to collaborate with Magtec on this important milestone in the journey towards meeting carbon neutrality targets.
The Meteor MKII offers zero-emission refuelling and silent operations without sacrificing quality and performance for global operators.
We are looking at other aviation vehicle applications for Magtec’s chassis including hydrant pit cleaners and Avgas bowsers and are very impressed with the dynamic capabilities and short charge time.
The Meteor is powered by an 80 kWh battery, thus making it lighter than the diesel-powered equivalent.
This version has a range of 65 miles and a full charge time of just three hours and 20 minutes. It also has a battery life of 10 years.
Andrew Sloan, engineering director at Magtec, said:We are proud to partner with Fluid Transfer International on this state-of-the-art aircraft fuelling system, powered by Magtec.
This is another example of a world-leading UK manufacturer turning to Magtec for our best-in-class electric drive technologies. It’s great to work together on such an innovative project.
The Meteor conforms to the European aviation ground support standards. Its chassis is based on Magtec’s fully homologated MEV75.
