Servair, part of the Air France group, has added an Allison-equipped IVECO Stralis 6x2 AD 260 S31 Y/PS to its fleet of 300 heavy-vehicles. This newest acquisition was put into service at Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport, where it’s used by Armement Catering Nettoyage Avion (ACNA), a subsidiary of Servair, to clean and resupply planes.
Vehicles with Allison fully automatic transmissions have been part of the Servair fleet for nearly 10 years. Jean-Marie Foucaud, key account manager at IVECO, explained that safety was a significant factor in choosing an Allison-equipped vehicle.
“We asked for an Allison because it met Servair’s safety criteria,” said Foucaud. “Their buyer wanted a Euro 6 vehicle with an Allison transmission. The order was placed and the vehicle was delivered by IVECO to body manufacturer SOVAM. It has been in service since May.”
This Iveco truck is perfectly suitable for airport runways through its Cursor 9 Euro 6 engine, benefiting from HI-SCR Iveco patented remediation technology. The exclusive technology allows an engine to maintain optimal combustion, breathing only fresh air without the need to resort to exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). This system provides a simple solution to the major challenge of reducing emissions imposed by Euro 6, without the addition of complex components, without chemical pollution of the engine and its peripherals and without excessive thermal stress. A score of Iveco vehicles is already in operation at Servair .
Since Servair’s order was consistent with equipment choices made in the past, drivers operating close to wide-bodied aircraft are 100-percent in line with their safety objective. This is because no additional driver training is required with the automatic-equipped vehicle, as there would be with a manual – which would mean significant changes to driving habits.
According to Patrick Cadoret, Servair buyer, the new vehicle is specifically dedicated to supplying A380 wide-bodied aircraft. “Safe maneuvering in close proximity to these planes is essential,” he said. “Automatic transmissions provide greater fluidity and matchless handling.”
Thanks to Allison’s Continuous Power Technology™, the fully automatic transmissions deliver uninterrupted power to the wheels, allowing for greater precision during maneuvers and seamless transitions during stop-and-go cycles. In addition to being more comfortable and easier to operate, drivers remain safe and confident even in situations that demand highly precise driving, such as when positioning the vehicle’s high-lift box to access the plane’s embarkation platform.
This vehicle, like the others, will be used by several drivers as the company operates 365 days a year with crews servicing 120 client airlines. The in-house training center provides “aircraft-approach” training. With Allison-equipped vehicles, ACNA drivers are able to be in perfect control of their vehicles, both when driving close to aircraft and during supply loading.
“Allison fully automatic transmissions offer smooth driving and remarkable handling,” said Cadoret. “Release the brake and the vehicle inches forward extremely smoothly with great precision.”
About Allison Transmission
Allison Transmission (NYSE: ALSN) is the world’s largest manufacturer of fully automatic transmissions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles and is a leader in hybrid-propulsion systems for city buses. Allison transmissions are used in a variety of applications including refuse, construction, fire, distribution, bus, motorhomes, defense and energy. Founded in 1915, the company is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA and employs approximately 2,700 people worldwide. With a market presence in more than 80 countries, Allison has regional headquarters in the Netherlands, China and Brazil with manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Hungary and India. Allison also has approximately 1,400 independent distributor and dealer locations worldwide.
