Delta Airplane | Facebook/ Delta Air Lines
Delta Airplane | Facebook/ Delta Air Lines
Missoula Montana Airport travelers and employees are already benefiting from the airport’s newly purchased equipment of one electric aircraft pushback and three electric aircraft belt loaders.
“Surprisingly, just from my prior background history of using equipment, the electric tends to be more reliable in colder temperatures,” Andrew Bailey, ground handling manager of Missoula Montana Airport, told NBC Montana.
According to airport officials, the pushback and loaders replaced older equipment which has made it easier for employee training and individuals traveling during the winter.
“We've used the pushback tractor for at least a solid month so far in storms we've had and had no issues,” Bailey said. “It actually worked better.”
The roughly $250,000 purchases were made possible by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and funding from Montana's section of the Volkswagen settlement.
The airport will apply for more grants in November to purchase additional equipment.
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