Hammonds Awards $30,000-Plus ODV Tractor During Aviation Industry Expo

Hammonds' Omni Directional VehicleThe highly anticipated announcement of the 2008 Hammonds Omni Directional Vehicle (ODV) Giveaway Sweepstakes is here: Western Aircraft of Boise, Idaho, is the grand prize winner of the industry's newest and most innovative ground support vehicle.

Carl Hammonds, President and Founder of the Hammonds Companies, made the announcement Tuesday morning as the Aviation Industry Expo got underway. Hammonds is the innovator behind this remarkable ground support vehicle and the company that sponsored the industry giveaway.

Ken Hawk, Vice President of FBO Services for Western Aircraft said he was thrilled with the news. “We were very familiar with the Hammonds ODV because of all the buzz it's created in the industry,” Hawk said. “We'd read about it and seen it at industry trade shows. To win this vehicle is really exciting for all of us.”

The Hammonds Omni Directional Vehicle (ODV) is an FBO's best friend, doing all the heavy lifting, of sorts. And as the doors opened to this year's Aviation Industry Expo in Las Vegas, Nev., the winning model took center stage at the Hammonds booth, #701.

“The 2008 Go-ODV Give Away was conceived so that when an industry seeks out their next ground support vehicle, they'll give serious consideration to the Hammonds Omni Directional Vehicle,” Hammonds said. “We're encouraging everyone to Go ODV!”

Of course, the ground support community already knows there's no turning back when it comes to using this equipment. That's because the Hammonds ODV is a state-of-the-art replacement for the standard aircraft tractor. From a functional standpoint, the Hammonds ODV was specially-designed to turn on a dime, eliminating the need to look backward while driving forward. Overall, “no turning back” appears to represent the industry's enthusiasm in having a “better mousetrap” in airport ground support.

Hawk said he had two immediate priorities in putting the Hammonds ODV to use at his Boise facility.

“The first thing we're going to do is get our line staff trained on the unit, and Carl Hammonds himself is coming to do just that,” Hawk said. “Next? We're going to turn the ODV loose in our storage hangar where we keep our fleet of seven PC-12s.”

And that's the perfect utilization of the ODV, Hammonds said.

“The ODV allows the operator to move multiple-ton aircraft into tight places, while turning on a dime,” Hammonds said.

According to company officials, the ODV represents the first truly unique equipment engineering and design in the last 50 years, replacing standard tow and towbarless aircraft tugs. Its simple round design features the capability of rotating within the space it occupies and moving in any direction at infinitely variable speeds.

Aside from easing the job of moving aircraft, The Hammonds ODV provides added operator and aircraft safety by eliminating “over the shoulder” driving. In fact, it allows the operator full view in any direction.

The Hammonds Companies are considered the aviation industry leader in the innovative product design and engineering of both ground support vehicles and fluid handling technology - from additive injector systems to fuel additives.

Among its worldwide customer base, Hammonds is known for providing the most efficient, affordable solutions to every customer problem.

For more information, click on www.hammondscos.com or call toll-free (800) 582-4224.