Plainview, New York, April 2, 2005

In this newsletter:

1. Fortbrand Services Presents at US Air Force Vehicle Management Conference
2. Unique Belt Conveyors from Germany
3. Fortbrand's Success with Vammas Runway Friction Measurement Equipment

Fortbrand Presents at the US Air Force Vehicle Management Conference
On March 29, 2005, the United States Air Force held its annual Vehicle Management Conference at Scott AFB. Fortbrand Services was invited to make a presentation regarding Fortbrand's unique ability to provide tailor made programs to meet the specific requirements of its customers. Programs include short term rentals, longer term leases with options to purchase and custom payment structures to conform to the particular budgetary requirements of the military.

Examples of past transactions with the US military include:

• US Air Force, Robins AFB -- Two month rental of a widebody pushback tractor. Rental extended two additional months. Fortbrand purchased a new tractor to meet the Air Force's requirement for this transaction.
  
  
• US Navy, Norfolk- One year lease of two pushback tractors with an option to renew for two additional one year terms and an option to purchase at the end of each year. Fortbrand purchased a two new tractors to meet the Navy's requirement for this transaction.
  
  
• US Air Force, Westover AFB- Six month rental of a lavatory service truck. Fortbrand met the Air Force's requirement for this transaction with used equipment from its inventory.
  
  

Fortbrand Services looks forward to continuing to assist the US Air Force and the other armed services meet whatever ground support equipment needs they may have.

Unique Belt Conveyors From Mulag
In 1999, Fortbrand Services received a call from an "on loan" British Naval Officer on temporary assignment at the US Navy San Diego Fleet Industrial Supply Center. He had noticed the Navy was still loading food the old fashion way- using manual labor. In the UK, the Navy uses 46 foot, fixed belt conveyors, which results in significant labor savings. The officer asked if we knew of any US manufacturers that made a similar conveyor, capable of reaching the deck height of US Navy destroyers and cruisers and span the 10 -12 foot gap between the dock and the ship, but which was also mobile. The standard aircraft conveyor is half the length required to load ships. Also, mobility was key, as the unit had to be able to get out of the way of any emergency equipment at the dock. No US manufactured equipment was available.

On a trip to Frankfurt Airport, we noticed an oversized conveyor manufactured by Mulag, a German manufacturer. We contacted the factory, coordinated with the Navy, made some modifications and eventually designed the right machine to meet the Navy's needs. The end product, the MDF12, is now at all major US Naval Stations (14 units in total) -- San Diego, Pearl Harbor, Norfolk, Bremerton, Everett and Yokosuka, Japan. Visit our Airfield Maintenance Equipment page to download a brochure about the MDF12.

If you have a particular need and haven't found the solution, give Fortbrand a call -- the U.S. Navy did!

Vammas Skiddometer BV-11
In addition to being the exclusive North American dealer for the Patria Vammas line of world-class, high-speed runway snow removal equipment, Fortbrand also markets other Vammas products, including the Skiddometer BV-11 runway friction measuring device. The Skiddometer was introduced into America 15 years ago, but was sold and serviced from Sweden, causing many concerns with American customers. Since 2003, Fortbrand has seen selling and supporting the FAA approved Skiddometer from its headquarters in Plainview, NY.

The Skiddometer BV-11, coupled with the Integrated Water System (IWS), a 325 gallon water tank which works in conjunction with the Skiddometer, offers the user a cost effective friction testing solution. The unit can be towed behind an existing work vehicle, but does not need to be hard wired to the work vehicle, leaving that vehicle free to perform tasks other than friction testing. The IWS system can hold 325 gallons of water, which allows large areas to be tested without having to refill the water source.

Current users of the Skiddometer include Memphis International Airport, Nashville International Airport, the FAA Technical Center in Atlantic City NJ, as well as Burbank, CA and Greenville, SC airports (Greenville also purchased our IWS). The Skiddometer is functioning at over 300 airports around the world and is recognized as a leader in the runway friction measurement industry by ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), NASA and the FAA.

Visit our Airfield Maintenance Equipment page to download a brochure about the Skiddometer BV-11.


Fortbrand Services is a niche business specializing in the sale, lease and renting of aircraft ground support equipment throughout the aviation industry. The Company also engages in related activities and acts as manufacturer's representative for the sale and lease of unique aviation equipment, including the high speed Vammas PSB5500, PSB4500 and related equipment.

For additional information, contact us at 516-576-3200.