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| The new generation Oshkosh Striker, featuring advanced safety systems, delivers innovative fire suppression technology |
Oshkosh Airport Products, LLC, an Oshkosh Corporation company, announced that Servicios Aeroportuarios Bolivianos S.A. (SABSA), airport administrator and operations company for the country of Bolivia, has taken delivery of three new generation Oshkosh® Striker® 6 X 6 aircraft rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) vehicles. The Striker apparatus are being placed into service at Viru Viru International Airport in Santa Cruz, J. Wilstermann International Airport in Cochabamba, and El Alto International Airport in La Paz.
“The new generation Oshkosh Striker is at home at airports around the globe, and we’re proud to say this now includes the highest elevation international airport in the world,” said Jeff Resch, Oshkosh Airport Products vice president and general manager. “Special recognition goes to our sales and support team, including our dealership, Leits Inc., and its multidisciplinary team. Successfully managing the delivery logistics of these Striker ARFF vehicles is, in and of itself, a major accomplishment.”
The Strikers were shipped to the port of Iquique, Chile. Subsequently, they were loaded onto flatbed vehicles for an arduous and challenging overland journey to the three airports. The vehicles were driven in a convoy to their destinations at nighttime due to regulations that reserve daytime travel for lighter vehicles. The first stop entailed traveling a distance of more than 750 kilometers (466 miles) to an elevation of 4,061 meters (13,325 feet) to reach El Alto International, the world’s highest altitude international airport.
“The people of SABSA are committed to upgrading airport emergency response capabilities throughout Bolivia, and we’re honoured that Oshkosh Striker vehicles are playing an important role in this mission,” said Marcelo Solis, vice president of Leits Inc.
The new generation Oshkosh Striker, featuring advanced safety systems, delivers innovative fire suppression technology, unmatched chassis performance, and unsurpassed reliability and durability. Each of the three Striker 6 X 6 vehicles for Bolivia is outfitted with a roof turret, an Oshkosh low attack bumper turret, and a dry chemical system. The engine power pack components are readily accessed through walk-in doors on either side of the engine compartment for easier servicing. In addition, the Striker serving at El Alto International Airport is equipped with a cold weather/high altitude package that includes piping inside the compartments to protect its firefighting components.
SABSA is a nationalized company dedicated to the administration, modernization and expansion of the major airports in Bolivia. Viru Viru International Airport in Santa Cruz handles large commercial jets and is the hub for Bolivia’s largest airline. J. Wilstermann International Airport serves the Cochabamba region, and is situated at an elevation of 8,360 feet. El Alto International Airport is located eight miles southwest of La Paz and, at 4,061 meters (13,325 feet), is the highest elevation international airport in the world.
Oshkosh Dealer, Leits Inc. of Miami, Florida, provides service and support.
