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| Oshkosh vehicles will improve the emergency response of aircraft rescue and firefighting professionals |
Oshkosh Airport Products Group, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, has placed three Oshkosh® Striker® 1500 aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicles into service in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
One striker vehicle will operate on the island of St. Thomas and the other two will operate on the island St. Croix. The Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) purchased the Striker vehicles.
“We are very pleased to have three Oshkosh Striker vehicles on duty in the U.S. Virgin Islands to enhance the emergency response capabilities of ARFF professionals who help protect air travelers,” said Jeff Resch, Oshkosh Corporation Airport Products vice president and general manager. “The Virgin Islands is a high profile vacation destination, and we are honored to work with VIPA to bring the Striker to these international airports.”
“We strive to embrace new technologies, such as the driver enhanced vision system and easy-to-use electronic joystick controls, and are thankful that VIPA leadership has supported our department’s drive to advance our ARFF capabilities to a higher level,” said Derek Smith, ARFF Fire Chief for the U.S. Virgin Islands Port Authority. “Oshkosh has supplied us with a far superior product than we could have ever expected, and has given us an elevated level of confidence in their ability to provide excellent service and support.”
The Striker 1500 model offers a 4x4 all-wheel-drive axle configuration and proprietary technologies such as TAK-4® independent suspension, triple agent firefighting capabilities and Command Zone™ advanced electronics for enhanced maneuverability, firefighting power and reliability. The Striker 1500 accelerates from 0 to 50 mph (80 km/h) in 25 seconds. Other features include a 1,500-gallon (5,678 L) water capacity, 210-gallon (795 L) foam capacity, roof turret, bumper turret and six under truck nozzles. The U.S. Virgin Islands vehicles also feature a Driver Enhanced Vision System (DEVS) and infrared cameras to improve safety while responding on the airfield.
The Oshkosh Striker is on duty at some of the largest airports in the world, including Anchorage International, Las Vegas International, Dallas-Fort Worth International, Dubai World Central, Shanghai International, Incheon International, Phoenix International, and Chhatrapati Shivaji International in Mumbai.
The U.S. Virgin Islands is located in the eastern Caribbean, 1,100 miles southeast of Miami, and consists of the main islands of Saint Croix, Saint John and Saint Thomas and many surrounding smaller islands.
