Heavy-duty technology aids
Canadian Forces in rapid deployment

Military loaders vary in capacity, size and capability. In the past, a large capacity loader meant a large-sized loader that was difficult to transport. Two years ago, when the Canadian Forces were looking for new loaders that could be rapidly deployed, size was a big factor. 

The Canadian Forces utilize the Halvorsen loader in air cargo operations at numerous air bases and in remote airlift support locations for military and humanitarian aid efforts all over the world.

The Canadian Forces were in search of a technologically advanced solution to replace the current fleet of 40,000-pound capacity loaders, which provided an efficient loading time, but were cumbersome to transport because of their size. In search of operational capability in a compact cargo loader, the Canadian Forces were impressed with the reliability and maintainability of the 25,000-pound capacity JBT AeroTech Halvorsen 25K loader that was originally developed for the U.S. Air Force (USAF).

After viewing the Halvorsen 25K loader at the GSE Convention in 2006 and a competitive review process, the Canadian Forces selected JBT AeroTech to develop the Halvorsen 44K loader. The Halvorsen 44K loader nearly doubles the weight capacity of the Halvorsen 25K loader, but is approximately the same size. Four loaders are scheduled to be delivered to the Canadian Forces by the end of 2008.

Easy deployment

Halvorsen 44K loaders can be deployed in less than 30 minutes and can be transported on even the smallest military cargo aircraft, including the C-130, C-17 and C-5.

One of the loader's most important missions is to be deployed in remote areas, such as small airfields, where it has to operate with very little infrastructure. Its compact size makes the loader easily transportable to remote areas, but also maneuverable. For example, the Halvorsen 44K loader can make a 180-degree three-point turn on a 50-foot (15.24 m) taxiway.

In addition, its cargo deck is equipped with flip-over caster trays to allow rapid conversion from pallet handling to rolling stock, and 12 pallet locks and 36 tie-down rings are incorporated into the dock.

The Halvorsen loader is named for famed candy bomber Col. Gail S. Halvorsen (retired), who dropped more than 250,000 candy-laden parachutes to the children of Berlin during a blockade following World War II.

Reliable start-up

The Canadian Forces expect the loader to be able to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week with little or no support. The Halvorsen 44K loader’s ruggedness and adaptability to any environment make it a very reliable and low-maintenance piece of equipment. Pre-positioning these loaders to remote areas is a great capability, as the Canadian Forces have more flexibility because they can have those assets readily available — and operational — when they need them.

And because the Halvorsen 44K loader has similar components to the Halvorsen 25K loader, minimal parts inventory and training development is required. In addition, the versatile Halvorsen 44K loader is backed by logistical support that services 10,000 pieces of equipment at more than 800 locations in more than 100 countries. The combination of the demanding military requirements from the Canadian Forces and the more than 30 years of cargo loader innovation from JBT AeroTech culminated in a third-generation Halvorsen loader that further revolutionizes the cargo loaders of the 1980s and 1990s.

For more information on the JBT AeroTech Halvorsen 44K cargo loader, visit the JBT AeroTech Web site or contact a JBT AeroTech Specialist.


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