Latam aviation boom draws refueling firms

Latin America's aviation boom is drawing manufacturers of aircraft and spares but is also offering incentives to refueling technology providers to do more to win business in the region. Regional aviation growth has prompted Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer to reset targets for production to meet new demand for aircraft, spares and related aviation equipment. It has also attracted manufacturers and suppliers from North America. Rampmaster, the U.S. manufacturer of aircraft refuelers for the aviation market, announced it is extending its refueling innovations and craftsmanship to Latin American airport operators, including its patented Engine Management System, used for flow control. The company said it identified Latin America as a targeted area for growth and expansion where it hoped to do more in the coming period. GTI/Rampmaster has hired Marcos Cajiao as director of Latin America sales and marketing. With expertise in the Latin American aviation jet fuels and petroleum market, Marcos previously helped U.S. companies introduce their fuel-related products into the region. Marcos is helping Rampmaster establish its brand and 30-year refueling industry heritage in the region. Marcos said the company had received "incredible" response to its products and services. Owen Watkins, Rampmaster's vice president of engineering and production and lead developer of the EMS technology, said, "EMS allows the engine RPM to vary up and down depending on what the aircraft needs are, allowing the vehicle to consume up to 78 percent less of its diesel fuel while pumping." He said, "Those savings are extremely compelling for refueling operators in any country -- no one has ever seen a product with such game-changing capabilities as this before." Despite the positive response, company officials admit the market needs to be educated in the gains to be made by using new refueling technologies. While the initial reception has been very positive, Marcos explained that there is quite a bit of education required for the marketplace to fully understand the benefit of Rampmaster's refueling technology. "We are focused on making the market aware of the product, presenting the capability and educating on the unprecedented fuel savings, emissions reductions and automatic maintenance savings that can be realized." Founded in 1968, Rampmaster is a major manufacturer of aircraft refueling solutions, which have advanced rapidly in recent years. Aerial refueling of aircraft first began in the 1920s after the idea was floated in 1917 by Alexander P. de Seversky, a pilot in the Imperial Russian navy who emigrated to the United States. New research aims to start refueling of unmanned aircraft.