Michelin Delivers 250,000th Aircraft Tyre To US Navy

A milestone was reached by Michelin Aircraft Tire Company on December 2 when the company delivered its 250,000th aircraft tyre to the United States Navy in support of its Performance-Based Logistics (PBL) contract. The quarter-millionth tyre was for the nose landing gear of a US Navy F/A-18 Hornet, and was hand-delivered by Brett Carnes, director of North American military sales and Colleen Cassidy, program manager, to Air Wing Commander Captain Thomas Halley of US Naval Air Station Oceana, located in Norfolk, Virginia. Also in attendance was Sandy Ebenhoech, program analyst with Lockheed Martin.

The US Navy PBL contract was awarded to Michelin in 2001. Michelin selected Lockheed Martin (MS2), located in Moorestown, New Jersey, as their logistics partner for the PBL program. “Michelin’s superior products and Lockheed Martin’s supply chain management expertise is a powerful combination,” said Carnes. “The Navy’s aircraft need to be ready to launch at a moments notice. Michelin supports that readiness by providing the right tyre at the place at the right time around the globe.”

The contract requires the Michelin-Lockheed Martin team to deliver aircraft tyres anywhere in the continental United States in less than two days and less than four days everywhere else around the world – including deployed aircraft carriers. The team has maintained an on-time delivery rate of over 98 per cent, with a “zero backorders” record. “Michelin’s performance on the contract has been outstanding,” said Captain Halley. “Getting tyres on time has not been an issue for us.”