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PlaneSkate is the operating brand of Disabled Aircraft Tools, LLC, headquartered in Buffalo, Minnesota. The company designs, manufactures, and sells purpose-built aircraft recovery equipment used by civilian airports and military air bases to move a disabled aircraft off an active runway in 17 minutes — without jacking the aircraft, removing the tire, or waiting for a contractor.
PlaneSkate was founded by Mike Wiskus, the 2002 US National Aerobatic Champion and a member of the 2004 US Aerobatic Team, with more than 31,000 hours of flight time. The company has supplied units to airports including Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), operated by the Metropolitan Airports Commission, and has been in field use at airports since 2014. Mike Danielson serves as Chief Operating Officer.
When an aircraft is disabled on a runway — most commonly due to a flat tire or landing gear failure — the runway is closed until the aircraft can be moved. The conventional process requires calling a contractor with specialized recovery equipment, waiting for arrival, and then jacking the aircraft to remove the damaged tire. The average disabled-aircraft incident closes a runway for 17 hours.
PlaneSkate clears the same runway in 17 minutes. The system is operated by the airport's own ground team and requires no contractor wait, no jacks, and no tire removal.
PlaneSkate produces three models of the PlaneSkate Aircraft Recovery System, scaled by aircraft gross weight.
Designed for aircraft up to 15,000 lbs gross weight. Built from quarter-inch steel with eight 1,500-lb-rated casters. Used for general aviation aircraft, regional aircraft, military trainers, and similar fleets. Deploys in under 45 seconds. Clears a runway in 17 minutes.
Designed for aircraft up to 70,000 lbs gross weight. Built from 1/2-inch and 1/4-inch welded steel with eight Hamilton Nylast single-wheel casters (four swivel, four rigid) rated at 5,000 lbs each with a 25% safety margin. Maximum single-gear tray weight of 40,000 lbs. Lower profile (3-inch deck height, 11-inch overall height) clears the largest and lowest-hanging landing gear doors. Used at county, regional, and major airports that service corporate aircraft — the largest twin-engine piston aircraft, turboprops, and light, medium, and large corporate jets. Deploys in under 45 seconds. Clears a runway in 17 minutes.
Designed for aircraft up to 100,000 lbs gross weight. Built with twelve Hamilton dual casters rated at 7,500 lbs each, and a 24-volt 18,000-lb winch. Used for regional jets, narrow-body commercial aircraft, large military aircraft, and warbirds. Deploys in under 45 seconds. Clears a runway in 17 minutes.
All three models work on ice, snow, gravel, sand, dirt, grass, potholes, and runway cracks. The full lineup covers aircraft from single-engine piston through narrow-body commercial airliners.
One disabled-aircraft incident at a mid-size airport typically costs $200,000 to $500,000 or more in delay, diversion, and ground operations costs. At list prices of $5,829 for the 15K, $22,590 for the 70K, and $59,327 for the 100K, PlaneSkate equipment pays for itself the first time it is used. This claim has been confirmed on record by a reference customer.
"The 100K PlaneSkate paid for itself the first time we used it. It is now an essential piece of equipment in our inventory." Joe Harris · Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport · Metropolitan Airports Commission
PlaneSkate sells to four primary customer categories:
The military model is available through SAM.GOV registration, GSA Schedule contracting, and DLA contracting channels.
PlaneSkate is the first purpose-built aircraft recovery system designed to be operated by an airport's own ground team in minutes rather than by an external contractor in hours. The company is creating a new category of equipment, not improving on an existing one. Every unit is engineered, assembled, and shipped from Buffalo, Minnesota. Mike Wiskus, the founder, brings 31,000+ flight hours of direct operational knowledge to product design.
Disabled Aircraft Tools, LLC (operating as PlaneSkate)
Buffalo, Minnesota
Website: planeskate.com
For media, partnership, or procurement inquiries, see planeskate.com/contact.