KME listened to what departments across the nation have been asking for and the end result has produced the tallest ladder in the 75' and 100' aerial classification. KME provided the fire service with an all new 79' and 109' ladder that leads in horizontal reach, tip load capacity (wet and dry), high capacity water flow, monitor positioning and increased ladder section dimensions.

KME engineering realizes that for an aerial to perform on the fire ground it needs to be easily maintained. The new ladders features an adjustable swing drive, greaseless sheave wheels and easy access to all cables and wear pads allowing it to spend more time on the fire ground in service.

Safety Factor

The new 79’ and 109' AerialCat^™ ladders are the leader in design and features! Well, we added one more huge design feature for a steel ladder. Our new AerialCat^™ ladders are offered with a 2.5:1 structural safety factor! That’s right, a true 2.5:1 structural safety factor based on a 750 pound, NFPA-1901 tip load rating. That is the highest certified structural safety factor for a steel ladder! Better yet, that is based on a 750 pound tip load, making it the strongest ladder in the industry. 

79' AerialCat

Scrub Zone  

109' AerialCat

It is important to have the ability to get your ladder where it is needed in critical rescue operations. KME's industry leading 79' vertical and 70' horizontal reach and 109' vertical and 100' horizontal gets you where you need to be quickly.This higher vertical reach and longer horizontal reach allow these AerialCats^™ to provide 18% more scrub zone of a building than the typical 75’  and 100' ladders, allowing you to possibly reach that next window!  

1500 GPM Where You Need It

The new 79'  and 109' KME aerial device not only have the ability to deliver 1500 gpm in all positions, they also have the capability to flow 30° above horizontal with the ladder at 0° elevation.

“Store Front Blitz”

Our unique waterway design and flow capability provide the ability to offer our “Store Front Blitz” feature. This design feature allows for the ladder to be positioned below horizontal and flow a 1500-GPM master stream above the centerline of the ladder. The tip of the ladder can be positioned inside a store front or structure and allow for a blitz interior attack with the aerial waterway.

79' "Store Front Blitz" Diagram   - 109' "Store Front Blitz" Diagram

Industry Leading Capacity

Leaving nothing to chance, KME's 79'  and 109' aerial are engineered to carry the highest tip loads in the industry while being subjected to winds of 50 miles per hour and 1/4" of ice. Third party P.E. certification guarantees it!

Spacious Aerial Operation Turntable

Providing the necessary room to get the job done is critical. The area provided at the turntable control console allows the operator to operate the aerial device in a safe and spacious environment.

Ladder to Turntable Transition

Easy turntable transition on and off the ladder from the turntable will give trained firefighters as well as frightened victims clear and easy passage even while the ladder is at high angles of elevation.

Large and Clear Climbing Ladder   

Special attention was given to the height and width of the 79' and 109' ladder section dimensions. Providing ample room to get the job done at high as well as low angles was key to providing the most effective aerial device in the industry. The fly section touts a 26” width and 21.75” width giving you the security and work space required. The wide fly section allow for a Stokes basket to slide through the ladder and for a full width roof ladder to be stored in the fly section.

Stainless Steel Bolt-On Egress

Our new stainless steel bolt-on egress incorporates knurled stainless steel handrails and rungs, increasing safety and reducing possible paint damage that is typical at the ladder tip. The egress is equipped with “Ladder Tip Skid Guards” on the very tip, which allow the ladder tip to slide on a roof or side of a building without getting caught on building materials.

Keeping the Mechanics Happy 

Maintenance is a vital component of keeping an aerial device in service. A review of many of the details of the aerials show particular attention to the ease of service of critical components if the need should ever arise.The wear pads are easily adjustable, removable and simple to lubricate. All pulleys are composite materials and require no lubrication, the pulleys shaft are high wear stainless steel material.