Blue Bird Corporation announced that its full line of Vision conventional, All American rear- and forward-engine transit and Micro Bird small school buses passed all criteria at the Altoona Bus Research and Testing Center. The company added it is the only school bus manufacturer to complete the testing for its entire product line.
The Altoona Test is conducted in Duncansville, Pa., by the Thomas G. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute at Pennsylvania State University and is required for any buses purchased with Federal Transit Administration funds. The testing covers eight areas: maintainability, or the ease and time required to service bus components; reliability by documenting breakdowns,repairs, repair time and downtime; safety, the handling and stability of the bus; performance, by determining acceleration, grade ability, top speed and braking capabilities; structural integrity; fuel economy; noise; and emissions.
“Altoona testing provides information that validates the quality design of our buses, and Blue Bird is the only manufacturer that has put our entire product line through this thorough testing process,” said Phil Horlock, president and CEO of Blue Bird Corporation. “Blue Bird rigorously tests its products, whether the tests are administered by our own highly-skilled engineers or by a third-party. With safety, quality, durability, and serviceability at the forefront of our mission, Blue Bird’s testing confirms that our product line is at the top of its game and continues to set industry standards”
Blue Bird has undergone Altoona testing since 1993. In the past year, the company sumbitted its Micro Bird G5, the All American forward- and rear-engine and its Propane-Powered Vision application. Meanwhile, the diesel-powered Vision was retested in 2010 following a redesign.
All Altoona tests are available in a searchable database.
