WheelTug Names ETA Global as Kitting Partner and Distributor

PALESTINE, TX--(Marketwire - Jul 26, 2011) - WheelTug plc and ETA Global, Inc. announce that they have signed an agreement under which ETA Global will perform final assembly and delivery to customers ("kitting") of the WheelTug aircraft electrical drive system for Boeing 737NG aircraft. ETA Global will also manage inventories and deliveries of spare parts for the WheelTug system within North America.

This agreement adds a key supply chain piece for WheelTug systems for the 737NG model aircraft. All supplier companies in the chain are at least AS9100 compliant and have decades of experience in meeting demanding aerospace customer requirements.

The patented and proprietary WheelTug® electric drive system uses high-performance electric motors, installed in the nose landing gear wheels of an aircraft, to provide full mobility while on the ground without the use of the aircraft's jet engines or tugs for both pushback and taxi operations. WheelTug enables aircraft to be electrically driven from the terminal gate to the takeoff runway, and upon landing from runway exit to the gate. The resulting improvements in efficiency, flexibility, fuel savings, and reduced noise and engine foreign object damage (FOD) yield projected savings of more than $500,000 per aircraft per year, plus substantial reductions in CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions.

The WheelTug system is being developed initially for the Boeing 737NG, one of the world's most widely-flown aircraft; systems for other commercial and military aircraft will follow.

ETA Global, based in Palestine, Texas, is a leading distributor of aerospace, electronic, and mil-spec component hardware, and also supplies kitting and vendor-managed inventory services. Founded in 1978, ETA Global is certified to the AS9100 aerospace-system quality standard.

"ETA Global is proud to be part of the Wheel Tug team," said Ken Wendell, ETA Global's Marketing Manager. "Becoming a member of Wheel Tug's supply chain allows ETA Global to once again demonstrate why we are the leading logistics solution provider in the industry. The benefits that are represented by Wheel Tug's new pushback and taxi system make their product an obvious solution for an industry that is constantly looking for ways to save money, lengthen equipment service time, and reduce their environmental footprint. We expect Wheel Tug to be a household name in the aerospace industry for many years to come!"

"We are delighted to welcome ETA Global as a key partner in the WheelTug supply chain," said Isaiah W. Cox, WheelTug's CEO. "We now have in place agreements with manufacturers and suppliers for almost every element of the WheelTug system. We may in future have additional distribution relationships to announce in Europe and Asia."

A full listing of WheelTug suppliers and risk-sharing development partner companies is on the company's website at www.wheeltug.gi/.

ETA Global is largely employee-owned. WheelTug plc is a majority-owned subsidiary of Chorus Motors plc.

Forward-Looking Statement: http://www.wheeltug.gi/fls.shtml