Part of Airbus Green Initiative
The need to use an aircraft’s
main engines during ground taxi at airports may be eliminated with the
innovative new “TaxiBot” tractor, which currently is under development
by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in close cooperation with Airbus.
This new-generation
solution features a cockpit-operated driving system controlled by the
pilot, which would be utilized after the aircraft has completed its
typical “push-back” from an airport’s gate with a driver. The TaxiBot’s
application opens the way for more efficient taxiing – with benefits
that include reductions in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions; lower air
and noise pollution; and increased ground traffic safety.
Intended to be compatible with Airbus and other
aircraft, there will be two vehicles: one capable of handling
single-aisle airplanes sized at 100 seats and above, and the second for
larger wide-body jetliners.
The response to TaxiBot from airlines, airports and
aircraft leasing companies has been extremely positive, according to
Heino Hoermann of Airbus’ Business Development office – who is managing
the project. “TaxiBot fits our strategic requirements and that of
potential customers,” he added. “They see it as a near-term solution to
reduce fuel consumption, which also fits with their environmental
agenda.”
Featuring a diesel engine and electrically-driven
wheels, TaxiBot is powerful enough to tow a fully-loaded aircraft. In
addition, a load alleviation system limits the loads and stress on the
towed aircraft’s nose landing gear and airframe.
Pending the successful completion of TaxiBot's
technical feasibility, a prototype for single-aisle aircraft will enter
the test phase this coming spring. The aircraft and tug coupling
evaluations and tug qualification are to be performed at France’s
Chateauroux airport using a leased A320 jetliner.
A dedicated joint venture of Airbus and IAI is
expected to be created in 2012 to finish the TaxiBot’s development and
to commercialise the system. The first TaxiBot prototype was presented during
October 2011 at the Inter Airport Europe exhibition in Germany, where it
won an innovation award in the “interRAMP” category.
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