E-TAXI SYSTEM(S) – A SMALL STEP FOR AIRCRAFT A BIG LEAP FOR AVIATION September 2013 Contact: Jan VANA +420 724276506 +1 503 957 8662 [email protected] Enhancing Connectivity Through Technology
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E-TAXI SYSTEM(S) – A SMALL STEP FOR AIRCRAFT A BIG LEAP FOR AVIATION
September 2013
Contact: Jan VANA +420 724276506 +1 503 957 8662 [email protected]
Enhancing Connectivity Through Technology
What is E-Taxi?
Ground movement without engines or tugs
Nobody cared too much till now , because no solution other than single engine taxi available
YET
Conventional Taxi vs. E-TAXI
Engine active from landing to terminal
Tug required for pushback from gate
Engine active from terminal to takeoff
TODAY
E-taxi active from terminal until warmup
E-TAXI
E-taxi active from landing to terminal
E-taxi to/from gate No tug required
Engine active from warmup to takeoff
(E-taxi can continue operations during engine start)
Taxi In
Taxi Out
Taxi Out
Taxi In
E-Taxi Impact on Aircraft/Airport Operations
Tugless Pushback
WheelTug’s twin elect ric nosewheel drives are powered by the APU
WheelTug’s electric drive system
simplifies taxi ops
and thus provides operat ional… and financial benefits
Engines-of f Taxi
Reduces pushback cost
Eliminates towbar disconnect t ime
Cuts engine wear & FOD
Reduces unpredictabilit y
Cuts taxi fuel use
Enables no-pushback parallel-to-gate operat ions
Improves safety & throughput
Reduces emissions
NO NEED FOR ANY NEW INVESTMENT
The WheelTug® System
E-TAXI Saves Fuel and Engines • The average US narrowbody taxis for 21 min/cycle • Engine warm-up & cool-down requires 3 minutes each • Single-engine taxi keeps the APU on to avoid cross-bleed starts
0
10
20
30
40
50
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1
2
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21
Cum
ulat
ive Ti
me
Engi
nes/A
PUs O
n
Taxi Minutes
Dual-Engine Taxi
Engine Time/Min APU Time/Min
Total Engine Time Total APU Time
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20
30
40
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1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21
Cum
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Engi
nes/A
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Taxi Minutes
Single-Engine Taxi
Engine Time/Min APU Time/Min
Total Engine Time Total APU Time
0
10
20
30
40
50
0
1
2
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21
Cum
ulat
ive Ti
me
Engi
nes/A
PUs O
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Taxi Minutes
WheelTug Taxi
Engine Time/Min APU Time/Min
Total Engine Time Total APU Time
Fuel ($100)
Engine ($40)
Pushback ($100)
Time ($390)
Other ($60)
Twist ($1670)
$0
$500,000
$1,000,000
$1,500,000
$2,000,000
$2,500,000
$3,000,000
$3,500,000
$4,000,000
$4,500,000
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
Savin
gs/Y
ear
Savin
gs Pe
r Cyc
le
Total Savings/Cyclevs. Single-Engine Taxi
Fuel Savings/Cycle
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
vs. Dual Engine vs. Single Engine
Fuel-Savings Only
E-Taxi reduces Emissions Emissions/Cycle
Airport benefits Without disconnects or engine warm-ups, jets move forward as soon as they finish taxiing back. This means ramps are not blocked by immobile aircraft
NO NEED FOR ANY NEW INVESTMENT
Increased Throughput
Higher gate throughput • Service vehicles, passengers and
personnel can operate around aircraft as soon as the airplane comes to a stop
Higher Airport throughput • Safety margins in taxi can be reduced
allowing more vehicles in the same space • Pushback time savings means aircraft
don’t block the taxiway for others especially in cramped ramp areas
Due to elimination of jet blast, engine noise & ingestion risk NO NEED FOR ANY NEW INVESTMENT
Air Quality
With WheelTug, cabin air quality improves under certain conditions Pilots complain of as many as five “fume events” per week – and sometimes pursue legal action
With WheelTug…
Air Conditioning Intake
Without WheelTug…
NO NEED FOR ANY NEW INVESTMENT
New Slot Creation
• In airports with morning noise curfews, engines can’t start until curfew lifts
• With WheelTug, loaded aircraft can taxi to the runway prior to curfew
• This can add 5-10 additional daily
morning take-off slots per runway • First-morning flights are the most
valuable for business travelers • Premium slots “sell” for $3 million or
more
WheelTug Aircraft
Non-WheelTug Aircraft
Aircraft Positions when curfew is lifted
NO NEED FOR ANY NEW INVESTMENT
WheelTug impact on Airline Earnings Before Tax NO NEED FOR ANY NEW INVESTMENT
If so great, why E-Taxi does not fly on aircraft
nowadays?
Technology is one reason WheelTug has not happened before now...
It’s not easy to package the elephant in the nosewheel
• Idea is simple, execution is challenging • Aircraft OEMs have other priorities and agenda • It is not easy to be a new kid on the block
If so great, why E-Taxi does not fly on aircraft today?
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