User:Alcibiade1985 06/Sandbox

EGTSTM is an electric taxiing system which allows aircraft to taxi and pushback without requiring the use of aircraft engines, and is designed to reduce fuel volumes used by aircraft and reduce greenhouse gas emissions during ground operations. It was developed by EGTS International, a joint venture between Honeywell Aerospace and Safran. The joint venture was announced at the 2011 Paris Air Show.

EGTS technology enables aircraft to avoid using their main engines during taxiing and instead taxi autonomously under their own electrical power, using the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) generator. The system is designed for single-aisle aircraft, such as the Airbus A320 and the Boeing 737.

Early development of EGTS
Honeywell and Safran were working on green taxiing solutions independently for a number of years prior to their joint venture announcement at the Paris Air Show in 2011. Both groups recognised that by combining their electric taxi research and complementary technology experience, Honeywell's avionics and auxiliary power systems knowledge and Safran’s expertise in landing gear systems, would deliver a mature and credible solution. Together, the partners have deployed teams in France, the US, Canada, the UK, India and Mexico dedicated to the development of the EGTS system.

Following the initial phase of ground testing and "first move" in April 2013, the system was formally demonstrated at the Paris Air Show 2013. One year later, EGTS had completed over 800 kms of rolling tests.

The demand for aviation industry: fuel and emissions reductions
Fuel costs are an ever-increasing drain on airline revenues and profits, counting for as much as 50% of airlines' direct operating costs in some parts of the world.

EGTS seeks to reduce airlines’ fuel costs, and improve their fuel efficiencies as an alternative taxiing solution. Current turbofan engines are optimized for flying, not for powering aircraft on the ground. As a result, every time an airliner taxis, it burns a disproportionate amount of fuel between the gate and the runway. This becomes even more of an issue for short and medium-haul aircraft, which spend a relatively long time taxiing between runway and gate, compared to the actual duration of the flight.

With a short- or medium-range aircraft spending up to 2.5 hours of its time on taxiways every day, EGTS could save approximately 600 kilograms of fuel used during taxiing from being consumed daily, according to Honeywell and Safran estimates.

In addition, the industry regulatory environment is increasing pressure to reduce emissions. A single-aisle aircraft operates an average 2.3 total hours on the ground during 8-10 daily rotations. Globally, the family of short-haul aircraft burns as much as five million tonnes of fuel per year during taxi operations alone. This amounts to an output of around 13 million tonnes of CO2 each year.

According to the European Commission, greenhouse gas emissions from aviation increased by 87% between 1990 and 2006. It says that by 2020, global international aviation emissions are projected to be around 70% higher than in 2005, even if fuel efficiency improves by 2% per year. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) forecasts that by 2050 they could grow by a further 300-700%.

An EGTS solution will directly contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions during the taxi phase.

How the system works
With electric motors located on each of the main landing gear driving inboard wheels and powered by the APU generator, the EGTS system allows aircraft to push back from the gate without a tug tractor, and taxi without the use of the main engines.

With EGTS installed, the aircraft can taxi using only electric motors, powered by the APU, until just a few minutes before take-off – and then again, a few minutes after landing, allowing for engines warm-up and cool down. The Pilot Interface Unit enables the pilot to switch on the EGTS and select the desired taxi speed (forward) or push back speed (backwards). The EGTS Controller receives and converts actions into orders to power the electronics.

The wheel actuator applies the required torque and speed proportional to the wheel as per the instructions received from the Wheel Actuator Controller Unit (WACU). The WACU converts current into instructions to the electrical motor proportional to the pilot’s command as delivered by the EGTS Controller.

Environmental
When a plane is taxiing under its standard powering system, the engines burn vast amounts of fuel. For example, taxi operations for a single-aisle, short-haul aircraft fleets, can represent up to 6% of fuel consumption at congested airports. In the report by the High Level Group on Aviation Research for the European Commission, a goal has been set to have emission-free aircraft movements when taxiing by 2050 (European Commission 2011).

EGTS will provide environmental benefits by reducing noise and carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions during taxi operations. Emissions of these gases will be reduced by approximately 50%, 60%, and 75% respectively. One single aircraft using EGTS is the equivalent of removing 829 cars from the roads in terms of NOx emissions, and adding 717 trees in terms of CO2 savings.

Improved on-time performance
Those aircraft equipped with EGTS will be able to “pushback and go” from the airport gate more quickly (creating a 60% reduction in push back time ). It is expected to reduce gate and tarmac congestion, improve on-time departure, and allow passengers to deplane faster as a result of smoother ground handling operations.

Added value
Without engines running during taxiing, ground crew will be able to operate in a much healthier and safer environment. This is due to the removal of jet blasts, and subsequent engine noise. In addition, the EGTS operation eliminates the need for aircraft pushback and repositioning via a tug tractor, enhancing ground crew health and safety. EGTS can also decrease engine maintenance by limiting foreign object damage (FOD) caused by material being ingested into the engines while taxiing.

Cost savings
Rising oil prices will push fuel to 34% of average operating costs and see the overall industry fuel bill rise to $213 billion. It is estimated that the estimated fuel saving on an A320-type aircraft using EGTS would be 3% to 4%, meaning on average more than $200,000 savings per aircraft, per year.

Market Interest for the EGTS
In 2012, easyJet, the UK’s largest airline, in collaboration with Honeywell and Safran, announced that it would be the first airline to support the development and trial of the electric green taxiing system (EGTS).

In June 2013, Air France announced its support of the development of the EGTS taxiing system. As one of the world’s leading operators of short range single aisle aircraft, Air France will provide valuable assistance in refining estimated savings of the system and quantifying other operational benefits.

In December 2013, Airbus signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with EGTS International to further develop and evaluate EGTS for the A320 Family.

In March 2014, Honeywell and Safran signed a Memorandum of Understanding with GoAir, one of India’s leading low cost carriers, to support the advancement of the EGTS taxiing system, a technology that can save airlines up to four percent block fuel consumption per flight.

Also in March 2014, EGTS International organized a Honeywell and Safran joint venture EGTS International organized its first "Pilot Days" session in Toulouse, offering 30 pilots an exclusive test drive of an A320 equipped with the EGTS electric taxiing system prototype.

In April 2014, Mexican airline Interjet, became the first North American airline to announce its support the advancement of the EGTS taxiing system, a technology for use on the taxiway and runway, which brings both fuel savings and emissions reductions to airlines.