Electric Tugs Would Tow Planes To Runways

Sir Richard Branson was in Chicago Monday, to announce the return of Virgin Atlantic to the city. He also used his time at the microphone to implore city officials to consider a significant rethinking of ground operations at O'Hare International.

Branson says his plan to use electric tugs to tow airliners to the runway would drastically cut global aircraft carbon dioxide emissions -- as well as reduce jet fuel costs.

"We will be experimenting with it in a few weeks time at (London's) Heathrow and Gatwick Airports," Branson told the Chicago Tribune. "Hopefully, we can make Chicago the next airport in the world" to try the measure.

Branson added Chicago Mayor Richard Daley was "intrigued" with the idea.

"We are looking at it," Daley said. "We have to sit down with our commissioner ... and we have to talk to the FAA."

Skeptics say the biggest potential hurdle to the plan is the amount of time it would take a tug to tow a plane. Tugs typically travel slower than airplanes can taxi.

"Tows tend to be very slow, which is just going to create gridlock along the taxiways around the terminal," said industry analyst Robert Mann. "This is just a non-starter."

Daley -- who touts his plan to make Chicago "the greenest city in America" -- said he would also like to boost the use of alternate fuels in airport vehicles.

FMI: www.virginatlantic.com, www.ohare.com