Developers Safran, Honeywell Estimate Four Percent Total Fuel Savings For easyJet

A new electric green taxiing system (EGTS) will be tested by easyJet, which claims to be the UKs largest airline. The EGTS, developed in collaboration with Honeywell and Safran, will save the carrier an estimated 4% in its overall fuel burn. With an average taxi time per flight of 20 minutes, the companies say that the fuel saved will be the equivalent of 3.5 million flight miles a year.

The first operational trials are expected to start in 2013. Honeywell and Safran are targeting to offer the electric green taxiing system either on new aircraft or as a retrofit solution to in-service aircraft as early as 2016. The development and trial will help establish whether the estimated savings can be realised and also quantify other benefits. easyJet will also assist in establishing the airline standard operational procedures for aircraft equipped with the system.
 
“easyJet is always seeking innovative ways of reducing our environmental footprint as well as our operating costs so this technology is of great interest to us," said Ian Davies, Head of Engineering and Maintenance, easyJet. "This collaboration with Honeywell and Safran allows us to bring our ... experience of high frequency and high levels of operational performance to the partnership to ensure that the solution meets our needs.”
 
The EGTS allows aircraft to taxi without requiring the use of aircraft engines by using the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) generator to power motors in the main wheels. Each of the aircraft’s powered wheels is equipped with an electromechanical actuator, while unique power electronics and system controllers give pilots total control of the aircraft’s speed, direction and braking during taxi operations. The system would therefore reduce, if not remove altogether, the need for tugs to maneuver aircraft in and out of stands.

FMI: www.safran-group.com/?lang=en, www.honeywell.com