atpcliff

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I had heard about this. Didn't realize that control of the aircraft on the ground is much better with this electric drive system than what we currently have. We won't need a tug in the future.

cliff
GRB

80ktsClamp

Too bad they had to remove half the brakes to make the thing work. No bueno!

Left Handed

I wonder how heavy they are. What is the fuel cost in flight for the extra weight over the life of the airframe?

80- I already heat up the brakes on the bus quite a bit, less brkes is no-o good-o. (that's spanish)

Also, will we have to put in one of those beep beep things like a truck backing up?

Green Banana

Why is that? The nose wheel is the drive system.

BlueMoon

No, here is the article. VIDEO: L-3 and Lufthansa get moving with e-taxi demonstrator

Oberon

The article also says this.

This is a proof-of-concept. Removing brakes shouldn't be an issue in a production version. Lost braking action could be made up by using the electric motors as brakes. This would create additional energy but I don't know if the weight of storing it would be worth it. A nose gear model would do the trick too.

This is very exciting to me on a lot of levels.

1) Using less fuel on the ground gives me more fuel to use in the air.

2) If my company uses less fuel they will make more money. They won't automatically give it to me but I'd rather work for a profitable company than one that loses money.

3) It's a good thing to rely less on oil producing nations and the dictators who control the oil.

4) It's just better for the environment.

MatthewAMEL

Boeing tried this with the 777 and determined the weight of the electric motors required to move the airplane wasn't worth the cost of fuel and engine time.

The other consideration was a regulation like in our FOM which says no single generator taxi's.

Justdoinmyjob

Delta was one of the first to jump on this back in 2007, looking to use them on 737s to begin with. Then along came a merger and business cases got 86'd, like this and putting the all glass cockpit into the 75/767's.

Delta inks development partnership with WheelTug - Business Courier


Delta inks development partnership with WheelTug
Business Courier
Date: Thursday, March 29, 2007, 3:29pm EDT - Last Modified: Thursday, March 29, 2007, 3:31pm EDT
Related News


Delta Air Lines Inc. has signed a deal to help WheelTug plc develop a new taxi system for commercial planes and gain the right of first refusal to install and service the system for other airlines.

Gibraltar-based WheelTug is creating a new system that could allow pilots to back away from gates without a tow tug, and taxi to and from takeoff and landing points without using jet engines. Potentially, the WheelTug system could cut fuel consumption, reduce noise and emissions and trim airport and gate congestion.

Atlanta-based Delta (Pink Sheets: DALRQ) will develop the system with WheelTug. Delta's agreement also gives it the right of first refusal to provide installation and maintenance services on WheelTug systems for itself and other airlines. Further, Delta has acquired warrants to buy 600,000 shares of WheelTug at an average price of $36 a share.

Full development and approval of the system is expected in 2009. Delta could begin installing the system on its fleet of Boeing 737NG aircraft by late 2009.

Delta (Pink Sheets: DALRQ) operates a hub from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

Cycle Pilot

No single generator taxi? We (Delta and my previous airline) single generator taxi all the time. Am I missing something? Sorry if I misunderstood your post.

FlyJSH

Just how well did that investment turn out?