A TaxiBot is a semi-robotic towbarless vehicle used for towing an aircraft from the terminal gate to take-off and vice-versa after landing to the gate without using the aircraft's engines. There are already a few TaxiBots in operation at two Indian airports.
Schiphol is purchasing the vehicles from Smart Airport Systems and they are due to arrive at the airport in mid-2022.
Dick Benschop, CEO of Royal Schiphol Group, said: "2022 is a crucial year for sustainability in the aviation sector. We are accelerating measures to reduce emissions and improve local air quality. That's important for the climate, our employees and local residents. We're Europeans first and one of the few airports worldwide working on implementing sustainable taxiing on a large scale. Schiphol is a frontrunner, which makes me proud."
A previous trial at Schiphol showed that sustainable taxiing leads to around 50% lower fuel consumption during taxiing and therefore lowers CO2, nitrogen and ultrafine particle emissions. Given the distance involved, these fuel savings can reach up to 65% when aircraft taxi to the Polderbaan.
Schiphol has drawn up a plan together with Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL), KLM, Transavia, Corendon Dutch Airlines and ground handling companies dnata and KLM Ground Services to ensure that sustainable taxiing will be standard procedure at Schiphol.
The first step will be the deployment of these two special aircraft towing vehicles for a follow-up trial at Schiphol, in which TUI, Viggo and Swissport will also participate. This is part of a European initiative – the ALBATROSS project – aimed at developing and demonstrating more sustainable flight operations for whole gate to gate scenarios.
Modifications to infrastructure are already being made in order to make sustainable taxiing to and from the Polderbaan a structural possibility.
