TaxiBot trials show promise for fuel savings at Frankfurt airport

Trials with TaxiBot, a hybrid-electric towing tractor for transporting aircraft towards the runway without using the aircraft's engines, are indicating promising savings in terms of fuel.

Now in regular operation at Frankfurt airport with Boeing 737 aircraft, average savings recorded so far have been in the range of 50 to 100 kilogrammes of fuel per taxi-out, says Lufthansa, who collaborated with IAI to develop the equipment. European safety agency EASA is expected to extend certification to authorise use of the device with the Airbus A320 narrowbody family by mid-2015.

The partners have now signed a MoU to start certification testing for a widebody version, which is expected to have even greater fuel saving and environmental benefits.

Given that the aircraft does not need to start its main engines until the TaxiBot has reached a holding area near to the take-off runway, significant greenhouse gas emission savings can be achieved at busy main airports. Not only this, the TaxiBot has also proven to reduce ground noise by around 50%.
Preliminary calculations suggest the potential to save between 6,000 and 11,000 tonnes of fuel per year at Frankfurt airport, if the TaxiBot is used to transport all Lufthansa aircraft to the runway. This is equivalent to annual CO2 savings of 19,000-35,000 tonnes.