Honeywell and Safran have signed a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) with GoAir, one of India’s leading low-cost carriers, to support the
advancement of the EGTS electric taxiing system, a technology that can
save airlines up to four per cent block fuel consumption per flight.
GoAir becomes the fourth airline in the world after Air France, Easy-
Jet, and TUIfly. Sasi Kancharla, Customer Business Leader, Air Transport and
Regional Aerospace, India, Honeywell said, the system was likely to go to
market in the next few years and would benefit single aisle, narrow body and
regional aircraft.
EGTS uses electric motors on the main landing gear to enable the aircraft
to push back autonomously and taxi without using its main engines to
improve operational efficiency and reduce emissions. The news follows an
agreement with Airbus in December to jointly evaluate EGTS as an option for
the company’s A320 family of airplanes.
“At GoAir, we are constantly looking for innovative ways to lower costs
for our passengers while improving their flying experience at the same time,”
said Giorgio De Roni, CEO, GoAir. “This agreement allows us to actively participate
in the system’s development - a technology that we believe has the
potential to not only save fuel and reduce costs, but also improve aircraft
turnaround times and lower noise and emissions in the airport environment.”
Under the agreement, GoAir will provide data on its taxiing operations to
Honeywell and Safran to assist in maturing the system and to define the precise
fuel and other operational benefits it would see by using the technology
across its fleets. The agreement will also see GoAir assist in establishing the
airline standard operational procedures for aircraft equipped with the system.
“Where EGTS comes into its own is in supporting high-volume, fast-turnaround,
short-haul movements, where aircraft spend a large proportion of
the day on the tarmac taxiing,” said Brian Wenig, vice president EGTS Program,
Honeywell Aerospace. “As the only electric taxiing system to receive
support from a major OEM to date, EGTS represents an exciting, cost-effective
technology for airlines to lower their fuel burn and save money.”
Since the technology’s “first move” last April on board the joint venture’s
A320 test aircraft, EGTS has logged more than 200 kilometres of rolling tests,
including various load configurations and runway conditions, complex maneuvers
such as pushback, tight turns and U-turns, and varying specifications
of acceleration and speed up to maximum takeoff weight.
“EGTS has a significant benefit over other systems in that it has a maingear-
based electric taxiing design,” said Olivier Savin, vice president EGTS
Program, Safran. “Consequently, EGTS is the only onboard system currently
in development that can generate enough traction to mitigate the use of engines
during taxiing in all weather conditions and at all airports.”
