Honeywell and Safran to showcase electric green taxiing system at Paris Air Show

Honeywell and Safran are set to demonstrate their electric green taxiing system (EGTS), installed on an Airbus A320 airliner, at the 50^th International Paris Air Show currently being held at Le Bourget Airport.

The announcement comes after the two companies successfully completed the first major phase of testing of EGTS.

EGTS technology is developed by EGTS International, a joint venture established in 2011 between Honeywell and Safran.

The technology allows an aircraft to taxi autonomously using its own electrical power, while eliminating the use of its main engines during taxiing.

Similar to a hybrid car using electrical power at slow speeds, EGTS will allow airlines to improve operating efficiency during taxi operations and lower fuel consumption by up to 4% per flight cycle.

In addition, it will provide environmental benefits by reducing noise and carbon and nitrogen oxide (NO_x) emissions during taxi operations as well as reduce gate and tarmac congestion.

It will improve on-time departure, and allow passengers to exit planes faster as a result of smoother ground handling operations.

EGTS is expected to be launched to the market in 2016.

Honeywell Aerospace EGTS programme vice-president Brian Wenig said that EGTS would be for aviation what hybrid cars are for the automotive industry.

Safran EGTS programme vice president Olivier Savin added that EGTS demonstrates multiple benefits gained from a system that combines concrete cost-savings with significant emissions reductions for the benefit of airlines, airports and passengers.

"Safran and Honeywell are highly engaged in the development of electrical technologies for aircraft that will help the industry revolutionise the way it conducts taxiing operations in the future," Savin added.

According to Honeywell and Safran, EGTS could save approximately 600kg of fuel used during taxiing from being consumed daily.

The system allows aircraft to push back autonomously and then taxi between gate and runway without involving main engines by using the auxiliary power unit (APU) generator to power electric motors in the main landing gear.

Each EGTS-equipped airliner’s powered wheels are installed with a control system, offering pilots total control of the aircraft speed and direction during taxi operations.

In addition, the system will also offer further savings by reducing engine and brake wear and minimising the risk of damage to engine turbines from foreign objects on the tarmac.

To date, the initial development of EGTS has involved more than 200 engineers working in 13 Safran and Honeywell facilities worldwide.

The component system and aircraft testing started in April this year, on an A320 modified by the joint venture for the EGTS development programme.

The modified aircraft has logged more than 3,000 hours of testing on seven bespoke testing benches and rigs, including on-ground manoeuvres in Toulouse, France, while the EGTS fitted to it has accumulated approximately 160km of rolling tests.

These tests assess the system in various load configurations and runway conditions, through a series of complex manoeuvres such as push back, tight turns and U-turns based on varying specifications of acceleration and speed.

Following the Paris Air Show, the next major milestone of the testing programme will be to conduct these same manoeuvres at speeds of up to 20k, at full-performance and with the aircraft at maximum takeoff weight (MTOW).

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Image: The electric green taxiing system (EGTS) which is installed on an Airbus A320 airliner will be showcased at the ongoing Paris Air Show. Photo: courtesy of Airbus SAS.