HYDERABAD, India, March 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell
(NYSE: HON) and Safran (NYSE Euronext Paris: SAF)
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 4 percent block fuel
consumption per flight.
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
kilometers 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 main-gear-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."
Supporting Resources
- Learn more about EGTS International
- Follow @green_taxiing on Twitter
- Learn more about GoAir
Editors Notes:
- Developed by EGTS International, a joint venture between
Honeywell and Safran.
- Honeywell and Safran estimate that total savings for airlines
using EGTS could range from US$200,000 to
US$450,000 per aircraft, per year, depending on their
operations profile and system utilization.
- Allows aircraft to push back without a tug and then taxi
between gate and runway without engaging the main engines by using
the auxiliary power unit generator to power electric motors in the
main landing gear.
- In addition to reduced fuel burn, the system will also generate
further savings by minimizing the risk of damage to engine turbines
from foreign objects on the tarmac.
- The pilot maintains full control of the aircraft's speed with
virtually no use of the brake through an integrated pilot interface
unit. The system design offers a fast installation time and does
not affect brake cooling or tire speeds on landing.
- In January 2014, EGTS
International announced a MOU with Airbus to explore the potential
for integrating the EGTS taxiing system on the airframer's A320
family, under a program Airbus calls "eTaxi."
About Honeywell Aerospace
Thousands of Honeywell
Aerospace products and services are found on virtually every
commercial, defense and space aircraft worldwide. The Aerospace
business unit develops and integrates technologies that span air
traffic modernization, flight and runway safety, engines, cockpit
and cabin electronics, connectivity, logistics and more that
deliver safe, efficient, productive and comfortable
transportation-related experiences. For more information, visit
http://aerospace.honeywell.com or follow us at @honeywell_aero on
Twitter.
Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified
technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide
with aerospace products and services; control technologies for
buildings, homes and industry; turbochargers; and performance
materials. Based in Morris Township,
N.J., Honeywell's shares are traded on the New York, London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For more
news and information on Honeywell, please visit
www.honeywellnow.com.
About Safran
Safran is a leading international
high-technology group with three core businesses: Aerospace
(propulsion and equipment), Defence and Security. Operating
worldwide, the Group has 66,200 employees and generated sales of
14.7 billion euros in 2013. Working
alone or in partnership, Safran holds world or European leadership
positions in its core markets. The Group invests heavily in
Research & Development to meet the requirements of changing
markets, including expenditures of 1.8
billion Euros in 2013. Safran is listed on NYSE Euronext
Paris and is part of the CAC40 index. For more information,
www.safran-group.com / Follow @SAFRAN on Twitter
About Go Airlines (India)
Ltd.
Launched in November
2005, Go Airlines (India)
Ltd. is the aviation foray of the Wadia Group and currently
operates across 21 destinations with 120 daily flights and
approximately 2,000 connections weekly.
GoAir is committed to providing travellers a value for money
proposition through highest standards of customer service delivery
and affordable air fares. GoAir's flagship offering, GoBusiness, is
a priority service for business travellers looking to match value
and exclusivity. GoBusiness offers premium in-flight benefits of
greater legroom (reserved seating in the first two rows), privacy
(vacant centre seat), hot meals and personalised attention by Cabin
Crew. It also provides customers the comfort of priority check-in,
boarding and deplaning.
GoAir flies to Ahmedabad, Bagdogra, Bengaluru, Chandigarh,
Chennai, Delhi, Goa,
Guwahati, Jaipur, Jammu, Kochi, Kolkata, Leh, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, Port Blair,
Pune, Ranchi and Srinagar. For updates on GoAir, visit
www.GoAir.in.
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