ETW Staff– Mumbai
Honeywell and Safran have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Aviation Energy & Emission Solutions (CAEES) to evaluate the benefits of the EGTS electric taxiing system for Chinese airlines and airports and its potential deployment in China.
EGTS is a technology being developed by Honeywell and Safran under their EGTS International joint venture. It uses the aircraft’s electrical power to drive motors on the main landing gear wheels. This enables the aircraft to push back and taxi autonomously without using its main engines, saving up to four per cent block fuel consumption per flight as well as up to 75 per cent of carbon emissions and up to 50 per cent of NOx emissions.
Within the scope of the agreement, CAEES will assist the joint venture in assessing Chinese airports’ on-ground operational practices and associated regulations. The partners will also work together to quantify fuel savings and greenhouse gas emissions reduction in China, in order to substantiate all potential benefits.
As the world’s second largest and fastest-growing aerospace market, China represents an attractive market for EGTS. Zhang, general manager, CAEES, said, “Chinese airlines are operating on the ground in quickly-growing aircraft traffic flows leading to significantly higher taxi times. In addition, many Chinese operators experience high levels of aircraft usage, with numerous cycles per aircraft per year. Given this operational profile, CAEES is eager to evaluate the benefits offered by EGTS for Chinese airlines.” According to Safran and Honeywell current estimates, use of EGTS on short-haul fleets in China could result in more than US$250,000 savings per aircraft per year.
Olivier Savin, vice president, EGTS Programme, Safran, said, “We are proud to announce this strategic partnership with CAEES, whose breadth of reach will facilitate access to, and discussions with, various aerospace industry players in China, including airlines, airports, lessors and other related government organisations that have a stake in reducing carbon emissions. The phenomenal and sustained growth of the Chinese aviation industry makes it a privileged market for EGTS and we must ensure, during the development, that our system meets the specific operating requirements in this region of the world.”
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s 2013-2017 market forecast, routes within or connected to China will be the single largest driver of passenger traffic growth, representing 24 per cent of the 31 per cent world increase in passenger numbers by 2017. Brian Wenig, vice president, EGTS Programme, Honeywell Aerospace, said, “EGTS is working closely with CAEES so that we can assist the Chinese aviation industry in accommodating 227 million anticipated additional passengers in the coming years. EGTS will enable airlines and airports to jointly alleviate traffic congestion issues and reduce environmental emissions.”
With the regulatory support of CAAC, the Chinese civil aviation Industry is deeply involved in a programme of energy conservation and emission reduction promotion, with a programme completion projected by year 2020.