Airbus and IAI to develop pilot-controlled, semi-robotic aircraft tow tractor to allow engines-off taxiing
Mon 6 July 2009 - Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Airbus have agreed to jointly develop and test an innovative environmentally-friendly, towbar-less tractor fitted with hardware and software that will enable pilots of both wide and narrow body aircraft to taxi to and from the gate without the use of their jet engines. An initial evaluation of the concept, called Taxibot, has shown promising results, says Airbus, and will now undergo further ground tests in Toulouse. The aircraft manufacturer says that taxiing at airports using main engines is forecast to cost airlines around $7 billion by 2012 and results in emissions of around 18 million tonnes of CO2 per year. Read more ...
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Wing modification specialist confirms fuel and emissions can be reduced by up to 4 percent on older 737s
Fri 19 Jun 2009 - Reno, Nevada-based AeroTech Services says it is seeing positive performance improvement results on the first Boeing 737-400 aircraft utilizing the company's wing modification. AeroTech says the modification reduces fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by up to 4 percent on the Boeing Classics (-200 to -500 models), which has been verified in FAA flight tests. The simple modification increases the aircraft's wing area and camber, and lengthens the wing chord, resulting in an increased lift-to-drag ratio, effectively reducing fuel burn and emissions during climb and cruise periods. Read more ...
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GE and NASA to begin wind-tunnel test programme this summer to evaluate open-rotor jet engines
Mon 15 Jun 2009 - Following the refurbishment of a special test rig at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, engine manufacturer GE Aviation and NASA will begin wind-tunnel testing of counter-rotating fan-blade systems for open-rotor jet engine designs this summer. The open-rotor engine has been touted by both GE and rival Rolls-Royce as a possible next-generation engine for narrowbody aircraft because of its potential for substantial reductions in fuel consumption and emissions of CO2 and NOx. However, the prime challenge for them both is to arrest the significant increase in engine noise levels posed by the open design. Read more ...
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Era Systems to upgrade noise and flight track monitoring system at Phoenix Sky Harbor
Tue 24 Feb 2009 - The City of Phoenix has awarded a contract to Era Systems Corporation to upgrade its noise and flight track monitoring system at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. It will feature Era's AirScene.com NOMS (Noise and Operations Management System) and Bruel & Kjaer's 3639E noise monitors. AirScene.com NOMS allows the airport to correlate aircraft identification data with flight tracks to determine specific aircraft noise levels. The system will be used in the areas surrounding the airport, one of the top ten busiest airports in the US. Read more ...
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Lufthansa Cargo starts pilot scheme using lightweight containers to test fuel and emissions savings potential
Tue 24 Feb 2009 - Lufthansa Cargo and Jettainer have initiated a pilot scheme to test the impact of lightweight containers on the air cargo carrier's environmental performance and transport costs. The trial will provide information about their weight advantages and shed light on the behaviour of containers made of composite materials compared with their conventional aluminium counterparts. The lightweight containers are around 15 percent lighter and their use could lead to significant fuel and emissions savings. Read more ...
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