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The biggest benefit of WheelTug ground
operations is the time that can be saved parking
and unloading the aircraft and cooling its
brakes before the next flight. Because the
system is in the nose gear, there is no
interference with brake cooling, allowing
aircraft to reduce turnaround time by as much as
15 to 20 minutes per flight. This can lead to a
dramatic increase in fleet utilization, as well
as passenger satisfaction.
Other significant benefits of the WheelTug
aircraft drive systems include lower ground
operation fuel consumption, removal of the time
and safety costs from the use of ground tugs,
substantially reduced carbon dioxide and other
greenhouse gas emissions, increased safety and
operational flexibility, reduced engine and
brake wear, FOD repair costs, and decreased
noise pollution.
WheelTug estimates the total savings at well
over US $1 million per aircraft per year.
WheelTug systems will be offered to the airlines
entirely on a lease, or power-by-the-hour basis,
permitting installation on aircraft and
operation without any airline capital
expenditure whatsoever. WheelTug plc
successfully installed and tested the first
in-wheel WheelTug in Prague in June 2012. |
