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Self-drive nose wheel promises less time on the tarmac
Stirling Dynamics has been awarded a new contract from WheelTug to deliver a new nose wheel design for the Boeing 737NG family of aircraft,which is powered by the aircraft’s Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), and aims to save time, engine life and fuel use resulting in reduced emissions and significant cost savings for aircraft operators. (www.stirling-dynamics.com) 更多...
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Amazing! Now if they can only improve enplaning /deplaning luggage.
They have been working on this concept for years, but it is a great idea. No more tug pushbacks, no more running one or more engines for long taxi lines to the runway.
I still don't get why not have tug wait for airplanes on the ground
It's been tired before, I can't remember which airport it was. They had tugs towing aircraft to runway, where they would commence engine start and take over, and would meet air craft after landing and tow the arrival to the gate. the logistics and traffic management of all that turned into more trouble that it was worth.
Either way, an APU has to be running to power the aircraft. Can also imagine there are more than a few airports around the world that won't want aircraft swanning around just off the runway getting hooked up to a tug. And you would need more tugs, which have a capital and running/maintenance cost.
Virgin Atlantic tried this, where all taxiing was done with a tug. If I remember correctly, they discovered that the wear and tear on the nose gear costed more than just using the engines.
