The TaxiBot, developed by the Lahav Division of Israel Aerospace Industries, is a semi-robotic, towbarless aircraft tractor.
Its primary function is to transport an aircraft from the terminal gate to the take-off area (taxi-out phase) and back to the gate post-landing (taxi-in phase). TaxiBot has been suspected to be able to reduce the need for airplane engines during these phases.[1] Operational control of the TaxiBot is maintained by the aircraft's pilot from the cockpit, using standard pilot controls.[2]
There are two models of the TaxiBot available. The Narrow-Body (NB) model is compatible with single-aisle aircraft, including the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 series. The Wide-Body (WB) model is meant for twin-aisle aircraft, such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747.[3]
History
editThe TaxiBot completed certification tests in July 2014,[4] was approved for airport towing in November 2014,[5] and had the first commercial flight dispatch-towed (Lufthansa LH140 from Frankfurt to Nuremberg) on November 25, 2014.[6] In February 2015, the TaxiBot entered regular flight operations by Lufthansa at Frankfurt Airport.[7] Certification tests of the Wide-Body model occurred from 2016 to 2018.[8]
In October 2019, Air India became the first airline to "regularly" use the TaxiBot by deploying the unit to dispatch a Delhi–Mumbai flight from Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, one of the Top 10 airports in the world by annual passenger traffic.[9]
References
edit- ^ "Airbus MoU with IAI to explore eco-efficient 'engines-off' taxiing". June 17, 2009. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
- ^ "New IAI "taxibot" to save airlines billions". Globes. Globes. February 3, 2011. Archived from the original on February 10, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
- ^ "TaxiBot-International". taxibot. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- ^ "Farnborough reflects progress in innovative aircraft handling". IHS Inc. July 15, 2014. Archived from the original on February 22, 2015.
- ^ "Israel Aerospace towing system approved for Boeing 737 jets". Reuters. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ "THE 1ST TAXIBOTING ON A COMMERCIAL FLIGHT IS A SUCCESS". November 26, 2014. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
- ^ "Lufthansa introduces Israel Aerospace towing system". Globes. February 22, 2015. Archived from the original on February 22, 2015. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
- ^ "TaxiBot press and media page". June 2, 2023. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
- ^ "Air India: First airline in world to use 'Taxibot' on flight". October 15, 2019. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2019.