Schiphol is expanding a trial to allow aircraft to taxi more sustainably between the gates and the runways. The airport has bought two extra so-called taxibots for this purpose: tow trucks that are controlled by the pilots from the cockpit and where the aircraft engines can remain off. A disadvantage is that the taxibots take longer to tow. Precious time that both airlines and Schiphol do not want to waste.
Although the taxibots are speeding up the process, connecting and disconnecting the tow trucks is now taking even longer than is desirable. That is the conclusion drawn by the captain of the KLM Boeing 737-700, which was used yesterday for the first of a series of follow-up tests with the taxibots. Schiphol has been experimenting since 2020 with the more sustainable tow trucks.
According to the pilot, this was a difference of only 5 extra minutes, compared to towing by means of a traditional pushback car, but any delay costs the airline money. Schiphol is allocating a year and a half to fine-tune working with the taxibots. In 2024, the airport wants to structurally tow aircraft to and from the Polderbaan.
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If, after years of testing, towing with taxibots is successful, there will be many benefits for Schiphol, airlines, ground staff and the environment. Because the engines of the aircraft can remain off until the runway, this saves a lot of fuel and emissions. According to Schiphol, it would save at least 31 million liters of fuel and 80,000 tons of CO2 per year if all aircraft taxied sustainably.
Health complaints
Ground personnel who work outside around the aircraft then inhale less ultrafine dust. It’s been going on for years platform employees complained about health problems, which have to do their work near aircraft engines. There are still running to research to the consequences of ultrafine particles. The staff wants that the aircraft engines are no longer started near the gates, but that the aircraft are first towed away from the area.
Another advantage is that the pilots control the taxibots themselves, from the cockpit. The taxibots are faster than pushback cars driven by drivers.
Still have a driver with us though
It remains to be seen what the entire towing process will ultimately look like in the future. Although the taxibot is controlled by the pilot, a driver is always required due to regulations. He also has to connect and disconnect the tow truck. In addition, there must always be a driver to return the taxibot from the runway to the gate.
By 2030, Schiphol wants to have completely switched to sustainable taxiing and only electric vehicles on the apron.