The feasibility of a fully electric aircraft towing system
E.V.M. van Baaren (TU Delft - Aerospace Engineering)
P.C. Roling – Mentor (TU Delft - Air Transport & Operations)
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Abstract
Operational towing is a taxiing strategy to reduce the fuel consumption during the taxiing phase of a flight, which decreases the cost and environmental impact of taxiing. Currently, no operational electric towing systems are available that are fully electric, independent from the APU and are capable of towing both narrow- and wide-bodied aircraft. The research objective is to determine if a fully electric towing system can be a technically and operationally feasible alternative to conventional taxiing. To determine the feasibility, a fully electric towing concept is designed and simulated in the airport models of Rotterdam The Hague Airport and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. A Vehicle Routing Problem is used to test the effectiveness of the concept at reducing the total fuel consumption at the airport. The results show that fully electric towing has a fuel saving potential up to 82%. It is concluded that fully electric towing is technically and operationally feasible.