IAI and Airbus to Develop Environmentally Conscious Taxiing System

Article published on Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd website, June 17, 2009

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Airbus have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the 2009 International Paris Air Show to jointly develop and test an innovative environmentally friendly pilot-controlled towing semi-robotic system.
The Taxibot Dispatch Towing system, designed by IAI, allows both wide and narrow body commercial airplanes to taxi to and from the gate and the runway without the use of their jet engines.

The revolutionary Taxibot Dispatch Towing concept represents a potential to reduce annual fuel costs from $8 billion to less than $2 billion, CO2 emissions from 18 billion tons to less than 2 million tons per year, and noise emissions by a significant margin.

Yehushua (Shuki) Eldar, IAI's Corporate VP of Business Development and Subsidiaries says: "We are excited to work on the development of this eco-efficient taxiing dispatch system. The project demonstrates our commitment to the environment and utilizes IAI's robotics capabilities and technological experience.”

IAI and Airbus are studying the performance, operational, commercial, and safety aspects of the system on a series of ground taxiing tests on Airbus' A-340-600 airplane in Toulouse. The companies have agreed that following successful test period results, they may establish a Joint Venture (JV) to develop and certify the Taxibot and market the program.

According to plans, the Taxibot operational system is expected to be ready for first deliveries by the third quarter of 2011.

The special design of the Taxibot gives the pilot full control of the system during the taxiing process, and uses the existing airplane controls in the same way that the pilot is accustomed to when taxiing using the airplane's engines. The use of the Taxibot system requires no modification to the airplane and minimal modifications to the airport infrastructure which will not affect existing taxiways and runways.

For the last three years, IAI has invested R&D resources in environmentally conscious programs, including the development of renewable energy technologies, as part of a strategic plan to increase its civilian activities. Taxibot is a significant step forward that can modify the taxiing process in airports to save fuel, decrease noise levels and air pollution in comparison with today's ground operational processes.

Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion named top Middle East airport

Article on www.globes.co.il March 10, 2009
By Orli Peleg-Mizrahi

Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion named top Middle East airport
This is the second successive year that Ben Gurion Airport has achieved this ranking.
Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport came top in the Middle East region in the Airports Council International (ACI) airport survey. The rankings were announced today. Ben Gurion came second in the world for airports with annual passenger traffic of 5-15 million. This is the second successive year in which Ben Gurion Airport has achieved these rankings.

The ACI survey captures passengers’ perception of the quality of more than 30 aspects of service that they have experienced at an airport. Interviewing covers every day of the week and every month of the year to ensure coverage of all seasons and all peaks and troughs.

For the fourth successive year, the top three performing airports in the world were in the Asia-Pacific Region, with Incheon International Airport in South Korea winning the Best Airport Award. Passenger satisfaction with the new Terminal 3 promoted Singapore Changi Airport into 2nd place this year, with Hong Kong International Airport coming in at a close 3rd place.

ACI director general Angela Gittens said, "Survey results show that overall passenger satisfaction continues to improve year-on-year. This reflects the importance airports are placing on customer satisfaction and the innovation in services that we are seeing worldwide. The program continues to grow which demonstrates that airports care very much about their customers, no matter how tough the economic situation.”

The survey found that comfortable waiting areas, good signage, and clean, readily accessible washrooms are the most important elements to a passenger.