MSGID: 2:292/854 0c0f2d5d
Schiphol Airport Amsterdam has deployed the so-called Taxibot for the first
time this week. After a trial period, passenger aircraft can now be brought to
the runway in a sustainable manner by the hybrid tow vehicle.
 
By using the Taxibot, aircraft do not have to taxi to the runway on their own.
That saves about 50 to 85 percent fuel on the ground. Trials started in April
with aircraft from Corendon, KLM, Transavia and easyJet being towed by the
Taxibot.
 
In addition to the airport and the airlines, Air Traffic Controlm the
groundhandler and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management are also
involved in the project.
 
The Taxibot is from Smart Airport Systems and was developed in Israel. The
vehicle, of which there are currently ten in the world, is powered by a hybrid
combination of electric and diesel engines and consumes 95 percent less fuel
when taxiing than aircraft engines would.

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