MADRID, SPAIN--(Marketwired - Mar 4, 2014) - WheelTug plc and DSNA Services announced today the signature of a cooperation agreement.
WheelTug and DSNA Services are studying operational solutions to integrate WheelTug®-equipped aircraft in major international airports.
Current commercial aviation practice utilizes a tug for aircraft gate pushback, while forward taxi is powered by the aircraft's engines. The electric built-in WheelTug unit drives the aircraft in both directions without using the engines.
DSNA Services aims at developing greener and capacitive airport concepts and will provide engineering and consultancy expertise to implement the WheelTug drive systems. A preliminary study is underway at Paris CDG airport, with the objective of system trials by the end of the year.
The biggest benefit of WheelTug ground operations is the time that can be saved parking and unloading the aircraft and cooling its brakes before the next flight. Because the system is in the nose gear, there is no interference with brake cooling, allowing aircraft to reduce turnaround time by as much as 15 to 20 minutes per flight. This can lead to a dramatic increase in fleet utilization, as well as passenger satisfaction.
Other significant benefits of the WheelTug aircraft drive systems include lower ground operation fuel consumption, removal of the time and safety costs from the use of ground tugs, substantially reduced carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, increased safety and operational flexibility, reduced engine and brake wear, FOD repair costs, and decreased noise pollution.WheelTug plc successfully installed and tested the first in-wheel WheelTug in Prague in June 2012. Video from the tests is available at http://media.wheeltug.com
The order book for WheelTug® aircraft drive systems is at 785 delivery slots reserved by fourteen airlines from Europe, America, the Middle East and Asia as of 1 February 2014. WheelTug is in active discussions with over 300 airlines worldwide, and expects to surpass 1,000 slot reservations this year.
About DSNA Services:
DSNA Services provides worldwide consultancy, operational engineering and training services, which draw on the professional know-how of the French Civil aviation authority (DGAC) and aviation academy (ENAC). DSNA Services has widespread experience at implementing innovating Air Traffic Management (ATM) concepts such as Airport-CDM, dynamic ATFM, FUA, and Apron control.
About WheelTug plc
WheelTug plc is a Gibraltar Corporation. A full listing of WheelTug partner companies and airline customers is on the company's website at http://www.wheeltug.gi.
Forward-looking statement at http://www.wheeltug.gi/fls.shtml
Contact Information:
For more information:
Jan Vana
Director
WheelTug plc
+44 207 993 4293
+1 410 419 0082
exec@wheeltug.gi
www.wheeltug.gi