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EL AL Israel Airlines To Equip Aircraft With WheelTug Aircraft Drive System
EL AL Israel Airlines Ltd. and WheelTug executed a Letter of Intent to enter an agreement under which EL AL will obtain a substantial part of the initial production of WheelTug Aircraft Drive Systems for Boeing 737NG Aircraft for installation on their own aircraft subject to financial and operational feasibility checks (avstop.com) 更多...Since it is an electric device. Could it be used as an auxiliary breaking system?
Since it is an electric device. Could it be use as an auxiliary baking system?
I would be of the opinion that on the ramp, the tug + wingwalkers is probably safer than Pilots backing up 300ft tubes of aluminium with wings on them. not even with a back-up camera and warning sounds!
But once the tug is disconnected, moving around on wheel-power is safer & cheaper than running those 2-4 turbines.
Virgin wanted to do it, but it was a hassle to drive the tugs back from the Runways to the Terminal.
Traction on those wheels could probably top-off the battery charge on landing.. lots of unused energy there.
But once the tug is disconnected, moving around on wheel-power is safer & cheaper than running those 2-4 turbines.
Virgin wanted to do it, but it was a hassle to drive the tugs back from the Runways to the Terminal.
Traction on those wheels could probably top-off the battery charge on landing.. lots of unused energy there.
Probably not a good idea for smaller aircraft - Weight and balance problems along with battery drain.
Do you support retaining buggy whip maintenance techs, the people who made clothes for the children who worked in coal mines, typewriter ribbon ink cleaning solution chemists, etc, too? Sometimes, jobs become obsolete. The true test should be whether it's needed (and I do think wing walkers are needed, by the way), not just "we've always done it that way" as an excuse to keep a position.