TaxiBot Receives EASA Certification For Use With 737 Aircraft

Oct. 23, 2014
TaxiBot in-service evaluation will start in the next few weeks, with regular commercial Lufthansa Boeing 737 flights departing from Frankfurt airport.

October 22, 2014 – The Boeing 737 is now officially certified for TaxiBot dispatch towing, by the
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI).
The Supplement Type Certificate (STC) was issued for Boeing 737 Classic aircraft.
TaxiBot®, a semi-robotic pilot-controlled vehicle, is designed to transport airplanes from airport gate to
the runway and back, without using the airplane's engines. TaxiBot in-service evaluation will start in
the next few weeks, with regular commercial Lufthansa Boeing 737 flights departing from Frankfurt
airport.
Since 2009, Both TLD and IAI, in cooperation with of Lufthansa LEOS, have been developing the TaxiBot,
with the support of both OEMs Airbus and Boeing. Lufthansa LEOS has also integrated this project into
the “E-PORT-AN” initiative, focusing on carrying the performance of airplanes towing and surface traffic
beyond existing limits of environmental sustainability at Frankfurt Airport.
Leading airlines, ground-handling companies, airports and leasing companies around the world have
shown considerable interest in TaxiBot. Several working groups are actively studying and preparing to
introduce TaxiBot in some of the world’s leading airport hubs, in North America, Europe and Asia.
Airbus NTO (No Technical Objection) approval is expected to be issued soon for TaxiBot operational tests
in Frankfurt and will allow TaxiBot to dispatch Airbus A320s to takeoff. The Boeing 737 and Airbus A320
airplane families comprise over seventy percent of the world’s mainliner airplanes; hence the potential
market is estimated at several hundreds of tractors in service the first decade alone. The return on
investment for airlines is less than two years. Advanced negotiations are progressing with several
potential customers.
TLD President and CEO, Jean-Marie FULCONIS said:” The Boeing 737 STC certification is a key step for
the TaxiBot program. The certification provides evidence to the aviation industry of the feasibility of
dispatch towing technology and its potential for saving millions of dollars to the various airlines. The
entire TLD team is very proud of this achievement.”
IAI president and CEO, Joseph Weiss said: “EASA certification is a major milestone for the TaxiBot
program. This innovative system will create an eco-friendly revolution in the commercial aviation
industry, and will save millions of dollars to airlines, ground-handling companies and airports
worldwide. We are proud and honored of this achievement.”
Lufthansa LEOS is supporting the TaxiBot project since its inception. “We are looking forward to
validate the TaxiBot savings we calculated with our daily Lufthansa Boeing 737 operation at Frankfurt
Airport.” said Gerhard Baumgarten, TaxiBot program director at Lufthansa LEOS.
For further information, please contact: Julie GAUSSENS; TLD Group Assistant Communication
Manager, +33 1 40 64 16 26, [email protected], www.tld-group.com