PARIS, June 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell
(NYSE:HON) and French aerospace leader Safran (NYSE Euronext Paris:
SAF) have signed a memorandum of understanding to create a joint
venture company to deliver an innovative new electric green taxiing
system for new and existing aircraft. Honeywell and Safran
expect it to be installed on new aircraft and retrofitted on to
existing planes, beginning in 2016.
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The new taxiing system will significantly improve airline
operational efficiency and provide environmental benefits by
slashing the carbon and other emissions created during runway taxi
operations.
Taxiing burns a significant amount of fuel – current industry
analysis indicates that the world's short-haul aircraft consume 5
million tons of fuel per year during taxi operations. The new
electric green taxiing system offered by the Honeywell-Safran joint
venture company will save customers up to 4% of the total fuel
consumption -- all while providing green benefits that
significantly reduce the carbon and other emissions produced by
taxiing at ground level.
Honeywell and Safran will leverage the plane's Auxiliary Power
Unit (APU) generator to power electrical motors in the aircraft's
main wheels without using main engines during aircraft ground
operations, thereby cutting costs, emissions and reliance on fossil
fuels.
"When it comes to solving big, weighty challenges for our
customers, Honeywell and Safran have unmatched track records for
innovation and execution. Today, the cost of fuel -- and the
related cost of carbon emissions -- are right at the top of the
list of the biggest concerns for any airline," said Tim Mahoney, president and chief executive
officer of Honeywell Aerospace. "By using the new electric
green taxiing system to provide the power needed for ground-level
maneuvering, Honeywell and Safran can save our airline customers
several hundred thousand dollars per aircraft per year."
Partnership means better products and quicker market
availability
The new partnership capitalizes on the two companies'
complementary product strengths – Honeywell's auxiliary power
experience and Safran's world-class landing gear systems.
Both companies will contribute expertise in electric power,
mechanical systems and systems integration, as well as their
combined well-established credibility for innovation.
"This partnership provides Safran and Honeywell a unique
opportunity to combine our individual experience and expertise for
the greater benefit of the airlines and the passengers they serve,"
said Jean Paul Herteman, Safran's
chairman and chief executive officer. "We're excited to be
working on this innovative partnership that capitalizes on our
companies' individual strengths to drive performance for the
airlines."
Electric taxiing delivers significant green benefits, greatly
improves aircraft performance
Aircraft equipped with this new electric green taxiing system
will be able to "pushback and go" more quickly thus reducing gate
and tarmac congestion, improving on time departure performance and
saving valuable time on the ground.
Fuel savings are not the only operational cost this aircraft
electric green taxiing system will address. The system will
eliminate the need for tugging and associated equipment costs, and
it reduces both brake wear and taxes based on carbon emissions.
These costs are especially problematic for airlines with high
percentages of short-haul operations because ground taxiing is a
greater percentage of total aircraft use. That makes airline
profit margins for short-haul aircraft more sensitive to these
expenses. Fuel-saving technology such as this electric green
taxiing system can significantly improve the airline operator's
bottom line. Honeywell and Safran intend to focus their joint
venture on narrow-body-sized aircraft, which are more likely to be
used for short-range flights.
APU generates power for wheel motors
The aircraft electric green taxiing system works by using the
aircraft's APU to provide power to specialized motors near the main
landing gear wheels. Unique power electronics and system
controllers allow the pilot to control the speed, brakes and
direction of the aircraft throughout ground transportation.
About Honeywell
Honeywell's aerospace business is a leading global provider of
integrated avionics, engines, systems and service solutions for
aircraft manufacturers, airlines, business and general aviation,
military, space and airport operations.
Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified
technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide
with aerospace products and services; control technologies for
buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers;
and specialty materials. Based in Morris
Township, N.J., Honeywell's shares are traded on the
New York, London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges.
For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit
www.honeywellnow.com, or to download video or images from Honeywell
Aerospace, go to Honeywell Aerospace Media Center.
About Safran
Safran is a leading international high-technology group with
three core businesses: Aerospace (propulsion and equipment),
Defence and Security. Operating worldwide, the Safran group has
more than 54,000 employees and generated sales of 10.8 billion euros in 2010. Working alone or in
partnership, Safran holds world or European leadership positions in
its core markets. The Group invests heavily in Research &
Development to meet the requirements of changing markets, including
expenditures of 1.2 billion euros in
2010. Safran is listed on NYSE Euronext Paris and is part of the
CAC Large 60 index.
For more information: www.safran-group.com.
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respective owners. Copyright 2011 Honeywell.
This release contains certain statements that may be deemed
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than
statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or
developments that we or our management intends, expects, projects,
believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are
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SOURCE Honeywell
