Each year there are several hundred aircraft collisions during taxiing operations. Fortunately, most accidents do not endanger the lives of passengers , but negatively impact the daily operations of airports and airlines. These collisions cause substantial financial losses (estimated $50B annually) and disrupt airport operations impacting passengers.

The ATS system would add an entirely new layer of safety by maintaining positive control of the aircraft creating a safer towing environment.

• Aircraft cannot deviate from the predetermined path
• Sensors detect luggage carts, fuel trucks, other aircraft & animals
• Pilot maintains control of aircraft – disconnect with brakes or throttle
• Optimizes aircraft traffic on taxi-lanes
• Stacks aircraft closer together – engines are shut off during taxi movements

In an emergency, towed aircraft are stopped immediately with notifications about the incident going to ground traffic control, pilots and other taxiing aircrafts. The system automatically reacts to emergency situations and adjusts the movements of other affected aircraft accordingly.

ATS will help eliminate most ground collisions at airports!

ATS optimizes aircraft movements, increasing airport throughput up to 30% provided there are no runway limitations.

• Aircraft are not required to stop and unhook pushback towbars
• Optimizes ground movements
• Stacks aircraft closer together in ques since engines are not running until ready for takeoff
• Increases gate utilization
• No waiting for ground crews to marshal aircraft in gate area
• Improves other movement factors

All gate, flight and taxiway operations are programmed into the ATS system to automate the current manual system.

Taxi time calculations indicate the fuel required to taxi is approximately 3%-5% of the entire fuel consumed for flight operations (take-off, flight and landing). In addition, fuel burned during taxiing results in large amounts of harmful emissions released into the atmosphere around airports. Approximately 25% of all commercial aircraft are wide-body aircraft, which consume an average of 19 gallons or 73 liters of fuel per minute during taxiing. The remaining 75% of large commercial aircraft are mid-size aircraft, which burn an average of 6 gallons or 22 liters of fuel per minute during taxiing. The overall average of passenger aircraft burns about 9 gallons or 35 liters of fuel per minute. The table below shows taxi times for the busiest US airports:

ATS has a fully integrated software system that eliminates most human touch points and errors. The system software completely orchestrates all aircraft movements from the taxiway to the airport gate and back to the runway. The ATS software suite is planned to integrate with the existing airport traffic control system software and is envisioned to be operated by the ground control personnel.

ATS is a fully automated system where airports can significantly reduce ground support equipment and personnel, decreasing overhead costs. Some ground support equipment, such as tug vehicles and towbars, are no longer required since aircraft are moved by ATS pullcars and tow dollies.

Current airport operations require 3-4 people and 1 tug to move every aircraft!

Integration of the ATS ground control system allows for greater optimization of airport gates and quicker departure times. Using ATS, planes will move during their allotted times and slots. ATS greatly reduces negative consequences of human-induced errors by optimizing taxi times, gate pushback and eliminating congestion in the gate area and on taxiways. There will be no more waiting for a gate or gate crew or equipment to dock and marshal aircraft.

Installation is accomplished using a modular installation strategy, which helps minimize airport downtime. Taxiway channels are constructed on-site then installed during airport downtimes such as the middle of the night. This allows taxiway and gates to return to normal operations in between installations. Most European countries have flights prohibited from 2300 to 0500 and in the US this time frame varies depending on the airport. During this downtime in airport operations, up to 250 meters or about 300 feet of taxi channel can be installed. After the downtime installation of the channel, the airport can return to normal operations even though the ATS system is not yet operational.

ATS will partner with a software provider to develop the unique software required for each airport. The software partner will customize and work with the airport to ensure the system meets all the airport requirements and FAA standards. Software integration is planned late in the installation project schedule in order to minimize disruptions to airport operations.

By reducing harmful emissions, ATS will help to improve the environment. The global use of ATS could also play an especially important role in improving the environment worldwide. Airports can apply for government grants for environmental protections by implementing ecological-improvement systems such as ATS. The emission reductions may be monetized by converting the savings into emission credits and selling them to companies paying fines for emission violations.

Significant reduction in aircraft fuel consumption, due to not operating engines during taxi under ATS, translates to dramatic reductions in harmful emissions emitted into the atmosphere. They are as follows:

Carbon Monoxide
Carbon Dioxide
Hydrocarbon
Nitric Oxide

The table below shows savings in emissions of different harmful substances:

One of the major advantages of implementing the ATS system for aircraft transport at an airport is significant fuel savings. Depending on the type and size of aircraft, fuel usage for 1 minute of taxiing is 5 to18 gallons (20 to 70 liters) per minute. Average fuel usage for passenger aircraft is 9 gallons (35 liters) per minute while taxiing. Aircraft engines (on medium and large airfields) burn an average 9 gallons (35 liters) of fuel/minute during takeoff. For example, taxi time at Frankfurt Airport averages 16 minutes per flight, which translates to burning approximately 148 gallons (560 liters) of fuel on every aircraft movement. Utilizing the ATS system allows the aircraft to power down engines shortly after landing and conversely, aircraft are not required to use their aircraft engines until ready for takeoff. Pilots perform the required engine run-up and preflight systems checks prior to takeoff. Prices of fuel have a significant impact on the amount of savings from fuel usage; see graph below.

Crude oil analysts agree the price of oil is predicted to rise soon. It may not reach the record levels of $140 per barrel, but even at $50-$90/barrel, oil prices affect airline costs. With each price increase of crude oil, the ROI for utilizing ATS gets shorter.

ATS World Wide offers an array of training options for airport personnel, including the use of a customized simulated system, on-site ATS expertise and classroom training.

At any time during ATS operations, the pilot or ground controller can detach the aircraft from ATS in approximately 45 seconds or less. The pilot can overpower the ATS system through the use of the aircraft brakes or throttles at his or her discretion in case of emergency. After the aircraft detaches from the pullcar the aircraft can move under its own power or be towed by traditional means. This event has no impact on other aircraft operating in the ATS system. All other aircraft in the system will receive an alert regarding the detaching event and the system will continue to operate and optimize all other aircraft movements.