WheelTug has executed a Slot Purchase Agreement with Malaysia Airline System Berhad (Malaysia Airlines) Airlines for 68 737NG Systems. With the new reservations the order book of WheelTug aircraft drive systems grows to 641 delivery slots reserved by twelve airlines from Europe, America, the Middle East and Asia. Seven of those airlines are flag carriers.
Current commercial aviation practice utilizes a tug for aircraft gate pushback, while forward taxi is powered by the aircraft's engines. The electric WheelTug unit drives the aircraft without using the engines. In addition to lower ground operation fuel consumption, other benefits of the WheelTug® aircraft drive systems include: removal of the time and safety costs of the use of ground tugs, substantially reduced carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, increased safety and flexibility of operations, faster turnaround times, reduced engine wear and repair costs, and decreased noise pollution. WheelTug estimates the total savings at over US$1.1 million per aircraft per year. WheelTug Systems will be offered to the airlines entirely on a lease, or power-by-the-hour basis, so that the systems can be installed and operated on aircraft without any capital expenditure on the part of the airline whatsoever.
