Abstract: A method for reducing aircraft turnaround time by improving airport ramp safety is provided. The method minimizes the time interval between an aircraft's landing and takeoff by independently moving the aircraft on the ground without the aircraft's engines by eliminating hazards from jet blast, the possibility of engine ingestion, and the time previously required to wait in the gate area upon arrival or at departure until jet blast or engine ingestion did not pose a danger. Turnaround time is further reduced by providing an onboard driver controllable to drive at least one of the aircraft's wheels between landing and takeoff, thereby eliminating the need for a tow vehicle and the time required to move the aircraft with a tow vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for defining, optimizing, and controlling taxi profiles for aircraft equipped with onboard non-engine drive means controllable to drive one or more nose or main landing gear wheels to drive an aircraft autonomously during taxi. An onboard taxi profile control system may employ smart software to determine selected taxi operational data at an airport and use this data to control and maintain torque of the drive means at desired selected levels that move the aircraft during taxi in response to determined taxi data or predetermined programmed taxi parameters. The system is designed to set default taxi profiles for each taxi cycle to achieve efficient aircraft taxi and to extend operational life of drive means components. Taxi profiles are modified and updated at periodic intervals or in real time in response to actual taxi conditions to optimize aircraft taxi at a specific airport.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for defining, optimizing, and controlling taxi profiles for aircraft equipped with onboard non-engine drive means controllable to drive one or more nose or main landing gear wheels to drive an aircraft autonomously during taxi. An onboard taxi profile control system may employ smart software to determine selected taxi operational data at an airport and use this data to control and maintain torque of the drive means at desired selected levels that move the aircraft during taxi in response to determined taxi data or predetermined programmed taxi parameters. The system is designed to set default taxi profiles for each taxi cycle to achieve efficient aircraft taxi and to extend operational life of drive means components. Taxi profiles are modified and updated at periodic intervals or in real time in response to actual taxi conditions to optimize aircraft taxi at a specific airport.

Abstract: A method for reducing aircraft turnaround time by improving airport ramp safety is provided. The method minimizes the time interval between an aircraft's landing and takeoff by independently moving the aircraft on the ground without the aircraft's engines by eliminating hazards from jet blast, the possibility of engine ingestion, and the time previously required to wait in the gate area upon arrival or at departure until jet blast or engine ingestion did not pose a danger. Turnaround time is further reduced by providing an onboard driver controllable to drive at least one of the aircraft's wheels between landing and takeoff, thereby eliminating the need for a tow vehicle and the time required to move the aircraft with a tow vehicle.