IAI's TaxiBot, in final stages of certification for Airbus 320

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is continuing to progress with its TaxiBot, the semi-robotic pilot-controlled vehicle for dispatch towing. Certification tests on an Airbus 320neo were completed successfully at Airbus facilities in Toulouse, France on December 8th, 2016. The TaxiBot reached its maximum speed of 23 knots, performed multiple turns at different speeds and tight turns at low speed. An engine start of one and both engines of the A320neo during TaxiBotting was performed satisfactorily, as were other tests conducted by Airbus test pilots. According to Robert Lafontan, Airbus Senior Vice President Engineering, following the successful completion of the final certification tests for the A320 with the TaxiBot, the formal EASA approval is expected at the beginning of 2017. TaxiBot, a semi-robotic pilot-controlled vehicle, is designed to transport commercial airline aircraft from terminal gates to the runway and back, without using the airplane’s own engines. TaxiBot started dispatch-towing commercial Lufthansa Boeing 737 (Classic) flights departing out of Frankfurt Airport in November 2014.