Bankers Capital signs LOI with Israel Aerospace Industries for purchase of TaxiBot Aircraft Towing units

Bankers Capital Transportation Leasing Group plans to purchase dozens of Narrow Body and Wide Body TaxiBot Aircraft Towing systems from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), to be operated in North America. A letter of intent regarding the $97m deal was signed at the Farnborough International Airshow. Bankers Capital is the launch customer for providing the TaxiBot services to airlines and airports. Delivery of the TaxiBots is planned to begin by the last quarter of 2013 and continue until 2015. Bankers Capital and IAI are preparing for the establishment of an operational testing site for the NB TaxiBot in North America by the end of 2013, based on discussions with some leading US airlines. The TaxiBot proof of concept was demonstrated during testing last year on the Airbus A340-600 and Boeing B747-400 under the auspices of Airbus and Lufthansa Leos. TaxiBot is the first successful hybrid diesel electric vehicle which enables an airplane to taxi from the gate to the runway without its engines running.