Powered Wheels - A Concept for Parking and Taxiing of Commercial Transport Airplanes

The concept of powered wheels as applied here is the propelling of an airplane on the ground by direct traction of landing gear wheels using onboard power and under direct control of the pilot. This concept suggests an improvement in economic and ecologic factors associated with ground operation of commercial transport airplanes. For the concept to be economically feasible, penalities for addition of airborne equipment must be overbalanced by savings in fuel, engine operating time, ground equipment, ground personnel, and terminal space, and by increased airplane productivity. The use of direct wheel traction can improve the airport and terminal environment by reducing air pollution, jet blast, and noise from main propulsion engines during taxi and parking.

This paper is a preliminary look at requirements, configurations, and trades that require further investigation to establish the role of powered wheels in future air transportation.