Boeing and Chorus Motors have finished testing an onboard electric motor that may be able to move airplanes in and around gates, eliminating the use of costly tow tugs and noisy jet engines. In June, a team installed an electric motor drive on an Air Canada 767 and conducted a series of successful tests. Air Canada pilots performed ground maneuvers on slopes and terrains typical of those at airports around the world, including driving in reverse from a gate and taxiing forward to a runway. Tests also were performed at ramp temperatures exceeding 120 degrees Fahrenheit and at loads of up to 94 percent of the maximum takeoff weight for the airplane.
Electric motors
