PARIS AIR SHOW, Honeywell (NYSE: HON) and Safran (NYSE Euronext Paris: SAF) announced today they are extending their collaboration on the development of the new electric green taxiing system (EGTS) to include Air France.

A memorandum of understanding was signed today enables Air France analyze the technical, operational and financial features of the EGTS. While the airline will provide assistance to Safran and Honeywell in quantifying operational features.

Air France expects to save several percent fuel burn per cycle based on its current operations, for its fleet of 120 plus short and medium range aircraft.

A single aisle aircraft equipped with the EGTS system may reduce NOx emissions by approximately 50 per centand carbon emissions by about 75 percent during taxiing maneuvers according to the equipment maker.

Honeywell and Safran are targeting EGTS entry into service on new aircraft in 2016, shortly followed by a retrofit option on existing aircraft.

The EGTS allows aircraft to taxi without requiring the use of aircraft engines by using the auxiliary power unit (APU) generator to power motors in the main wheels.

Aircraft’s powered wheels will be equipped with an electromechanical actuator, power electronics and system controllers give pilots total control of the aircraft’s speed, direction and braking during taxi operations.

The system would therefore reduce, if not remove altogether, the need for aircraft ground equipment to manoeuvre aircraft in and out of stands as stated by the makers

Bruno Delile, Air France's senior vice president, new aircraft & corporate fleet planning, said: "At Air France we are particularly conscious about energy efficiency. With the electric green taxiing system, we aim to reduce our fleet's carbon footprint at airports, while also decreasing noise and useless fuel consumption."

Brian Wenig, EGTS program vice president, Honeywell Aerospace, added: "Having major international carriers such as Air France join us in maturing EGTS is very important — as with the rest of our portfolios voice of the customer feedback plays a very significant part in our product development process, ensuring that when we bring the system to market end customers already recognize it as a viable system for dramatically reducing fuel consumption and lowering operational costs.”

Olivier Savin, EGTS program vice president, Safran, commneted: "Air France has just joined the list of airlines that have expressed a keen interest in our electric green taxiing system, not only in the forward fit option for future aircraft, but also the retrofit option for its existing single aisle fleet.