Technology is solution to
air transport energy crisis

By Todd Tanner, Director, Worldwide Sales

Todd Tanner

Director, Worldwide Sales

Todd Tanner serves as director of worldwide sales for JBT AeroTech. He is responsible for product management for boarding bridges, pre-conditioned air units and 400 Hz ground units. Tanner joined Jetway in 1998 and has served as a maintenance manager, project administrator and project director in addition to his current role. He holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and economics from the University of Colorado in Colorado, U.S.A., and a master’s of business administration from the University of Utah, Utah, U.S.A.

Excessive emissions at airports are a worldwide concern, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, has challenged the aviation sector to achieve the midterm goal of producing a neutral carbon footprint and the long-term goal of building a zero carbon emissions aircraft within the next 50 years. The deadline may seem far away, but for an industry that has relied on fuel — from aircraft to cargo loaders to ground support vehicles — achieving zero carbon emissions may be as challenging as reinventing the gas tank. At the same time, saving money is critical to an airline’s ability to compete, especially as fuel prices reach new highs.

Battling the cost of fuel, emissions taxes and pressure to stay competitive, the air transport industry is in crisis, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

“The airline industry is in crisis. With a fuel bill of $190 billion USD — one third of its costs — saving fuel is a matter of survival,” says Giovanni Bisignani, director general and chief executive officer of IATA. In July, Bisignani addressed the Farnborough International 2008 Sustainable Aviation Briefing and said that, in the end, emissions taxes, although mindful of the environment, will not move any company toward the goal of zero emissions. “Taxes don’t reduce emissions. Only better operations and technology can do that,” Bisignani says.

Fuel-saving technologies reduce emissions that contribute to pollution and help the industry move toward IATA’s goal of carbon neutral growth leading to a zero emissions future. Increasingly, airlines are turning to technologies such as JetAire® pre-conditioned air units and JetPower® 400 Hz ground power from JBT AeroTech, which can heat or cool the interior of an aircraft, enabling airlines to shut down an aircraft’s auxiliary power unit (APU). Reduced APU usage at a typical 23-gate airport terminal can produce a 96 percent savings for airline fuel costs when on the ground, and reduce emissions by 96 percent. For more information on reduced APU usage, see Chart 1. 

Pre-conditioned air

A plane sitting idle at the gate runs auxiliary power from the aircraft’s engine to cool the interior. This practice wastes fuel and emits unnecessary exhaust fumes, contributing in large part to the fuel and emission issues airlines are battling. The JetAire pre-conditioned air units cool aircraft avionics and the passenger cabin.

Commercial airlines, airports, maintenance hangars, airframe manufacturing facilities and military airfields have all benefited from mobile air conditioning. More than 2,500 JetAire units are currently operating in airports worldwide.

400 Hz Ground Power

The JetPower 400 Hz power converter works with JetAire to reduce pollution and save airlines hundreds of thousands of dollars per year in fuel, operating and maintenance costs. External power sources require an electricity converter in order to be compatible with an aircraft’s 400 Hz power. JetPower 400 Hz converts standard 50/60 Hz electricity using clean, efficient technology. JBT AeroTech designed the converter with versatility in mind, which resulted in JetPower’s ability to weather extreme environmental conditions.

The JetPower 400 Hz converter, when used with the JetAire pre-conditioned air unit, allows the aircraft APU to be shut off during gate operations. The aircraft is supplied with the needed electrical power, and the passengers are kept comfortable with conditioned air. Only when both the JetPower and JetAire equipment are used together is this possible — allowing the complete shutdown of the fuel-guzzling APU. 

JetPower 400 Hz ground power converts standard 50/60 Hz electricity to aircraft-compatible 400 Hz power using clean, efficient and reliable solid-state technology.

The future of air transport

Today, environmental concerns and the rising costs of fuel have become significant joint concerns for the aviation community and the people of the world. Reducing emissions whenever possible and utilizing hydrocarbon fuel alternatives for ground support and gate equipment are steps in the right direction. The cost savings related to incorporating these technologies may help companies stay competitive and thrive during these challenging times, and well into the future.

To learn more about Jetway® gate equipment, visit the JBT AeroTech Web site or contact a JBT AeroTech Specialist.


Typical Annualized Savings in Emissions, Fuel and Cost Due to Reduced
APU Usage.


JetAire, JetPower and Jetway® are registered trademarks of JBT AeroTech.
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