All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest and 5-Star airline, began testing the Mototok Spacer 8600, a high-tech remote controlled device, at the end of September.
The aircraft pushback trial run is conducted from Sept. 21 to Oct. 15, 2018. Approval for the trial run was successfully obtained from Haneda Airport authorities.
The Mototok Spacer 8600 is a remote control operated airplane pushback tug that will reduce workload at airports and increase the pushback precision by providing the controller a wide angled view and the ability to confirm the aircraft’s exact position at any time. In addition, the required training time will be shorter and more efficient in comparison to the conventional tug driver training. Using this new tug type also will reduce CO2 production, maintenance costs and fuel costs.
“ANA is constantly seeking technical advancements to continue to be a leader in the airline industry,” said Shigeru Hattori, Senior Vice President, ANA Airport Center. “The Mototok Spacer 8600 will help ANA become more eco-friendly in a safe and cost effective manner. By enhancing our current training techniques our team will continue to improve and be the best in the industry.”
ANA chose Haneda Airport, the largest airport in Japan, as the site for these trials to view the overall impact the tug can have on airport workload. By reducing workload through the Mototok Spacer 8600, ANA expects a positive impact on efficiency. The tug will be used on the Boeing 737, Airbus A320 and A321, ANA’s smaller aircraft. ANA hopes to fully implement the Mototok Spacer 8600 in its operations by 2020. In the meantime, ANA will continue to experiment and coordinate the criteria and requirements needed for such devices to meet ANA’s extremely high standard of excellence and safety. ANA is also considering introducing this device to large types of aircraft in the future.
By embracing the latest technological advancements, ANA wants to challenge the status quo of the airline industry and improve the overall air travel experience.
