The eTaxi system is expected to offer more sustainability and increased cost savings for operators.
Up close with a Delta 737-700 taxiing to its gate in Key West. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)
StandardAero has partnered with Green Taxi Solutions (GTS) to certify a new fully electric aircraft taxiing solution for commercial and military use around the world.
The Scottsdale, Arizona-based maintenance, repair, and overhaul company announced Tuesday that it would lead certification of GTS’ Zero Engine Taxi, backed by a newly awarded $5.6 million Federal Aviation Administration Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions, and Noise (CLEEN) program grant.
The collaboration aims to speed up the development of the Zero Engine eTaxi system for more sustainable ground operations. Green Taxi Solutions, based in Plano, Texas, is the sustainable aviation tech company that designed the new system.
According to GTS’ website, the system is designed for widespread adoption across the aviation industry, including commercial, cargo, business jet, military, and helicopter operators.
“Any fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft equipped with an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) is a candidate for the system,” the website stated. “For commercial and cargo carriers, Green Taxi improves on-time performance, reduces fuel costs, and supports carbon reduction goals. Business aviation benefits from quieter operations, reduced ground equipment needs, and enhanced sustainability credentials. Military and humanitarian operators gain agility and independence in austere or remote environments—extending engine life, reducing maintenance cycles, and enabling covert or self-sufficient ground movement.”
According to a news release from StandardAero, the system can save an estimated 80,000 gallons of fuel and $250,000 per aircraft annually.
GreenTaxi looks to make use of StandardAero’s expertise in engine maintenance, engineering, and certification to secure FAA, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and international approvals for commercial and military sectors.
“At StandardAero, we’re deeply committed to advancing sustainability across aviation as part of our GreenERmro initiatives,” said Brian Skrobarcek, StandardAero’s enterprise vice president for environmental, health, safety and sustainability, in the release. “Partnering with Green Taxi Solutions on this certification effort allows us to support a practical, high-impact innovation that directly reduces emissions, fuel consumption and ground-level noise. It’s a meaningful step toward safer, cleaner and more efficient operations for our customers worldwide.”
David Valaer, founder and president of Green Taxi Solutions, spoke of the cooperation between industry partners to support the initiative.
“This partnership with StandardAero positions us for success by aligning our innovative technology with a proven certification partner,” he said in the release. “With the support of the FAA and our world-class collaborators, we are bringing to market a game-changing capability that meets the industry’s growing demand for cost-effective, sustainable ground operations.”
Certifying the Zero Engine Taxi system with the FAA is expected to take two to three years. The release stated that certification efforts will begin with the Embraer E175 and expand to other commercial and military aircraft.
“We see the Green Taxi system as the most viable near-term solution for reducing fuel burn and emissions during aircraft ground operations,” said Brett Ulrici, customer project manager at StandardAero, in the release. “It’s a smart, retrofit-ready innovation that delivers immediate value to operators without requiring changes to existing infrastructure or flight operations. We’re excited to help bring this capability to market through a streamlined certification path.”
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