Quote:Just so you know
Hence WT's tie up with Delta, Newport Aeronautical & employing Gilbert Thompson - nothing but the finest.
Has this company really thought of everything?
Everything is an unreal expectation, but WT are striving for that! It is expected that, on balance, WT will be a 'no brainer'.
demonstrate it.
See the video. If it wasn't feasible at the simple terrain obstacle level, WT wouldn't be at the development stage it currently is. Inclines etc were part of the joint WT/Boeing proof of concept test.
For example, if startup fails.
The system will have a very long service life / MTBF. Besides if it were to fail (to a 100% safe condition), the fall back is to the traditional methods. The only issue might be a shortage of fuel. If you mean a main engine fails to start, that situation would occur some ~5 minutes before take off and (sorry if my terminology is wrong, I'm in business development) usually there is an escape route away from the runway. It is most unlikely that WT & BOTH engines would fail at the same time. (Such craft would have no business being anywhere near a runway anyway!)
Taxi Speeds.
That is a variable design parameter. Trade offs between speed, acceleration, motor weight, available power and the requirements of the customer.
Dismiss all the pushback crews
Certification will be handled one model at a time. Installation will take time to roll out too. Thus even with a satisfactory development outcome, it will not be an overnight changeover.
in-air wheel spinup
except that that would then be a flight system, for which WT are not currently planning the system to be so certified.
The pressure is on
True. The pressure is on the industry to green up. WT really is something the industry can offer that lobby AND save itself an awful lot of money..
Quote, Aviation Week and Space Technology, August 20/27, Page 60
"Tough Road" Pressure builds on Industry as calls for greener aviation increase Robert Wall/Paris
"....Taxing without engines running could also yield substantial savings that Airbus estimates at 10,000 metric tons of fuel during the life of an A320...."