HUNTSVILLE, AL--(Marketwired - Dec 11, 2014) - RMCI, Inc. announced today that it has signed a partnership agreement with WheelTug plc to develop and be the exclusive worldwide supplier of the sensor module for the forthcoming WheelTug E-Taxi system. The WheelTug system uses high-performance electric motors, installed in the nose gear wheels of an aircraft, to provide full mobility while on the ground, without the use of the aircraft's jet engines or tugs for both pushback and taxi operations.
"RMCI is pleased to partner with WheelTug on this effort. The WheelTug system promises to revolutionize ground operations for airliners, providing dramatic savings in both time and engine wear," said Ken Speaks, RMCI's CEO. "We look forward to leveraging our expertise in aviation sensors, diagnostics, and avionics to design and produce a sensor module for this essential component of the WheelTug system. We have been working with WheelTug for several months, and our two organizations make a great team. I anticipate great success and significant mutual benefit as we move forward on this project."
"I am delighted that RMCI has joined our team. RMCI's excellent and unique expertise will help us maximize WheelTug's value for our customers," noted Isaiah Cox, WheelTug's CEO.
About RMCI, Inc.
RMCI, Inc. is a leader in aviation health monitoring, having supported over 3,000 aircraft of various types. RMCI is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business based in Huntsville, Alabama and the most experienced helicopter health monitoring team in the world. RMCI supports vehicle health management technologies on a variety of platforms. RMCI's past and current customers include the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army Aviation Engineering Directorate and Aviation and Missile Command Headquarters, the United States Coast Guard, the Missile Defense Agency, NASA, U.S. Air Force, and the Aerospace Industries Association. More information about RMCI's experience, products, and services is available on the company's website at http://rmci-inc.com.
About WheelTug plc
WheelTug plc is developing the WheelTug® system which enables aircraft to be electrically driven from the terminal gate to the takeoff runway, and upon landing from runway exit to the gate. This allows improvements in efficiency, flexibility, fuel savings, reduced engine wear, reduce foreign object damage (FOD), as well as substantial reductions in CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions.
The WheelTug system can be seen in action at http://media.wheeltug.com
The greatest benefit of WheelTug-enabled ground operations is the time that can be saved parking and unloading the aircraft and cooling its brakes before the next flight. Because the system is in the nose gear, there is no interference with cooling of the brakes on the main landing gear, allowing aircraft to reduce turnaround time by as much as 15 to 20 minutes per flight. This can lead to a dramatic increase in fleet utilization, as well as passenger satisfaction.
WheelTug estimates the total savings from use of its system at well over US$1 million per aircraft per year. WheelTug's systems are being offered to the airlines entirely on a lease, or power-by-the-hour basis, permitting installation on aircraft and operation without any airline capital expenditure.
WheelTug plc is based in Gibraltar. A full listing of WheelTug plc partner companies and airline customers is on the company's website at http://www.wheeltug.gi.
Forward-looking statement at http://www.wheeltug.gi/fls.shtml
Contact Information:
For more information:
Alicia Shelley
Public Affairs
RMCI, Inc.
+1 256 489 9068
alicia.shelley@rmci-inc.com
www.rmci-inc.com
Jan Vana
Director
WheelTug plc
+420 724 276 506
+1 410 419 0082
exec@wheeltug.gi
www.wheeltug.gi