Munich Airport and Assaia International AG Complete Successful Test of Radar Technology to Reduce CO2 Emissions

In a significant step towards reducing the environmental impact of aviation, Munich Airport, in collaboration with Assaia International AG, has announced the successful completion of a four-month test utilizing innovative radar technology to monitor and encourage the use of "Single Engine Taxi" (SET) procedures. SET, a practice where aircraft taxi using only one engine, has the potential to significantly reduce CO2 emissions and noise pollution on the ground.

The project, driven by Munich Airport's commitment to environmental protection and its anticipation of increased air traffic in the future, aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of radar technology in detecting and monitoring the use of SET by incoming aircraft. 

Key Findings and Insights 

During the test period, a radar system was installed at Terminal 2, strategically positioned to align with incoming aircraft. The technology works by detecting vibrations emitted by the aircraft's engines, allowing the system to determine whether SET procedures are being followed. 

Initial results from the first phase of testing have yielded promising insights: 

• The radar system successfully detected engine vibrations, enabling important conclusions to be drawn about the operating status of the engines. 
• Valuable data was collected to guide further investigations, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the technology under demanding operational conditions. 

Munich Airport and Assaia International AG plan to conduct additional tests to refine the system's detection capabilities and integrate SET monitoring into daily operations.

"Testing such innovative technology demonstrates Munich Airport's willingness to research and deploy modern solutions to improve operational efficiency and environmental protection. With Assaia, we found a partner who was able to implement the project at short notice and in a targeted manner," said a spokesperson for Munich Airport. 

Christian Hen, CEO, Assaia says: "At Assaia, every day we work to make global aviation more efficient, sustainable, and safer through the latest technologies. The test in Munich is another milestone on the way to a fully digitalized airport. We are very grateful that with Munich Airport, we had an innovative and capable partner at our side who is open to new technologies."