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Tags :Continental Europe, Air France, KLM Engineering and Maintenance
In spring 2009, Air France Industries and KLM Engineering & Maintenance are to launch a 6-month trial of zero-emission compressed-air powered vehicles. Developed by MDI (Motor Development International), the vehicles, dubbed AirPod, are designed as people carriers for small/medium volume loads.
The 4-seat vehicles are two meters long and weigh 220 Kg. Per-km operating costs are extremely low. The AirPod has a very small turning circle and is driven with one hand using a joystick system.
Air France Industries and KLM Engineering & Maintenance are the first companies to consider using these new-generation compressed air vehicles.
They will be evaluating the AirPods from the angles of safety, ergonomics, deployment, reliability and vehicle maintenance.
An AirPod prototype was demonstrated for the first time outside of its production site on 10-Oct-08 at the Air France Industries corporate headquarters at Le Bourget. Guy Nègre, MDI President, put the vehicle through its paces for Alain Bassil, President of Air France Industries, and Pierre Girault, Head of Quality-Safety-Environment and Corporate Social Responsibility, and their teams, together with representatives from the Air France Operations Division, DGE.
Air France Industries and KLM Engineering & Maintenance plans to deploy zero-pollution vehicles are in line with the AIR FRANCE KLM Group's environmental policy to roll out initiatives designed to reduce the impact of its operations on the ecosystem.
(c) Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. Date posted: 20-Oct-08
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AFI and KLM Engineering and Maintenance to test AirPod 
