Boeing aims to reduce fuel costs

Rising fuel prices have caused airlines across the country to raise airfares, but a solution may be on the horizon from Boeing.

The jet maker has created an electric motor in the nose of the airplane. It would be used for taxiing the plane to the runway and gate instead of using the engines, which use up a large amount of fuel.

Preliminary test have been positive and now it is just a matter of the airlines saying they want it on jets that they purchase. However, in the current market it's highly likely that most airlines will scramble to put the fuel saving device on their planes.

Bill McCoskey, the lead engineer on the project said: "Up to 44 per cent of an airline's total operating costs are incurred on the ground, not in flight."

In addition, the device is environmentally friendly, another aspect that should encourage airlines to adopt the new technology.

Governments around the world are introducing stricter emissions legislation, and this product should help them do that, along with reducing costs on fuel.

The technology couldn't come at a better time as oil prices are hitting record highs and hurricane Katrina is causing financial trouble for many airlines.

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