Potential Localized Impacts of Autonomous-Capable Electric Aircraft Tugs

Abstract Electrically powered, autonomous-capable aircraft tugs have the potential to reduce emissions, save fuel, reduce noise, and improve safety at airports. The demographic composition of populations living near major airports in the U.S. was investigated to determine what groups of people might benefit from such changes. Results, based off data aggregated from the U.S Census, other government agencies, and computer modeling, suggest that implementing the use of autonomous-capable electric aircraft tugs could reduce risks faced by significant numbers of members of vulnerable populations, such as those with levels of health insurance, education, income, and poverty that are worse than the median for the state in which they live.