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March 2012
airport Cooperative Research Program
Sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration
Responsible Senior Program Officer: Michael R. Salamone
Research Results Digest 15
Use of Towbarless Tractors at Airports--Best Practices
This digest presents the results of ACRP Project 04-07A, "Best Practices for
Managing the Use of Towbarless Tractors at Airports." The study was
conducted by a research team under the leadership of Ricondo & Associ-
ates, Inc., with Colleen Quinn acting as the Principal Investigator.
1Introduction to-gate towing, and maintenance towing
can be carried out faster than with conven-
1.1Background
tional towbar tractors, minimizing impacts
Towbarless tractors (TBLTs), also to airport operations.
known as towbarless tow vehicles (TLTVs), While some airports, airlines, and ser-
are used to tow aircraft on the airport. TBLTs, vice providers have developed standards
as the name implies, do not use a towbar but specific to their operation of TBLTs, no
instead use a pick-up device located in the industry-wide guidance exists for this type
center of the vehicle to cradle the nose gear of operation. Several incidents involving
tires in order to provide direct maneuver- TBLTs have raised awareness of the need
ing of the aircraft. TBLT operations have to establish "Best Practices" guidelines for
increased in recent years due to the superior TBLT operations.
maneuverability provided by these vehicles
and a renewed focus on energy and environ- 1.2 Development of Best Practices
mental conservation. The absence of tow-
Co nte nts bars and the higher operating speeds mean The use of TBLTs varies from airport to
1 Introduction, 1 that aircraft movements, pushbacks, gate- airport but is generally increasing. Although
2 Definition of Terms, 2
a TBLT represents a large up-front capital
3TBLT Operator
cost, it has several benefits over traditional
Requirements, 4 towbar tractors, including the following:
4TBLT--Vehicle
Requirements, 5
· More secure control of the aircraft
and greater responsiveness;
5Aircraft-Under-Tow
R
equirements, 6 · Simplicity of use and reduced opera-
6Towbarless Tractor tor training;
Procedures, 7 · Allowance for operation in the entire
7 Communication, 10 airport environ, including movement
8Operator Responsibilities, 11 areas, without impacting airport
9 Weather, 12
operations;
· Elimination of the need to maintain
10Emergency/Abnormal
Procedures, 12
multiple towbars (for each aircraft
11Future Towbarless Tractor type); and
Operations, 13 Towbarless tractor after disengaging from an · Energy and environmental conser-
12 Reference Material, 13 aircraft nosewheel. vation.
