Wot Would You Do, Captain?

[barkingmad]

From some time ago but an awkward situation for all concerned.

If it is a 73NG being towed then apparently the max towing angle is 78 degrees, unless the torque link is disconnected.

It doesn’t help that all the action is occurring on the RHS so was that seat occupant watching and were they aware of the towbar separation?

It might have been a low hours F/O or a senior TC, but either way it appears no braking was attempted following the initial tactile evidence of lack of steering control by tractor and aircraft, if the ‘frame was powered with brake acc charged and braking was available…

Over to the jury;

[PHXPhlyer]

According to all the websites that I checked, there were no brakeriders onboard.

https://www.google.com/search?q=737+tug ... UTF-8#ip=1

PP

[Wodrick]

No body "On Brakes" is astonishingly bad practice.

Disconnecting torque links was not normal 737 practice where I worked.

I have done these things.

Getting into a situation where steering limits are approached is complete lack of competence.

The term "Ramper" should be removed from the world vocabulary.

[barkingmad]

This one explains it a bit better, but it's good to know that the ground handling/engineering departments were saving money by not employing surplus workforce aboard the empty 'frame;

https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/emp ... a-guardia/

Why do we not see senior airline managers secured to and stretched across the blast fences at airports?

It would do wonders for morale if nothing else...

[PHXPhlyer]

Why do we not see senior airline managers secured to and stretched across the blast fences at airports?

It would do wonders for morale if nothing else...

+1
PP

[tango15]

Just another example of the direct results of ground staff under pressure. No doubt the hapless tug driver had been told to get the aircraft onto the gate as soon as possible. No brakeman around, but we need this aircraft on the gate NOW! Why else would he be towing it so fast? If that video clip is running at the right speed, that's the fastest tow I've ever seen.

[PHXPhlyer]

This is the way to tow, although not foolproof as the photo below willshow.

Super Tug
Behind the scenes at JFK: Super tugs in action

https://abc7ny.com/super-tugs-in-action ... k/2540197/

JAMAICA, Queens (WABC) -- It's ungainly, unwieldy, anything but aerodynamic, but it's integral in getting jetliners in the air. The Douglas "super tug" is capable of towing 750,000 pounds. That's 237 yellow cabs, or one fully loaded Boeing 777.

Delta invited us in for an exclusive behind the scenes look as workers shuttled giant jets across the tarmac. It's a view few passengers ever get to see.

At JFK, Delta has a fleet of six super tugs, worth as much as $1 million a piece. They move 60-70 planes per day. Because the airline's hub at Terminal 4 has fewer gates than flights per day, workers from the "Move Team" hook up super tugs to an airliner as soon as passengers disembark, and then tow it to a remote location for servicing and maintenance, freeing up the gate for the next arrival. Eventually, when the plane's been cleaned, catered and prepped for its next flight, a super tug will return it to the gate, so passengers can board.
https://abc7ny.com/video/embed/?pid=2543406

https://www.airliners.net/photo/Northwe ... /1171294/L


PP

[PHXPhlyer]

PP

[Pontius Navigator]

We had a brakeman misshap on the Shackleton. Being a tail dragger the tug is at the back and the brakeman at the front.

I think communication was by cleft stick and runner. Somewhere in the process the brakeman broke and the tug man tugged with predictable consequences.

Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on your POV, the museum at Manchester agreed a swap for a new tail. Not sure how much was swapped.