Airship towing (aircraft) - aircraft movement on the surface under the action of an external source (usually a special tractor ). In most cases, a rigid hitch in the form of a carrier connected to the nose strut of the aircraft chassis is used for towing. A flexible hitch is used to pull the aircraft out of viscous soil and in other cases when the forces on the nose strut of the aircraft chassis can exceed structurally limited values.
All towing operations are carried out in coordination with the command of the senior towing team. Between members of the brigade and the driver of the tractor, communication is maintained using radio stations or visually.
For towing, a towing device is attached to the tractor and to the aircraft - rigid (carrier) or flexible ( cable ). After that, the pads are removed from under the aircraft wheels, the aircraft wheels are released and the tractor driver controls the movement of the aircraft.
During towing, the members of the towing team are: a technician or mechanic at the workplace of the PIC (crew commander) “on the brakes” of the aircraft if the flight crew is not involved in towing; the senior - in front of the left, within the visibility of the crew member or member of the towing crew located at the PIC site and, if possible, within the visibility of the tractor driver; the rest - near the extreme points of the aircraft (tail, wingtips) - for large airliners, five people are required. The brigade members monitor the maintenance of safe distances between structural elements of the aircraft and other aircraft, as well as elements of the airport infrastructure , in order to avoid damage to the aircraft. They also attach, disconnect the towing device and install and remove the pads from under the wheels of the aircraft. Everyone who sees the danger of a collision must give the command “Stop!”.
At the end of the towing, the aircraft wheels are braked, pads are installed under the wheels, the tractor and carrier are detached from the aircraft.
Sometimes in the process of towing aircraft, engines are started. This is done to reduce the preparation time for take-off, in case of an airport congestion.