Towbarless Towing Vehicle Operations - Evaluation of Braking Action and Vehicle Conspicuity

摘要

General guidance on the operation of towbarless towing vehicles (TLTV) on airport operation areas is discussed with respect to braking during towing emergencies, painting, and lighting the TLTV and the aircraft being towed. Evaluations and recommendations are also given with regard to the topics discussed in the report. The braking evaluation was prompted by a runway incursion involving a Goldhofer AST-2 tractor and a Boeing 777 aircraft in which the 777 had none of its systems operational and no personnel present in the cockpit. A simulation analysis, conducted as part of the evaluation, indicates that a person in the cockpit qualified to apply the aircraft brakes probably could have stopped the TLTV/aircraft combination before the hold line and excessive damage would not have been caused to the nose gear of the aircraft during the aircraft braking action. This finding cannot be applied to other TLTV/aircraft combinations without analysis specific to that combination. The evaluation of painting and lighting (conspicuity) concerns was prompted by a number of airports reporting difficulty in seeing aircraft when being towed at night, particularly when the aircraft systems are not operational. The evaluation determined that TLTV/aircraft conspicuity may be increased by using brighter paint colors, reflective tape along the lower body panels of the TLTV, and additional warning lights on the body of the TLTV.