TRACTION VEHICLE FOR MANEUVERING AN AIRCRAFT AND FOR PROVIDING PRESSURIZED AIR TO AN AIRCRAFT DURING THE TAXI PHASE PRIOR TO TAKING OFF

摘要

The invention relates to a mobile vehicle (10) for supplying pressurized air to an aircraft (A), said vehicle being configured to tow the aircraft during its movements on the ground and comprising pneumatic means (20) adapted to provide pressurized air to the aircraft, said pneumatic means being manually connectable to a high-pressure connector (A2) of the aircraft and remotely disconnectable from said connector. The invention allows an aircraft to be moved by the vehicle to the runway threshold without its engines being started. The invention thus allows airlines to achieve substantial savings in fuel. During the movement of the aircraft, the pneumatic means of the vehicle provide the pneumatic supply necessary for the proper functioning of the aircraft systems. The remote disconnection of the pneumatic means meets the airport security requirements in that it prevents an operator from leaving the vehicle on the taxiways to disconnect the pneumatic means of the aircraft.