AIRCRAFT | A320 Pushback & Towing

How to Safely Tow an Aircraft

Pre-Towing Preparations

• Ensure safety devices are installed on the landing gears and wheel chocks are in place before towing. Check that the parking brake is ON. Do not tow if dimension H exceeds 300 mm (11.8 inches) to avoid damage to internal centering cams of the nose landing gear.

• Confirm aircraft stability and energize it using APU, ground cart, engine running, or tractor as needed for your configuration. This step is crucial for safe towing operations.

Towing Procedure Setup

• After energizing the aircraft and completing EIS start procedure, set the ground towing control lever to towing position and install the pin in the cockpit. The nose wheel steering disconnected message should appear on the upper ECAM page.

• Verify that yellow brake pressure indicator shows accumulator pressure in green range; pressurize yellow hydraulic system with electrical pump for enhanced braking efficiency and safety during towing operations.

Installing Tow Bar

• Install a tow bar equipped with a damping system and calibrated shear pins to prevent high loads from damaging landing gear; refer to maintenance manual for calibration details. Connect tow bar securely to tractor after installing it on toe fitting. Remember to turn OFF parking brake control switch before proceeding with towing or pushback actions.

Lighting and Communication Setup

• Set exterior navigation lights, logo switch ON at night, and ensure anti-collision lighting complies with local regulations or airline procedures by turning ON exterior light beacon switch. For communication during towing, release VHF push-button switch and select control tower frequency on radio management panel while setting Interphone radio switch accordingly for safety reasons.

Towing Operations Guidelines

• Maintain a clear distance of 3 meters (10 feet) around nose wheels, tow bar, and tractor during movement; adhere to speed limitations based on passenger crew/cargo door positions as outlined in maintenance manual. Maximum steering angle allowed is 95 degrees from centerline when pushing rearwards at idle; this angle reduces to 40 degrees under specific conditions outlined in maintenance procedures.

• During slow towing operations, two personnel must monitor wingtips while one operates brakes from cockpit; upon completion of towing, align nose wheels with centerline before applying parking brake and checking that its light is ON in cockpit systems before securing wheel chocks and disconnecting towbar from fittings safely following proper protocols outlined earlier in this guide.

Post-Towing Procedures

• Remove safety pin from nose wheel steering deactivation electrical box after setting ground towing control lever back to normal position; confirm that "nose wheel steering disconnected" message disappears from ECAM memo display indicating successful disconnection process has been completed properly without issues arising post-tow operation completion phase ensuring all systems reset correctly afterward including lighting controls returning them OFF as necessary along with cutting VHF link communications effectively through appropriate button presses within cockpit systems management panels utilized throughout entire operation cycle conducted here today successfully overall!