Tow aircraft
URN: PPLAOG51
Business Sectors (Suites): Aviation Operations on the Ground
Developed by: People 1st
Approved on:
2021
Overview
This standard is about towing aircraft. This involves preparing the aircraft and aircraft towing equipment as well as identifying the route and destination for the aircraft prior to towing. This also involves following your organisation’s, the airport/airfield's and the airline’s aircraft towing procedures at all times, whilst adhering to the relevant legal requirements and maintaining the safety of other airside users. You must know and understand your organisation's and the airport/airfield's low visibility, adverse weather and emergency procedures.
This standard is for those working in an airport/airfield who are responsible for towing aircraft.
When you have completed this standard, you will be able to demonstrate your knowledge of and ability to:
This standard is for those working in an airport/airfield who are responsible for towing aircraft.
When you have completed this standard, you will be able to demonstrate your knowledge of and ability to:
• Tow aircraft
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
1. Prepare to tow aircraft in line with organisational, airport/airfield and airline procedures, and relevant legal requirements
2. Prepare and use the required personal protective equipment (PPE) and aircraft towing equipment in line with organisational and airport/airfield procedures and relevant legal requirements
3. Communicate with other members of the tow team and Air Traffic Services ( ATC) as required in line with organisational and airport/airfield procedures
4. Assess and respond to weather conditions that may impact on the tow
5. Confirm the aircraft is prepared for towing, the tow route and destination for the aircraft
6. Request additional assistance from colleagues as required
7. Remain aware of other aircraft and airside activity
8. Tow and position aircraft in line with organisational, airport/airfield and airline procedures, and relevant legal requirements
9. Recognise and respond to signals from ground crew and aircraft brake operator in line with organisational. airport/airfield and airline procedures
10. Interpret and initiate radio messages when towing and positioning aircraft
11. Maintain your own, colleagues’, passengers’, and visitors’ health, safety and welfare when towing and positioning aircraft
12. Activate an emergency stop procedure and/or react to given emergency stop signals as required
13. Park and store equipment in line with organisational and airport/airfield procedures after towing
14. Complete the required documentation for towing aircraft in line with organisational and airport/airfield procedures and relevant legal requirements
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
1. Your organisation’s, the airport/airfield's and the airline’s procedures and the relevant legal requirements for towing aircraft, and the importance of adhering to them at all times
2. The geographical layout of the stand and airfield, and how to recognise and follow airport markings, signs, speed restrictions and ground movement vehicles (Follow-Me)
3. The personal protective equipment (PPE) required for conducting aircraft towing procedures
4. The types, limitations and characteristics of the aircraft you are towing
5. The types, capabilities and characteristics of equipment used to conduct aircraft towing procedures, including vehicle warning systems
6. The implications of the weather, particularly ice, snow and high winds on the tow
7. How to prepare the aircraft for towing, including your organisation’s and airline’s aircraft walk round procedures
8. The importance of confirming the route and destination for the aircraft before towing
9. Your organisation’s and the airport/airfield's procedures for preparing and using aircraft towing equipment
10. Your organisation’s and the airport/airfield's procedures for communicating with the tow team and Air Traffic Services (ATS)
11. How and when to request additional assistance from colleagues due to space restrictions
12. The types of health and safety risks to yourself, colleagues’, passengers’, and visitors’ when conducting aircraft towing procedures
13. The importance of being aware of other aircraft and airside activity when conducting aircraft towing procedures
14. How to recognise and respond to standard signals from ground crew and the aircraft brake operator
15. How to interpret and initiate standard radio messages when towing and positioning aircraft
16. Your organisation’s and the airport/airfield's low visibility and adverse weather procedures
17. How to maintain your own, colleagues’, passengers’, and visitors’ health, safety and welfare when conducting aircraft towing procedures
18. The importance of towing and positioning aircraft safely and adhering to safety clearances at all times
19. When and how to activate your organisation's emergency stop procedures
20. Your organisation’s and the airport/airfield's procedures for parking equipment after aircraft towing procedures have been completed
21. Your organisation’s and the airport/airfield's procedures and relevant legal requirements for completing documentation in relation to towing aircraft
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Skills
Glossary
Towing
The term `towing' can include both forward and reverse movement during the movement and positioning of an aircraft between two points.
PPE
PPE
Personal Protective Equipment
Your Organisation
Your Organisation
This is the company you work for or are contracted to
Organisation’s Procedures
Organisation’s Procedures
These are the procedures your organisation has in place to ensure compliance with relevant rules, regulations, instructions, policies, procedures, legislation and laws relevant to the activity
ATS
ATS
Air Traffic Services
This is a generic term meaning variously, flight information service, alerting service, air traffic advisory service, or air traffic control
Aviation terms, phrases and hand signals have been standardised to improve communication and safety across the global aviation industry. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) set out the standard for nonverbal communication and guidance signals in the IATA Standards in the Airport Handling Manual (AHM) and IATA Ground Handling Manual (IGOM). The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) set out the common language used for verbal communication including radiotelephony, the phonetic alphabet and phraseology to be used.
Links To Other NOS
External Links
Version Number
2
Indicative Review Date
2026
Validity
Current
Status
Original
Originating Organisation
GoSkills
Original URN
GSKAOG51
Relevant Occupations
Transport Drivers and Operatives, Transport Operations and Maintenance
SOC Code
8233
Keywords
aircraft, towing equipment, airport markings, safety