Ground Handling

Without reference, identify basic facts and terms about safe for aircraft maintenance, jacking,

towing, and mooring and the purpose and description of tow vehicles and tow bars. A

minimum of 4 out of 5 responses must be correct.

INTRODUCTION

As you may have already picked up on by now, crew chiefs are considered a “jack of all

trades.” You will be interacting with other maintenance personnel (specialists) daily. The

success of aircraft maintenance needs this interaction. In these day-to-day actions, you will

have the opportunity to perform a variety of maintenance tasks with the help of specialists.

These tasks include preforming a safe for maintenance check, launching and recovering

aircraft, towing, mooring, and jacking. As always, you must comply with all safety

procedures and tool control requirements.

INFORMATION: Ground Handling

Purpose

Ground Handling covers all tasks concerning moving and handling of the aircraft on the

ground. Launching and recovering (parking) your aircraft, installing/removing covers,

servicing, and towing are just some of the tasks you will accomplish on a day-to-day basis.

With every task done on the flightline there are procedures that must be followed, so when it

comes to ground handling, there is no exception. The technical data applicable to ground

handling is DAFMAN 11-218, Aircraft Operations and Movement on the Ground, DAFMAN

91-203, Air Force Consolidated Occupational Safety Instruction, and TO 00-25-172, Ground

Servicing of Aircraft and Static Grounding/Bonding. It is essential to become familiar with

these, as this information will be used daily to ensure safe movement and handling of an

aircraft while it is on the ground.

Launch/Recovery Procedures (fig. 2-54)

• Launch–to send aircraft on a mission/sortie

o Aircraft preparation

o Assist aircrew/pilot as needed

• Recovery–receive a returning aircraft after

flight and return to a mission-ready

condition

o Identify servicing requirements (fuel,

oil, hydraulic fluids)

o Inspection requir ments for next

mission/sortie

Safe For Maintenance

Always ensure the aircraft is safe before starting any maintenance. Basic mandatory items

needed to be checked as to not injure yourself or damage the aircraft are listed below:

• Verify condition in AFTO Form 781s

• Safety pins inserted for all landing gear

• Wheel chocks in place

• Ensure all egress safety devices are appropriately installed

• Properly ground ACFT IAW appropriate TOs

• Verify portable ground fire extinguishers are in place as required

Aircraft Towing

This is the most common way to move or

reposition aircraft (fig. 2-55). Personnel

involved in the towing of the aircraft must

be alert and exercise extreme care because

towing can be a hazardous operation.

Personnel should plan towing operations so

that no part of an aircraft is within 25

horizontal feet of an obstruction. A tow

team (Table 2-16) is required to accomplish

this task and a team will consist of the

following positions.

Fig. 2-55, Towing

Table 2-16, Tow Team Description

Member Description

Tow Supervisor

• In complete charge of tow team

• Conducts pre-brief for all tow team members

• Also acts as nose walker

• The only team member who can start towing process

Brake Operator • Applies aircraft brakes in case of an emergency

• Must be alert and always maintain eye contact with tow supervisor

Tow Vehicle

Operator

• Must always maintain a direct line of sight with the tow supervisor

• Must be licensed and trained to drive the tow vehicle

• Follow tow supervisor’s directions

Wing Walkers

• Required when moving aircraft in and out of hangars

• Required in congested areas

• Must always maintain a direct line of sight with the tow supervisor

Tail Walker

• Ensures adequate tail clearance while towing in congested areas

• Required when backing aircraft

• Must always maintain a direct line of sight with the tow supervisor

Equipment Required

Tow Vehicle (fig. 2-56)

• Utilized to reposition aircraft without having to

use its engines

• The operator must be licensed and trained to

drive

• Different types and sizes for different aircraft

• The larger the aircraft, the larger the tow vehicle

• Most equipped with four-wheel steering for ease

in positioning aircraft

Tow Bar (fig. 2-57)

• Allows the movement of aircraft on the ground

without the use of engines

• Connection between aircraft and tow vehicle

(typically)

• All tow bars are equipped with shear bolts to

prevent aircraft damage during high-stress

applications

• Size of tow bar dependent on the size of aircraft

(TO will specify which tow bar is to be used)

o Universal—used on multiple types of aircraft

o Aircraft Specific—can only be used on a specific type of aircraft

Safety Precautions

• WARNING—NEVER step over a tow bar once it is connected to both the aircraft and

tow vehicle

• Use approved hand signals per TO

• Use lighted wands during night tows/inclement weather

• Emergency audio can be used (whistles/portable horns)

• Towing speed—5 MPH or walking speed of the slowest tow team member

• Tow team members cannot ride on any exterior portion of aircraft or tow vehicle

unless dictated by technical orders

Mooring of aircraft (fig. 2-58)

• Secure or tie-down aircraft due to high winds or for long periods of time

• Restraint devices attached from aircraft to ramp (flight line) mooring points

Jacking of aircraft (Fig. 2-59)

• Raise aircraft for various maintenance

tasks

o Tripod—are used to raise the entire

aircraft off the ground allowing

landing gear operational checks to

take place

o Axle—for single wheel/brake

components repair/operational

checks

Fig. 2-59, Aircraft Jacking

Ground handling safety

• Wear appropriate PPE as specified by aircraft TO

• Be aware of nearby aircraft intake/exhaust danger zones

SUMMARY

Consider all maintenance actions performed on aircraft as ground handling. When you are

involved in these actions, you must pay close attention to the aircraft and the surrounding

area. Many crew chiefs have needed medical attention because they became complacent and

ran or walked into many of the sharp edged and pointed objects that are scattered over the

entire aircraft structure. One way to avoid this is to maintain your alertness to these hazards.

Homework Questions

2-3c. Ground Handling

Directions: For multiple choice items, carefully read the questions or statements and circle

the correct response. For True/False, carefully read the question below and circle the correct

response. For completion items, complete the sentences by adding the correct word(s) in the

blank spaces. Utilize the information from the study guide to correctly answer the questions

on a “separate sheet” of paper.

1. What equipment is required when towing an aircraft during hours of darkness?

2. What should always be followed when ensuring the aircraft is safe for maintenance?

3. What positions make up a tow team?

4. Why are aircraft secured to the parking ramp (moored)?

5. What type of jack is used for raising a single landing gear off the ground?