Airplanes can take us to the other end of the world, transport hundreds of people and goods and cruise above the clouds in the sunlight. But there is one thing they are incapable of doing: Running backwards. That is what pushbacks are for – powerful vehicles which help Boeings and other jumbos removing from the terminal.
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This unusual means of transport is one of the most important vehicles at the airport. Its precise designation is F396E.
This conventional tractor with fully automatic transmission and four-wheel drive serves all wide-bodied aircraft at Hanover Airport.
“We call this a pushback. It pushes up front and pulls at the back.
Since airplanes don’t have a reverse gear they must be moved back to the main roller line again.”
To do this the flat, sturdy looking special vehicle moves towards the aircraft.
Via a tow bar as thick as a pipe, the machine is coupled to the nosewheel. Now the pushback is connected to the waiting aircraft.
But not all tow bars are alike.
“There are different kinds of tow bar for various aircraft models. Airbus and Boeing are the most commonly used ones. There is a ‘Dash-8’ tow bar, for example. These are basically the ones we use most.”
With the correct tow bar the Lufthansa plane can be ‘pushed’– which is to say, moved back from its parking position.
The 8-meter-long tug can push 448 tons.
The 52-tonner by Schopf is a real power pack on the apron.
The ramp agent coordinates the towage operation: he keeps constant visual contact with the tug driver and permanent radio contact with the pilot.
A highlight of the F396E is its height-adjustable driver’s cab.
But it´s not the 272 horsepower turbocharger alone which cuts a fine figure on the taxiway. The ‘Challenger’ by Trepel gives a hefty push, too – but to somewhat smaller aircraft.
The CHALLENGER 160 with its traction force of 110 kilonewtons is the smallest vehicle able to tow aircrafts like the Boeing 767 or this Bombardier Dash 8.
Airplanes are not only moved backwards from their park position onto the taxiway – enabling them to roll towards the runway on their own. Sometimes you have to tow them from one parking position to another. Pushback driver Stefan uses the ‘Comet 12 A’ diesel tug by Mulag for this.
Utmost concentration is required here because when you have an airplane on the other end of your tow bar, coordination and precision are called for. After all, the trained drivers have a great responsibility.
“For example you see this red mark on the hatch? The tow bar mustn’t go higher than that. That would damage the landing gear.”
“You can see the destination board up there now. Apron control has entered the type of aircraft which has to go here.
So, let’s park it.”
That’s pinpoint precision – no matter which pushback is on duty at Hanover Airport.

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