What are the characteristics of a pole-mounted tractor and a pole-less tractor?

An aircraft tractor is a type of security equipment used to tow aircraft on the ground at airports. It is characterised by its low profile and high tractive effort due to the vehicle's high deadweight. As the aircraft's engine can only provide power for the aircraft to glide forward, an aircraft tractor is required to push and tow the aircraft when it exits the hangar of the bridge or leaves the aircraft position and needs to move backwards. In addition, aircraft tractors are also used to move aircraft if their engines are switched off due to breakdowns or environmental requirements at the airport, or to reduce operating costs. Aircraft tow tractors are also important for rescue towing in special circumstances.

Depending on the towing method, aircraft tractors can be divided into two categories: pole-mounted aircraft tractors and pole-less aircraft tractors. A pole-mounted aircraft tractor is a special vehicle that uses a special traction bar that matches the aircraft type and is connected to the aircraft to carry out traction work on the aircraft. Rodless aircraft tractors, which do not require a tractor to connect the aircraft to the vehicle, are special vehicles that directly hold the front wheels of the aircraft and hold up the front landing gear of the aircraft to carry out traction operations on the aircraft.

According to the size of the traction force, it can be divided into three types: small, medium and large. The traction force of small tractors is generally less than 150 KN, the traction force of medium-sized tractors is between 150 KN and 250 KN, and the traction force of large tractors is more than 250 KN.

Barred tractors

A rod-type aircraft tractor transfers traction to the front landing gear of an aircraft by means of a special traction bar to move the aircraft. The aircraft traction bar is a special bar with a cushioning device and a torsional shear device in the middle. It has the function of transmitting power, slowing down the impact of the tractor on the aircraft, and protecting the aircraft by cutting off the torsion shear pin on the bar if the aircraft turns too much in the course of traction.

The tractor has the following characteristics，

(1) It must be equipped with a towing bar matching the aircraft type.

(2) The tractor operation has a large turning bull path and a large operating area. As there are two points of articulation between the tractor and the aircraft, an additional degree of freedom is added, contrary to the normal vehicle operating habits, and the difficulty of operation is higher.

(3) When operating, a person must work with the tractor driver to install and remove the tow bar.

(4) Subject to the aircraft requirements for traction and braking force, the tractor itself has a larger mass, the vehicle's tyres wear out faster and fuel consumption is higher.

Rodless tractors

Rodless aircraft tractors have the following characteristics，

(1) The bottom of the operating costs Because it is towing the aircraft's front wheels up, with the help of part of the aircraft's mass to increase the traction of the tractor wheels and the ground, to achieve the traction and braking force requirements for towing aircraft Because of its own lighter mass, the fuel consumption is lower at idle, and the service life of the tyres is increased, thus reducing the operating costs of the vehicle.

(2) Reduced traction bars and other ancillary equipment In the course of traction operations, special traction bars are not required, simplifying work procedures and improving operational safety and efficiency.

(3) As the aircraft and tractor form an integral unit during towing operations, the manoeuvrability of the vehicle is improved.