The tow vehicle should be designed for towbarless push-back and/or maintenance towing of regional type aircraft as specified in 1.3.

The design will ensure that the unit will safely secure the aircraft nose landing gear within the coupling system for any operational mode.

The purpose of this towing procedure is to achieve a safer and faster operation than is possible with conventional towing equipment.

One-Man Operation:

A one-man towbarless tow vehicle operation is required with all functions to be performed by the operator. Good visibility is required for controlled and safe operations, during day and night conditions.

The TLTV has to be designed to carry out the following tasks:

Push-Back: Push-back shall be defined as the moving of a loaded airplane in a backward direction from a parking position to the taxiway. Movement typically includes push-back with a turn, stop and short tow forward to align the airplane. Aircraft engines may or may not be running.

And/Or

Maintenance Towing: Maintenance towing shall be defined as the movement of an airplane for maintenance/remote parking purposes (i.e., from the gate to a maintenance hangar or remote parking stand or vice versa). Airplane is typically unloaded.

Range of Aircraft:

The TLTV should be designed for use with regional type aircraft with maximum ramp weights ranging between 8600 kg (19,000 lb) and 50,000 kg (110,000 lb), as covered by FAR 25 and JAR 25.

Including but not limited to the following types of aircraft:

ATR 42/72

BAe 146 RJ 85/RJ 100

Canadair CRJ 200/700

De Havilland Dash 8

Dornier 328

Embraer 120/135/140/145/145XR/170/190

Fokker 50/70/100

Saab 340/2000

Shorts 340/360

This type of towbarless tractor may also be capable of handling larger civil transport aircraft, in which case it should also comply with the applicable requirements of ARP4852 Revision B and ARP4853 Revision B.