Purpose:

This SAE Aerospace Standard (AS) specifies the interface requirements for tow bar attachment fittings on the nose gear (when towing operations are performed from the nose gear) of conventional tricycle type landing gears of commercial civil transport aircraft with a maximum ramp weight higher than 50 000 kg (110 000 lb), commonly designated as "main line aircraft".

Its purpose is to achieve tow bar attachment fittings interface standardization by aircraft weight category (which determines tow bar forces) in order to ensure that one single type of tow bar with a standard connection can be used for all aircraft types within or near that weight category, so as to assist operators and airport handling companies in reducing the number of different tow bar types used.

Field of Application:

This document is intended to be applicable to all new models of main line aircraft within the specified maximum ramp weight range, entering service or designed after its original date of publication. See Section 3, Effectivity, hereafter.

It is not intended to apply to previously in service main line aircraft models, which present a considerable variety of tow bar attachment fittings.