Originally Posted by
Sixth Freedom
If true (on which I am not qualified to comment) then what a waste.
The aircraft could easily have been towed to the runway.
Not necessarily. I think there are restrictions on towing aircraft including
- Jetblast of other aircraft moving around the field
- stress on the nosewheel when turning/taxiing
- tug being able to drag a fully laden aircraft vs an empty aircraft
- tug having to handle radio communications for the taxi + cockpit crew talking to tower to arrange clearance = more comms and potentially more confusion
- Concorde had no APU, so relied on a ground power tug for air to start the engines, so you'd have to tow that along too
- what happens if there's some engine issue which needs a return to stand or replacement aircraft. Back we go again!