Originally Posted by
fumje
This is something I've wondered about for a little while. Why aren't airports / operations designed to tow an aircraft into the gate, and to allow boarding from the tail?
Then I wondered if the thrust from most engines is too great, so that it cannot be directed toward the terminal, and so that it would require a second tow out.
Is that the reason?
For starters, there's nothing to hook the tug to on the back of the plane, so they couldn't pull it in. Pushing it into something with the driver not being able to see where they're going seems to be not a good idea. And, a small adjustment could make for a significant alteration of source with small tolerance for error. When they're tugged out it is generally going into open space.