Long Tows for Planes
Dec 4, 2009 | 7:43 pm
#4
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Didnt know what their actual name was so just called them as I saw them 
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At DFW they tow the planes ways out. Dont think they did that before.. I think is some analyst who figured out it was cheaper to have the tugs move the plane then the plane use fuel.
.At DFW they tow the planes ways out. Dont think they did that before.. I think is some analyst who figured out it was cheaper to have the tugs move the plane then the plane use fuel.
Dec 4, 2009 | 10:28 pm
#6
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It also depends if there is enough room in the alley to turn the plane to face forward. There are some places where they literally do have to back the plane all the way out to get some space to spin it around.
Dec 4, 2009 | 11:58 pm
#7
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Can't say I have noticed any difference but there is a view in Europe (where they are targeting aviation from an environmental perspective) that towing planes is more environmentally sensitive that using the aircraft engines to move the planes. I've even read the suggestion that tugs would tow aircraft out the taxi ways almost until the runway for environmental reasons. While I've seen this discussed from an environmental perspective, European airlines seemed to be seriously considering this when the price of fuel was higher.
Dec 5, 2009 | 12:50 am
#8
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Saw it happen in LGA and DFW this week. Didnt happen about two weeks ago. May be they had too many planes on the ground this week.