Driverless pushback tugs

[jparnold]

Just arrived home on a Virgin B737-800 at Sydney.
Before disembarking I was watching the aircraft at the next gate - also a B737-800. The pushback tug was attached to the port landing gear NOT the nosewheel AND it did not have a driver. The ground crew person (with comms cable attached to the aircraft) followed the aircraft by foot and at the end of the pushback he unplugged his comms cable from the aircraft and then went to the tug, climbed in and manually drove it away.
I have never seen this before.
How long have remote controlled tugs been used?

Also is it only Virgin who use the rear door to embark/disembark the passengers in the rear of the aircraft instead of via the airbridge? Not so easy climbing the stairs with unchecked luggage.

Thanks

[morno]

How long have remote controlled tugs been used?

Several years

Also is it only Virgin who use the rear door to embark/disembark the passengers in the rear of the aircraft instead of via the airbridge? Not so easy climbing the stairs with unchecked luggage.

No, pretty much every other airline. I think even Qantas did a trial for a bit, not sure how that went.

But of course if your carry on luggage was the correct weight and dimensions it wouldn't be a problem, right? ;-)

morno

[skkm]

JQ use the remote-control main gear tugs too.

I think even Qantas did a trial for a bit, not sure how that went.

They're still doing it at least sometimes – boarded a flight out of ADL via the rear a few months ago.

[Icarus2001]

PS. Port and starboard is for maritime use.

[Capn Bloggs]

Oh yes, the left main. Which way were you facing again?

[Bula]

Plenty of port left in the bottle.... No wait, Port was the right bottle, no hang on I've got this... No port was in the bottle, right?

[Capn Bloggs]

A little red port left up the bottle!

Reminds me of an incident a few years back where the driverless operator was wondering why his aeroplane wasn't moving; he was using the wrong controller, or some such. The aeroplane that did move had it's door ripped off by the aerobridge!

[Keg]

Bloggs. JQ I think.

QF regularly using rear door for 737 ops weather permitting.

[Capn Bloggs]

QF regularly using rear door for 737 ops weather permitting.

Pretty cruel at (the new) ADL though!

[Keg]

Pretty cruel everywhere in my opinion but they reckon it got them the equivalent of 2 airframes for zero cost so that's decent money.

[Ken Borough]

they reckon it got them the equivalent of 2 airframes for zero cost

How does that work? It may be possible to shave ten minutes from a turnaround. The total time saved may equate to two fleet units but is that time realisable? For example, if one B738 has 8 t/rounds a day, that's 80 minutes saved but can that time be profitably used, bearing in mind that 7 hours a day are 'lost' by virtue of curfews in Sydney and Adelaide. I'd like to see the logical explanation.

[jparnold]

But of course if your carry on luggage was the correct weight and dimensions it wouldn't be a problem, right? ;-)

Well the carry on was under 7kgs and no problem for me but my 67 year old wife struggled boarding and as a matter of fact the cabin crew suggested that during disembarkation that she waited until most passengers had departed and then use the front. I don't think that she would be the only passenger who would have some difficulty!
It's been a while since we flew internally. We usually fly internationally.

ALSO the tug/tractor was attached to the 'LEFT' MAIN undercarriage (not the nosewheel so maybe the pilot was 'steering' during pushback instead of it being controlled by the tractor driver) and BEHIND it so it PULLED not PUSHED.

Sorry about using 'port'. Maybe that's why I'm only a flight simmer and not a pilot And I'll drink to that!

[aerostatic]

Driverless tugs been used in NZ since at least 2003 on the AKL domestic apron.

[Keg]

For example, if one B738 has 8 t/rounds a day, that's 80 minutes saved but can that time be profitably used....

Apparently so. There are circa 60 737s flogging around in mainline. If by using this only half of them can do an extra sector that's still 30 additional sectors a day- nearly 4 aeroplanes. Even if only 1 in 4 get an extra sector that's still 15 sectors or nearly two airframes.

[Old 'Un]

Aerostatic Yep, driverless units were used in NZCH some time ago. Come to think of it, I don't recall seeing any around lately. Don't get to see that part of the operation much these days, but have seen staffed units used to push back both ANZ & J* Airbusses on my recent rare visits.

Le Vieux

[Captain Dart]

jparnold, no need to apologise! I have been in military and airline aviation for forty years and have always used 'port' and 'starboard' where possible. We are also 'pilots', and we 'navigate'.

Those of a certain age may remember the British Kegworth crash where a 737 crew shut down the wrong engine partially because cabin crew got left and right mixed up when reporting symptoms.

Port is always port. Starboard is always starboard. But left and right can depend which way you are facing.

[Kranky]

Have I been asleep for years or what.
These battery push backs have been around for at least 7 years I reckon.
These units clap onto the main gear, how about we say in the case of an A320 or a 737, behind No 1 engine and drive the main gear wheels to provide thrust.
During pushback, the engineer on the ground, via headsets, directs the pilot which way to steer so no need for steering pass pin.
When at the desired pushback stop the engineer, via remote control, commands the tug to disengage from the main gear, which it does and then powers it back to the bay.
The engineer then departs the A/C as per usual.
Simple.

And don't start me on the carry on baggage. It's a joke what is allowed to be taken on board these days.

[megan]

Port and starboard is for maritime use

Gawd, the level of knowledge in the aviation community has sunk to all time lows. (See what I did? Made reference to a nauticalism - new word.)

[Traffic_Is_Er_Was]

Those of a certain age may remember the British Kegworth crash where a 737 crew shut down the wrong engine partially because cabin crew got left and right mixed up when reporting symptoms.

I'm pretty sure it was the guys in the front two seats who got their left and right mixed up in that one. The cabin crew's "mistake" was not to query them.

[Offchocks]

During pushback, the engineer on the ground, via headsets, directs the pilot which way to steer so no need for steering pass pin.

I was flying domestic when JQ started to use driverless tugs. I was led to believe then that it was due to cost, partially due to the operator did not have to be an engineer. Was that correct or have things changed?