pics

[captianamerica]

Anyone still have the link to the post or the photos of the goldhoffer test incident last year at DFW ? Thanks

 

[upsilon]

Don't know if you want info on the incident at DFW or the subsequent disposition of the tugs.

But you could have found this (and other info) yourself by doing a Search on "goldhofer" on this AA forum. You're welcome. 🙂

 

[The Goose]

Don't know if you want info on the incident at DFW or the subsequent disposition of the tugs.

But you could have found this (and other info) yourself by doing a Search on "goldhofer" on this AA forum. You're welcome. 🙂

Whilst doing the normal "tour" a night or two ago, I saw one of these things parked behind the automotive area at TULE - it didn't have the name "Goldhoffer" on it but it appeared to be brand new and the machine's function was obviously the same - ie, scoop up the front wheel and haul the aircraft away (perhaps for repo duty?).

Has anyone heard anything re: TULE/TUL and these things?

 

[FWAAA]

At LAX, the ramp for years has used dark blue tractors that, as Goose puts it, "scoops up the front wheel and hauls the aircraft away." They look like perhaps FMC equipment, not Goldhoffers. The other night, while waiting for my flight from the Admirals Club, I watched one scoop up an empty MD-80 and take it away (I assume to another gate or to a hangar). I've seen them grab 757s and 777s as well.

I assume that the problem is the Goldhoffer model, not the concept itself, since they've been in widespread use for many years.

 

[Hopeful]

The ramp folks use tractors designed specifically for "pushing" back aircraft and not meant for "towing."
The Goldhofers that AA uses are designed for pushing and towing aircraft at high speeds and longer distances. Our Goldhofer models will handle AA's fleet of MD80 up the 777. Ours cannot be used even on a 777-300.
Had AA purchased the highest model, designed for the largest aircraft, this braking power issue might not have been an issue.

 

[captianamerica]

It was the testing of the Glodhoffer at DFW involving the 777 test after the runway incursion.. Pics where here of the aftermath involving the Goldhoffer damn near loosing the 777 with the rep and tech inside, windows smashed, and beat up....

Don't know if you want info on the incident at DFW or the subsequent disposition of the tugs.

But you could have found this (and other info) yourself by doing a Search on "goldhofer" on this AA forum. You're welcome. 🙂

 

[Bob Owens]

At LAX, the ramp for years has used dark blue tractors that, as Goose puts it, "scoops up the front wheel and hauls the aircraft away." They look like perhaps FMC equipment, not Goldhoffers. The other night, while waiting for my flight from the Admirals Club, I watched one scoop up an empty MD-80 and take it away (I assume to another gate or to a hangar). I've seen them grab 757s and 777s as well.

I assume that the problem is the Goldhoffer model, not the concept itself, since they've been in widespread use for many years.

The main difference is that when the ramp tows these things they do it with a powered up aircraft with people in the cockpit. When maintenance tows they do it without a man in the cockpit. JetBlue uses a similar setup and they have had several serious incidents resulting in aircraft damage.

Imagine a tractor trailor with no brakes on the trailer. Even with rear braking tractor trailers still have a tendancy to jacknife, imagine what the roads would be like if they normally operated without trailer brakes. Thats the condition that maintenance uses the goldhoffer, only the goldhoffer provides braking, the much heavier aircraft is freewheeling. So if you brake hard you get what happened in DFW and if you brake in a turn you can expect to jackknife.

Towing without a man in the cockpit is a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[FWAAA]

I'd forgotten about the absence of a brake-rider. That's just stupid beyond belief; anyone at AA who thinks it's a good idea to move a $100 million airplane without someone ready, willing and able to step on the brakes ought to be fired.

 

[Harry Callahan]

Maybe I'm going to show my stupidity here,but how can you tow without some one in the cockpit ?

 

[Hopeful]

Maybe I'm going to show my stupidity here,but how can you tow without some one in the cockpit ?

The Goldhofer is designed to tow without anyone in cockpit. It has the radios on board and a lighting system to make up for the unpowered aircraft. There is a procedure that must be followed to secure the cocpkit, release brakes, shut the door, pull jetbridge, lift nose gear, pull chocks call for clearance from company ramp control and then airport ground control.
The Goldhofer has it down to a science.
Althought i can't confirm it, but it has been rumored that some foreign carriers use them to tow live flights to near end of runway at some international airports.