Push Back for A320
 

Today, while looking for photo opportunities around near the domestic terminal I noticed something very peculiar which I have never seen before. All jetstar A320's were pushed back with the tractor attached to the port main landing gear. My questions to the more senior and experienced members of this group are:

1. How does the aircraft get steered? Is'nt the nosewheel the controlling factor?
2. How common is this practice?
3. Is it limited to A320's and other smaller single aisle aircraft or is this practice prevailent among the larger behemoths too.

I am attaching a couple of pictures for your reference.

cheers

Hi there Donesh,

The machine is called a SCHOPF Power Push Unit(PPU) and used frequently at the main ports by Jetstar and Virgin domestically. Pilots are in control of the nose wheel and instructed when to turn via the headset.

Video

What is the advantage of this ?

No broken tow-bars.

Seem a little quicker to push and disconnect than the tugs.

Only one person needed to operate the power push as opposed to a Tug driver & Ground crew on the tug.

Regards.

Thanks Tim, You have been most helpful. This explains it. To be honest I was very puzzled

Cheers

Thanks Tim, I didn't know this.

I thought Pilots would have been to busy starting the engines during push back.

Regards
David

Hi David. We start number 2 Engine first on the bay, and after about 15 seconds of spool up, we start the 'power pushing', as the hydraulic pumps are now working in order for us to steer, under the guidance of the fellow on the headset, controlling the power push unit.

It's not that busy during start up, as it's mostly automatic, and the Pilot Not Flying monitors the start, and the Pilot Flying the sector, controls the steering.

Do they use these units on the E jets at all? The E 190 I was on last week got pushed out by a regular tug from gate 39 T2. I was surprised as I was expecting to see a PPU shuttling back into the bay when instead it was a tractor style tug...

Hi there Ben, not used on any E-Jets.

Well, there you go. Thanks Tim.