777-300ER Towed To Gate To Save Fuel? — Tech Ops Forum

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777-300ER Towed To Gate To Save Fuel?

RayChuang From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 7694 posts, RR: 5
Posted (3 years 5 months 1 week 1 day ago) and read 2492 times:

This past Sunday, I noticed something unusual at SFO: instead of a plane taxiing by itself all the way to the gate, they stopped the plane just before entering the gate area, and had a tug pull the plane into the gate itself. This happened to the flight my stepfather returning from Hong Kong arrived on, Singapore Airlines Flight SQ002; they stopped the 777-300ER first, then had a tug pull the plane into Gate G91 on Concourse G at the International Terminal.

Does anyone know why this is was done? Was it done as a fuel-saving and pollution-reduction measure? Or was the spacing around Gate G91 so tight with a 773ER they decided to use a tug for easier placement of the plane into the gate parking spot? Confused I've noticed that when the SQ 773ER parks at the gates further out into Concourse G they don't do this practice, and the 773ER taxis by itself all the way to the gate.

8 replies: All unread, jump to last

Stitch From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 26699 posts, RR: 83
Reply 1, posted (3 years 5 months 1 week 1 day ago) and read 2488 times:

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I'm guessing they did it for gate spacing issues.

Vikkyvik From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 8210 posts, RR: 28
Reply 2, posted (3 years 5 months 1 week 1 day ago) and read 2474 times:

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Quoting RayChuang (Thread starter):
Does anyone know why this is was done? Was it done as a fuel-saving and pollution-reduction measure? Or was the spacing around Gate G91 so tight with a 773ER they decided to use a tug for easier placement of the plane into the gate parking spot?

It happens in places where the gate spacing is tight enough that they'd rather tow it in than have the pilots "drive" it in.

Example: TBIT at LAX. I believe all the gates are tow-in (except perhaps the outer 1 or 2). Some gates at American's terminal (4) are tow-in as well.

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Mmedford From United States of America, joined Nov 2007, 526 posts, RR: 9
Reply 3, posted (3 years 5 months 1 week 21 hours ago) and read 2417 times:

Quoting Stitch (Reply 1):
I'm guessing they did it for gate spacing issues.

Exactly why, it's could be a tight fit...alot cheaper to have the aircraft towed in...

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Thebatman From United States of America, joined Aug 2007, 829 posts, RR: 10
Reply 4, posted (3 years 5 months 1 week 17 hours ago) and read 2327 times:

They do the same thing with Iberia's A340-600 when it departs from K19 at ORD. That airplane is so long that the fit at the gate is really tight. So, rather than take chances, they stop it short and tow it the rest of the way in.

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N901WA From United States of America, joined Oct 2009, 382 posts, RR: 0
Reply 5, posted (3 years 5 months 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 2094 times:

I wonder if it could be because of the Jet Blast. I think 1 side of G faces UAL gates, and the 777-300 has a Big jet blast pattern. I know at sat 5 and 6 a lot of gates are tow in gates because of Jet Blast. I been Blasted by a few AA MD-80's going into Sat 4 here and its no fun.

RayChuang From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 7694 posts, RR: 5
Reply 6, posted (3 years 5 months 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 2056 times:

I think given how tight the spacing for Gate G91 is at SFO, they used a tug because it allows for precise placement of the plane at the gate itself.

I actually found the gate selection unusual, since when SQ was flying 747-400's to SFO they usually parked the plane further out in Concourse G.

Speedbird0125 From United States of America, joined Mar 2008, 183 posts, RR: 0
Reply 7, posted (3 years 5 months 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 2034 times:

It always happes at TBIT at LAX.
I think it's because of narrow space around the gates.