A Boeing 787 collided with an aircraft tug after the towbar snapped while the aircraft was being towed along the runway at El Dorado International Airport in Colombia on May 4. The collision caused significant damage to the aircraft's fuselage
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/travel/news/p ... ocid=hpmsn
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Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
That most definitely will not buff out, speed tape will do no better for the fuselage damage!
Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
That's about to be one expensive repair... It will be interesting to watch how manufacturers work on damage to the composite hulls that we are seeing in modern aircraft. I don't know a lot about aircraft fuselages - but would they need to replace the whole section? I'm thinking about carbon fiber monocoques in cars and if they are damaged it can warrant replacing the whole thing.
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- ABpositive
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Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
720B wrote:A Boeing 787 collided with an aircraft tug after the towbar snapped while the aircraft was being towed along the runway at El Dorado International Airport in Colombia on May 4. The collision caused significant damage to the aircraft's fuselage
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/travel/news/p ... ocid=hpmsn
Did the tow bar snap or did they come around too fast, jack-knifing under the momentum?
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- barney captain
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Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
ABpositive wrote:720B wrote:A Boeing 787 collided with an aircraft tug after the towbar snapped while the aircraft was being towed along the runway at El Dorado International Airport in Colombia on May 4. The collision caused significant damage to the aircraft's fuselage
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/travel/news/p ... ocid=hpmsn
Did the tow bar snap or did they come around too fast, jack-knifing under the momentum?
That was my thought as well. It looked like the tow bar was still attached, and they appeared to be moving at quite a clip.
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- 45272455674
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Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
ABpositive wrote:720B wrote:A Boeing 787 collided with an aircraft tug after the towbar snapped while the aircraft was being towed along the runway at El Dorado International Airport in Colombia on May 4. The collision caused significant damage to the aircraft's fuselage
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/travel/news/p ... ocid=hpmsn
Did the tow bar snap or did they come around too fast, jack-knifing under the momentum?
It does appear to look like it jack-knifed. That will be a painful repair effort.
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- FlyingHonu001
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Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
Easily fixable nothing but some composit resin patching, a rubber mallet and a light paintjob to get it back in the sky 
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- DocLightning
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Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
But is it a writeoff? 
I really want to know why the tug driver made such an abrupt sharp turn. It was so wild and uncontrolled that I wonder if there wasn't an issue with the tug's steering.
I really want to know why the tug driver made such an abrupt sharp turn. It was so wild and uncontrolled that I wonder if there wasn't an issue with the tug's steering.
Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
ABpositive wrote:720B wrote:A Boeing 787 collided with an aircraft tug after the towbar snapped while the aircraft was being towed along the runway at El Dorado International Airport in Colombia on May 4. The collision caused significant damage to the aircraft's fuselage
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/travel/news/p ... ocid=hpmsn
Did the tow bar snap or did they come around too fast, jack-knifing under the momentum?
They came around MUCH too fast. That was 100% the fault of the tug driver.
Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
Very similar to the AA 738 in LGA a few years back.
The aircraft is going to keep doing what it is doing (going straight), that small of a tug isn't going to be able to change direction of the plane nearly quick enough with how sharp they turned in. One of the many reasons why towbarless is so much better for the aircraft and safety.
The aircraft is going to keep doing what it is doing (going straight), that small of a tug isn't going to be able to change direction of the plane nearly quick enough with how sharp they turned in. One of the many reasons why towbarless is so much better for the aircraft and safety.
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- bennett123
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Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
They also ran across in front of the engine which was still running.
Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
bennett123 wrote:They also ran across in front of the engine which was still running.
Would the engine be running under a tow?
Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
Remember this is like moving a building on wheels with a tractor, go too fast and you're gonna get trouble!
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- bennett123
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Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
DH106 wrote:bennett123 wrote:They also ran across in front of the engine which was still running.
Would the engine be running under a tow?
My mistake.
Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
DocLightning wrote:I really want to know why the tug driver made such an abrupt sharp turn. It was so wild and uncontrolled that I wonder if there wasn't an issue with the tug's steering.
I am not familar with that airport but the tarmac area, into which the tug driver drove, seems not large enough for making a u-turn or whatever. So, yes, maybe there was a defect on the tug first.
Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
To save people the trouble of looking it up "El Dorado" is BOG.
Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
You do have to wonder whether the employees were disciplined or let go over this. When I saw how that tug was being turned, I asked myself what in the world they thought they were doing. When hauling something as large as an aircraft, you really have to be slow and deliberate. And yes, giving the pilots control of the aircraft ASAP is the best way to go.
Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
alasizon wrote:Very similar to the AA 738 in LGA a few years back.
The aircraft is going to keep doing what it is doing (going straight), that small of a tug isn't going to be able to change direction of the plane nearly quick enough with how sharp they turned in. One of the many reasons why towbarless is so much better for the aircraft and safety.
Towbarless doesnt change the laws of physics though.....
Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
stewartg wrote:alasizon wrote:Very similar to the AA 738 in LGA a few years back.
The aircraft is going to keep doing what it is doing (going straight), that small of a tug isn't going to be able to change direction of the plane nearly quick enough with how sharp they turned in. One of the many reasons why towbarless is so much better for the aircraft and safety.
Towbarless doesnt change the laws of physics though.....
Doesn't change the laws of physics but does shorten the arm and removes a point of inertia (the tow bar).
Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
Does anyone know the registration?
Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
n471wn wrote:CC-BBFDoes anyone know the registration?
Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
DH106 wrote:bennett123 wrote:They also ran across in front of the engine which was still running.
Would the engine be running under a tow?
Yes, if you want power for AC and other electrical systems.
Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
rrapynot wrote:DH106 wrote:bennett123 wrote:They also ran across in front of the engine which was still running.
Would the engine be running under a tow?
Yes, if you want power for AC and other electrical systems.
Wouldn't that be what the APU is for?
Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
9252fly wrote:rrapynot wrote:DH106 wrote:
Would the engine be running under a tow?
Yes, if you want power for AC and other electrical systems.
Wouldn't that be what the APU is for?
But where does the APU get its power?
Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
No, the engines wouldn’t be running under a repo tow. Under basically any circumstances
Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
rrapynot wrote:9252fly wrote:rrapynot wrote:
Yes, if you want power for AC and other electrical systems.
Wouldn't that be what the APU is for?
But where does the APU get its power?
Erm... from its own gas turbine?
Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
rrapynot wrote:9252fly wrote:rrapynot wrote:
Yes, if you want power for AC and other electrical systems.
Wouldn't that be what the APU is for?
But where does the APU get its power?
APU: Auxiliary Power Unit.
As a general definition, an APU is an autonomous power generating unit, usually fueled with fossil fuels. On some semi-trucks, it's a small 2- or 3-cylinder Diesel engine that generates heat, AC and electric power, allowing the truck to be livable without using the main engine.
On aircraft, it's a small gas turbine, usually located in the tail cone area of the plane, supplying the ship with bleed air, electric and hydraulic power.
Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
rrapynot wrote:9252fly wrote:rrapynot wrote:Yes, if you want power for AC and other electrical systems.
Wouldn't that be what the APU is for?
But where does the APU get its power?
You do understand that when the airplane is getting pushed back from the gate, it's being powered by the APU, right? At that point, the ground power is already disconnected, and the engines get started either during the pushback or after, depending on the airport.
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- ABpositive
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Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
During this tow, could pilot have applied the breaks, or perhaps it all happened way too fast to react.
Re: Plane collides with aircraft tug on airport tarmac in Colombia
ABpositive wrote:During this tow, could pilot have applied the breaks, or perhaps it all happened way too fast to react.
I don't know that whoever was in the flight deck would be able to see the tug in the first place. I hesitate to use the word pilot because it could also be a mechanic up there.
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