A Complex Choreography: The Anatomy Of The Pushback

The pushback is an ironic part of flying: An aircraft capable of flying many hundreds of miles per hour needs help to move backward at an almost immeasurably slow speed. But nearly every flight starts in this same way: The captain releases the parking brake, and the aircraft is pushed back from its parking stand. Except in rare instances when a plane can quote-unquote "power out" from its parking location, a tug is needed to move the plane away from the terminal. A choreography of triggers and responses is used during every pushback. In today’s video, we take a step-by-step account of how an airline pushback is achieved.

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[leniterfortis]

As someone who's been pushing planes back for a living for a few years now, you pretty much nailed it. I would like to add a few things. Not every airport will have a ramp control. You just push whenever the pilots and ground crew are ready in some places. Not every plane uses a bypass pin. Some, like the ERJ's, have a small switch in the coms panel, and some, like the CRJ's, are bypassed by the flight crew. A few airlines have moved away from requiring ground crews to show the pin after disconnect (though some ground companies still required it regardless). If the steering isn't bypassed, and/or the brakes are not released when a push is attempted, the first point of failure is most likely going to be the shear pins in the towbar, after that, the bar itself will break. Those nose gears are built like tanks, and even though maintenance has to come out and inspect it after a shear pin and/or towbar failure, it almost always rolls away undamaged. That nose gear will bend a towbar like a plastic straw if given the opportunity. Oh and as a last comment, pretty much every airport has banned boost backs.

[Ithinkiwill]

This was a great learning video! I didnt know about that unique plane, that could push itself back using the "bucket" type of nacelles....to even imagine how many more mechanical systems for those engines! To even learn, in great detail, what from ground, and plane crew must, and must not do. Safety IS MOST DIFFERENTLY everyone's responsibility, to make sure all are safe on the ground, and in the

[NikolaiUA]

You forgot to mention that pushback only applies to airplanes parked at a gate/airbridge or other dead-end location. I know it is obvious, but lots and lots of planes are parked (and start their journeys from, as you said) just on a parking stand with no obstacles in front of them.

[suryakamalnd]

Amazing video bro.. being a huge aviation enthusiast, love this video

[jblazin]

In San Diego (Terminal 2 gates), especially in early morning departures when the ramp is at it's busiest, you can get pushback clearance as long as you dont enter the taxiway. If you've never done that before, it can be pretty intimidating getting close to that max turn angle.

Edit: or even towning planes from the east ramp to gates when it's busy

[Maximus]

Your video quality are top notch as well as a good thumbnail, you deserve at least 100k+ viewer every single videos

[Oooonumbers]

All the turboprops and jets I'm aware of can move backwards on there own. It is merely highly frowned upon or against policy to do so due to the increased risk to persons on the ground, throwing FOD everywhere and potentially harming the engine and/or propellers, and pilots can't see behind while moving backwards (except some modern airliners with cameras).

[brookeintheair]

Such an intricate and mathematical dance

[flyingmiran]

In japan here ground crew waive good bye it’s lovely to see from window ❤

[shuttlemanc]

The pushback is either towbarless or used a towbar. If you use a towbar, its like backing up 2 trailers. One that's pretty short and one that is the plane. You can't steer the plane too much or apply too much force to the towbar or you will break things. Its not a lot of force either. You need to take several seconds to let off the brake and several more applying enough gas to go as fast as you are comfortable with. Also, if the operator forgets to clear them to start engines, they will start them after they drive away because its implied clearance.

[Avgeek]

I recently took a flight from Glasgow up to the Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides. The flight was operated by a Twin Otter, which pushed itself back off the stand. Very strange experience I must say!

[ptgotcn]

In Taiwan and Seoul, Korea, they will usually wave back too.

[KarmaFlight]

In Hong Kong, you be told "Pushback color Red or Blue." Red faces the land and blue faces the ocean.

[ericjones]

Don't remember seeing too many MD80s doing powerbackings although i know that they could of course i mostly remember seeing DC9s and 727s do them tho!!! Northwest Airlines especially use to always allow their DC9s to do powerbackings and especially here in Memphis during the days when Northwest was the hub airline here

[brakinglate]

Russians call it "Reverse Thrust"

[olegariocamara]

The Mad Dog 80 séries could back up on its own

[EshtonRobateau]

In China, the ground crew will salute instead of bowing after pushback

[swornthekillerintown]

Iw as aware of the entire thing, I use to push and tow Spirit planes. So I already knew it all.

[Coldstreamer]

I work at an airport and tow aircraft myself (I absolutely love it), yet honestly haven't got a clue how tf we can do it lol.

[vincentcalvelli]

I was the controller in the ramp tower