B777 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Event / Encounter Object
Company Policy; Airport; Aircraft; Equipment / Tooling; Weather; Human Factors
One of our air carrier's operational objectives is to move as many aircraft as possible; especially wide body; with a Towbarless Tow Vehicle (TLTV) for [jet] fuel savings. Chicago's ORD [Airport] policy for towing aircraft with a TLTV currently does not restrict it from use below 1;200 FT Runway Visual Range (RVR). With the exception of snow and ice; [Company] Management requires tow operators to use the [TLTV] vehicle regardless of weather conditions. The routine tow route in Chicago crosses thru the critical ILS zone for Runway 9R approximately 1/8 of a mile from the runway end. Due to the slow movement of this [type of] tow vehicle; movement thru the critical ILS zone takes much longer than via conventional [aircraft] taxi movement. This can result in shadowing of the [Approach] coupler; causing a missed approach or the possibility of a tail strike with the height of a B767 or B777 tails. Whenever the weather is bad; [recommend] restricting towing operations when the airport is landing aircraft below 1;200 FT RVR.
An air carrier employee reports that towing B777 and B767 aircraft using the Towbarless Tow Vehicles (TLTV) takes much longer than taxiing aircraft resulting in extended shadowing of the ILS Approach Coupler for Runway 9R at Chicago's ORD airport. The routine tow route crosses thru the critical ILS Zone for Runway 9R approximately 1/8 eighth of a mile from end of runway.