Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Maintenance Inspector 1; Maintenance Lead Technician 23; Maintenance Technician 30
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Airport; Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure; Weather
CRJ and other types regional aircraft are being transported cross-field daily using a towbarless tractor. The cockpit is not occupied. The APU is 'off.' There is no aircraft beacon; no aircraft navigation lighting. Movements are being made day and night. Taxiways crossing intersecting runways are utilized. Runways are being crossed without use of aircraft beacons or navigation lighting. Runways crossed are both active and inactive. Large transport aircraft following behind the towbarless tractored aircraft cannot see the tow vehicle lighting when blocked by the empennage and fuselage of the aircraft being towed. A continuation of this violation of traditional and necessary aircraft lighting and visual cues can lead to a serious accident.
Reporter stated that this Airport has recently been allowing CRJ-700/900; ERJ's and other large Regional aircraft to be towed day or night without lights; with towbarless high speed Douglas and Goldhofer Super tugs (tractors). No one is in the cockpit; no hydraulic power; no electrical power on the aircraft and no aircraft transponders available for Tower to 'see' aircraft; especially in bad weather. Super tugs can be of the 100;000 LBS weight and have transmission problems that contribute to steering control lost. Without a cockpit person available; the aircraft braking system could not be utilized to slow and stop a powerless tug that may continue to roll from its own weight and the aircraft behind it.Reporter stated he has forty plus years experience and has been towing and taxiing aircraft for over thirty years. As a Lead Mechanic he has five crews under him who move four to five aircraft per crew each day; half towing and half taxiing. The first item that Ground Control asks his crews when they are ready to move an aircraft is: do you have your aircraft's transponder 'On'?  Tow Tractors do not have transponders. Yet Ground Control will allow Ramp Personnel to move Regional aircraft 'Dark' and 'Cold': no hydraulics; no electrical; no exterior lights; even on the darkest nights. Surprisingly; an Airfield Safety vehicle is not required to escort aircraft under tow that are 'Dark' and 'Cold'.       Reporter stated he believes the recent changes in Airport Towing procedures allowing movement of Regional Jet aircraft with unmanned cockpits; no hydraulics and no lights was part of an effort by Operators to keep Ramp personnel out of the cockpit who were not knowledgeable of the aircraft's electrical panels and had inadvertently activated aircraft systems and even deployed Ram Air Turbines (RAT). His question is: Why are there two sets of rules involving aircraft movement; especially for aircraft exterior lighting requirements. He feels safety is being seriously compromised because some of the aircraft that come up on these darkened Regional aircraft that are under tow are also revenue passenger aircraft.
A Technician reports that ORD Airport has been allowing large Regional aircraft; including CRJ and ERJ airplanes; to be towed with towbarless high speed Douglas and Goldhofer Super tugs (tractors). No one is in the cockpit; no hydraulic power; no electrical power; no aircraft beacon and no aircraft navigation lighting is required even at night. He notes that darkened aircraft are a safety hazard.