A319/A320/A321 Aircraft Tow Bar

I. Purpose  

        The A319/A320/A321 Aircraft Tow Bar, independently designed and manufactured by our company to meet the demands of civil aviation development, is a mechanically adjustable lifting tow bar engineered with shared characteristics of Airbus A320-family aircraft. Featuring user-friendly operation, rapid connection, and quick disengagement, this innovative tool is optimized for towing A319/A320/A321 aircraft, making it one of the most efficient and reliable specialized equipment for ground handling operations.

II. Operational Conditions & Scope Of Application

    1. Operational Environment

        Designed for use on solid, level airport surfaces.

    2. Towing Speed

        Maximum permissible speed ≤20 km/h.

    3. Temperature Range:

        Fully operational in -40℃ to +50℃extremes.

III. Primary Structure

    1. Core Components

        The equipment is mainly composed of The Front Tow Coupler, The Main Frame, The Mechanically Adjustable Lifting Mechanism, Steering Caster Wheels, The Rear Towing Ring and so on.

    2. Nose Gear Interface

        The groove above the head is used to link the A319/A320/A321 axle.

IV. Usage & Operational Procedures

    1. Usage

        Before deployment, thoroughly review the operation manual and adhere to all procedural guidelines.

    2. Operational Procedures

        Step 1: Position the tow bar beneath the aircraft nose gear. Align the front tow groove of the tow head with the axle of the nose wheel, ensuring a secure interface. Engage the electromagnetic locking plate to prevent disengagement.

        Step 2: Rotate the hydraulic lift handle to elevate the main frame until the rear towing ring aligns with the tug’s hitch. Lock the mechanism at the target height. Ensure the caster wheels are fully raised. Activate the tow tractor and maneuver the aircraft to the designated area.

        Step 3: Retract the locking plate and lower the tow bar by rotating the lift handle until the caster wheels make full contact with the ground. Decouple the tow head from the nose gear axle and remove the tow bar from the operational zone.

V.  Service Life

        The recommended maximum service life of the tow bar shall not exceed 10 years, subject to the following variables: operational frequency, maintenance compliance, structural steel components experience natural aging and failure period.

Key  Technical  Parameters

    1. Compatible Aircraft：Type A319/A320/A321

    2. Maximum Towing Capacity：≤10t

    3. Dimensions：5.2m (L)×0.7m (W)×0.8m (H)

Critical Safety Notes：

    If the towing force exceeds 10 t, the shear pin at the tow head will automatically sever.At this moment, cease all towing operations immediately. Do not continue to pull the aircraft, so as not to cause damage to the aircraft due to excessive thrust.

Maintenance Content

I.Routine Inspection & Maintenance

        Note: If the Aircraft Tow Bar is not in use, it is necessary to inject (apply) lubricating oil to each movable joint.

    1.In the process of use, it is necessary to avoid bumping and other phenomena, especially the connection between the head and the aircraft needs to be protected. Once it is found that there is knock, bump, and damage, it should be stopped immediately.

    2.Verify the integrity of shear pin of the tow bar currently in use in two weeks

    3.For the tow bar currently in use, our company suggests that the shear pin can be replaced half a year or once a year.  

    4.The appearance of the traction bar must be checked each time it is used to check whether the movable joint runs freely.

    5.Record and address any problems found.

II.Specialized Overhaul Procedures & Maintenance

    Disassembly Inspection:

        If you need to disassemble the tow bar, check the following carefully：

    1. Check the parts of the tow bar head for bump damage, cracks and excessive wear.

    2. Check the main body for bending deformation or damage.

    3. Check the exterior wear of the wheel.

    4. Check whether the internal bearing of the wheel can continue to be used.

    5. Check whether the wheel support has welding, fracture and other phenomena.

    6. Check the tail traction ring is open welding, fracture and other phenomena, if necessary, flaw detection.

III.Major Overhaul Requirements

    1. Wear parts, such as wheel inner bearings, must be replaced during overhaul.

    2. Must replace the shear pin, absolutely not allowed to continue to use.

    3. Replace all defective parts, absolutely not allowed to use again.

    4. Assemble the whole machine after re-plating all exposed electroplated parts, and the whole machine must achieve the performance after assembly.

    5. Paint the machine after rust cleaning.

IV. Critical Operational Notice

        When the tow bar releases the hand when turning the lifting handle, it is found that the handle naturally returns, the two adjusting screws in front of the handle should be immediately adjusted, and the screw is rotated clockwise to tighten the valve block on the overrunning clutch in the adjusting screw, and the handle will not naturally return to the best state.

V. Service Life Recommendation

        Due to the different use environment and frequency of each airport and airline, the company recommends that the service life of the traction bar be ten years.