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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[@Ithinkiwill66]

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 air......bravo!

[@Maximus27064]

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

[@wadehiggins1114]

I agree

[@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.

[@jblazin52]

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

[@KarmaFlight]

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

[@suryakamalnd9888]

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

[@ricturtle]

Worked with Qantas I was very familiar with Pushback

[@brookeintheair]

Such an intricate and mathematical dance

[@juniorcampbell2980]

Well done.

[@SJF15]

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!

[@shuttleman27c]

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.

[@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).

[@oadka]

powerback also uses a lot of fuel as the high throttle levels are needed to overcome static friction

[@Ithinkiwill66]

I think, just this year earlier, somewhere in the USA, a ground crew personnel got sucked into the jet, I don't recall why/how that really caused him to get killed that way, maybe the jet WAS doing it's own reverse??

[@davidsmiths5471]

There was 2 actually! One was suicide and other was just a poorly managed ramp​@@Ithinkiwill66

[@clanger_6870]

@@Ithinkiwill66 No, the ramp worker approached the aircraft before the anti collision lights were out and the engines spooled down. They were told not to but did anyway. I work on the ramp at LGW, it's basics.

[@davidsmiths5471]

​@@clanger_6870And no one stopped her! Which means poorly managed ramp,and by your comment you have not work very long on a ramp

[@RealSaulGoodman78]

Nice

[@justindolakmusic3112]

The only question I have is, how do Wing Walkers know when it's safe to turn towards the nose to help disengage the tow bar/headset/bypass pin?

[@PollonesLife]

Wing walkers know by hand signal. When the pusher gets to the disconnecting spot told by the Captain, needs to notify Capt. to set brake. When capt. reply brake are set, then the pusher give the hand brake signal to the wing walkers follow by the disconnecting tow bar signal.

[@davidsmiths5471]

When the aircraft comes to a complete stop

[@ericjones7769]

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

[@omer-x2j2z]

I've watched some videos about pushbacks by the channel The Lady and The Ramp, form PHX. Phoenix Sky Harbor

[@jenniferharris7633]

Off topic, but WTH is that in the upper right corner at 0:13 seconds? Looks like cloud ufos.

[@wolveschangerivers4339]

I love my job!

[@olegariocamara9308]

The Mad Dog 80 séries could back up on its own

[@brookeintheair]

He refered to this towards the end

[@ericjones7769]

So could the DC9s and the 727s as well

[@flyingmiran]

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

[@Ithinkiwill66]

This is why I admire the Japanese people.....they go all full-heartly to all ❤❤

[@flyingmiran]

@@Ithinkiwill66 i always enjoy that moment

[@Coldstreamer17]

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.

[@stevenholt1867]

Backward in coming forward.

[@swornthekillerintown]

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

[@Southwest_923WR]

5:47. Bro, I can not believe you implied the" thrust reverser buckets" are deployed for gaurd against F.O.D. ingestion to engines using "power back" manuver. They are 99% designed to slow aircraft on LANDING speed after touchdown! Come on Bro, your content is better than too make a foul up like that. "Power backs" are VERY rare except maybe at no jet bridge/ terminal airports, but it is not the norm. Too much collateral damage to buildings, terminal, ground crew with head down in Facedamn book, and f.o.d. In general area. Good video as always, but only 3 stars, ergo, no thumbs up on this issue. Keep up the good work!

[@michaelcurson]

What's the difference between a aircraft tow operator and a ramp agent?

[@Mrfort]

A ramp agent is responsible for the number of passengers and general safty of the aircraft whilst at stand, a tow op is reponsible for the push of aircraft.

[@davidsmiths5471]

They are basically the same, just a different task name! One day you might do a push back,next day lave service or something else

[@ladeshfeyton8405]

“To go forwards at speed, you must first take a step back.” -Some dude somewhere

[@JefferyK-z3t]

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

[@Ithinkiwill66]

That I do not recall seeing when I was in Tiawan last year, nor South Korea in 2018......I better double check that next time 😉😉

[@vincentcalvelli6452]

I was the controller in the ramp tower

[@EshtonRobateau]

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

[@antoniowood8119]

0:12 use a goldhoffer and that’s done in like 5 seconds 😂

[@gop4usa12]

If the MD80s and DC9s were able to do their own pushback, why not the B717? I've had 717 flights out of MSN, ATL, and DTW. Neither one of those backed up on their own. I can understand ATL and DTW because of heavy taxi traffic and limited ramp space. But if it can back up on its own, surely it can be done in Madison. Lots of ramp space and very little traffic.

[@brakinglate8828]

Russians call it "Reverse Thrust"

[@paulguo1825]

Alitalia also in other recent video mad dog mentioned but 737 shown good vid nevertheless

[@4evertrue830]

I saw a video of a plane that is so heavy, it was a struggle to push it back by the tug. I wonder why the pilot of that plane, didn't use the reverse thrust of the engines to assist the push back by the tug vehicle. Perhaps that would have helped, idk 🤔.

[@davidsmiths5471]

If it's the same one! The tug was slipping on deicing fluid !

[@Mrfort]

Since when have airplanes been loaded by passengers according to weight??

[@Ithinkiwill66]

Yeah,I was wondering about that too. When you see empty seats on a 737, that does NOT throw off the balance. More so should worry more about the weight of the fuel, air pressure levels outside the plane, cargo weight, thrust, how the wings are engaged ( slats, flaps, stabilizer, and elevator ), and any turbulence that may throw-off the plane's projectory. I could be wrong about all of this, then again.........😁😁

[@christao408]

"an almost immeasurably slow speed"? Hyperbole much? 😆

[@thedolphin5428]

How can they employ women to do aircraft pushbacks? Very few of them can back a trailer down the boat ramp or even do reverse car parking! 😆

[@MeaHeaR]

ÕMĞ é PôWéŘ-PhÛľĽ Orrrsé-Strâylêans 😟😟😰😩😰😰😟😰😩😩😧😧😦😧😧😳😶😶😵😵😳😵