The document provides instructions for towing aircraft. It states that aircraft towing is normally done by trained personnel while the pilot rides the brakes. It provides cautions about maximum towing limits to avoid damaging the nose gear, ensuring the nose wheel steering switch is off during towing, engaging the nose gear lock, checking brake accumulator pressure, and limiting tow speed to 5 MPH. It also cautions that the Dash 8 has a high tail that may not clear hangar doors.

1. AIRCRAFT TOWING

2. AIRCRAFT TOWING
• Normally aircraft towing is carried out by trained
personnel and the pilot’s only involvement is riding the
brakes.
NOTE: When requested to release the brakes, during towing
operations, the toe brakes should first be applied and held
followed by the parking brake being released then the tow
brakes are released. This will prevent transferring of
hydraulic fluids from the #2 hydraulic system into the #1
system.

3. CAUTION: MAXIMUM NORMAL TOWING LIMITS ARE
INDICATED BY PAINTED ARROWS ON THE NOSE WHEEL
DOORS. (120 DEGREES FROM EACH SIDE OF CENTER).
CARE SHOULD BE EXERCISED NOT TO EXCEED THE
TURNING LIMITS IN ORDER TO AVOID DAMAGING THE
NOSE GEAR.

4. WARNING : BEFORE TOWING AIRCRAFT ENSURE THAT
THE NOSE WHEEL STEERING SWITCH IS “OFF” BEFORE
ATTACHING THE TOW BAR AND REMAINS “OFF” DURING
TOWING OPERATIONS. ON COMPLETION OF TOWING, OR
PARKING, NOSE WHEEL MUST BE CENTERED BEFORE
DISCONNECTING THE TOW BAR OR INJURY COULD
RESULT TO PERSONNEL IF THE NOSE WHEEL SWITCH
WAS INADVERTENTLY SWITCHED TO “ON” AND THE
NOSE WHEEL RETURNED TO CENTER.

5. •Ensure that the nose gear ground lock is
engaged and that the main gear ground lock
pins are installed prior to towing.

6. WARNING : IF THE NOSE GEAR GROUND LOCK
CANNOT BE ENGAGED PROPERLY, IT COULD BE
AN INDICATION OF A MALFUNCTION OF THE NOSE
GEAR ASSEMBLY.IN SUCH A CASE, IMMEDIATELY
SUPPORT THE AIRCRAFT AT THE NOSE BEFORE
CARRYING OUT ANY INVESTIGATION.

7. •Check the brake accumulator pressure gage located
in the right side of the aircraft fuselage under the
wing to ensure sufficient pressure (2500 psi
minimum). Pump up the accumulator pressure with
the hand pump as required.
• If the 28 V DC R Main Bus can be energized, refer to the
parking brake hydraulics gauge pressure indicator in the
flight compartment to determine available brake pressure.

8. 2500 psi minimum for
towing operations

9. CAUTION: DURING TOWING OPERATIONS ONLY APPLY
THE PARKING BRAKE IN AN EMERGENCY.
• Station a crew member in the flight deck compartment to
operate the parking brake if necessary.
• Limit aircraft towing speed to a maximum of 5 MPH.
• Ensure that the tow bar is properly hooked up and that the
engagement locks are full positioned in the lock position.

10. CAUTION: CERTAIN MAINTENANCE FUNCTIONS OF THE
GEAR SYSTEM MAY REQUIRE THAT MAINTENANCE
PERSONNEL INSERT THE NOSE WHEEL STEERING LOCK,
WHICH IS PART OF THE NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY. VISUALLY
CHECK THAT THIS LOCK HAS BEEN DISENGAGED BEFORE
COMMENCING TOWING OPERATIONS.

11. CAUTION:The Dash 8 has an unusually high tail compared
to other aircraft of similar size and category. The tail may
not clear the majority of hangar doors. Specially designed
tow bar are used in this case to raise the nose which
lowers the tail.
24 ft. 5”

12. END OF AIRCRAFT TOWING