Aircraft Ground Movement by Tow Tractors Training

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate the correct procedures for attaching and detaching a tow tractor to an aircraft.
• Apply safety protocols and risk assessment techniques during aircraft ground movement.
• Analyze different types of tow tractors and their appropriate applications for various aircraft.
• Evaluate communication methods and signals used between the tow tractor driver and ground crew.
• Implement pre-movement checks and post-movement procedures for tow tractors and aircraft.
• Identify potential hazards and emergency procedures related to aircraft towing operations.

Target Audience

This course is designed for ground handling staff, ramp agents, and aviation operations personnel who are involved in the movement of aircraft on the ground. It is also suitable for supervisors and managers overseeing ground operations at airports.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment

Course Outline

Practicals

Overview

Practical sessions provide hands-on experience in operating tow tractors, attaching towing equipment, and executing pushback and towing maneuvers under supervision. Learners will apply safety procedures, communication protocols, and emergency responses in a controlled environment to build competence and confidence.

Practical Activities

• Pre-Operational Checks and Tow Tractor Familiarization — Learners perform daily inspections on a tow tractor, identify components, and practice start-up/shut-down procedures. (8h)
• Attachment and Towing Equipment Handling — Learners practice attaching and detaching towbars and adapters to different aircraft types, and inspect equipment for serviceability. (8h)
• Pushback and Towing Maneuvers — Under supervision, learners execute pushback procedures and tow aircraft on taxiways, including obstacle avoidance and emergency stops. (16h)
• Emergency Scenarios and Adverse Conditions — Learners respond to simulated emergencies such as brake failure and towbar breakage, and practice towing in low visibility or wind. (8h)
• Integrated Practical Assessment — Learners demonstrate all skills in a full towing operation from pre-checks to post-tow, assessed against industry standards. (4h)

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course via daily exercises, scored practical assignments, and a final summative test at the end.

Practical Assignments — 30%

Practical assignments are observed and scored against a rubric during the practical sessions. Each delegate's practical mark is averaged into a single 100% score and contributes 30% to the final total.

Daily Exercises — 20%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 20% to the final total.

Final Test — 50%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 50% to the overall mark.

Final Total

Component	Out of	Weight
Practical Assignments (rubric-scored)	100%	30%
Daily Average (multiple choice)	100%	20%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice)	100%	50%
Final Total	—	100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

How it works

• Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
• Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
• You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
• If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.

Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates	Discount
5	3% off
10	6% off
15	9% off
20	12% off
25	15% off
30	18% off
50	30% off
75	35% off
100	40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.