Airport machinery · Update

Douglas-Kalmar TBL-280 moves aircraft without a towbar

The Douglas-Kalmar TBL-280 is a heavy airport tractor that connects directly to an aircraft’s nose gear. That lets ground crews push an airliner away from the gate or tow it across the apron without fitting a conventional towbar between tractor and aircraft. The specialised machine continues to serve as a reference point for towbarless ground handling.