What is Pushback?

What is Pushback?

• A. External powered vehicles called tugs push an aircraft backwards from the stand.
• B. An emergency procedure to stop a taxiing aircraft.
• C. A runway taxiing technique to slow the plane down.
• D. The procedure of landing on a runway.

Answer: (A)

Pushback is the process of moving an aircraft away from the gate using an external power tug. The tug hooks to the aircraft’s nose gear and pushes it backward so the aircraft can taxi out to the taxiway. Engines are typically not running during the pushback, and ground control coordinates the maneuver with the flight crew to ensure the aircraft clears equipment and aligns correctly with the taxi route. This action frees the stand and positions the aircraft for takeoff. The other options describe different situations—stopping a taxiing aircraft in an emergency, a technique to slow down on the ground, or landing on a runway—not the backward push from the stand by a tug.

Pushback is the process of moving an aircraft away from the gate using an external power tug. The tug hooks to the aircraft’s nose gear and pushes it backward so the aircraft can taxi out to the taxiway. Engines are typically not running during the pushback, and ground control coordinates the maneuver with the flight crew to ensure the aircraft clears equipment and aligns correctly with the taxi route. This action frees the stand and positions the aircraft for takeoff. The other options describe different situations—stopping a taxiing aircraft in an emergency, a technique to slow down on the ground, or landing on a runway—not the backward push from the stand by a tug.