In this Buyer’s Assessment, Richard Treeves – British Airways Heathrow Programme Delivery Manager – talks us through the value to the UK carrier of remote-controlled, electric-powered Mototok tugs
In late Summer 2017, British Airways acquired five electric Mototok tugs to push back aircraft operating short-haul services out of its London Heathrow Terminal 5 base. The Mototok tugs allow a single ramp agent to push back an aircraft, while the electric power is more environmentally friendly than the diesel tug counterparts more commonly used elsewhere.
By April this year, British Airways had a total of 28 Mototoks, together providing pushback for up to 1,000 flights a week from Terminal 5A. The Mototoks are being used across all BA’s short-haul services from T5A, pushing back A319, 320 and 321 short-haul aircraft.
Looking back, Treeves recalls: “In August 2017 we introduced our first three Mototok pushback tugs onto three aircraft stands, used by nine operatives. As we trained up more staff, we gradually built up the operation so that all stands in T5A had a Mototok deployed [on them] by February 2018.”
“We have completed more than 15,000 pushbacks using this technology and have experienced a 53% reduction in pushback-related delays.”
And why did BA opt for this very different sort of tug? “British Airways was the first airline worldwide to introduce the Mototoks into a live operation,” Treeves notes. “This move was to modernise our operation, and maintain and further improve punctuality for our customers.
“The eco-friendly Mototok tugs allow British Airways staff to prepare aircraft for departure more efficiently. They are emissions-free and capable of moving aircraft with precision. We have completed more than 15,000 pushbacks using this technology and have experienced a 53% reduction in pushback-related delays.”
Asked whether BA would consider adding more Mototoks to support its various services out of Heathrow, or indeed other stations, Treeves states: “British Airways is working with Mototok to develop the technology for widebody aircraft.”
Indeed, he adds, it is very much the airline’s ambition to have all its pushbacks conducted by remote-controlled and electric equipment one day. And a good start seems to have been made: “British Airways is the most punctual major short-haul airline in London. The Mototok has become an integral part of our short-haul operation, and its introduction will help us to stay at the top of the league and keep our flights departing on time,” Treeves concludes.
