What are two common towing configurations and when is each used?

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Towing configurations depend on how the aircraft can be steered on the ground and whether there are any obstructions near the nose. The nose-wheel tow uses a tug connected to the nose landing gear, which lets ground crews steer the aircraft from the tug and maneuver precisely during taxi and positions. This is why it’s the most common method—it gives full steering control and is efficient for routine ground movement.

The main-gear tow is used when nose gear steering is not operable or would cause unsafe constraints—such as when the nose gear is damaged, jammed, or there’s an obstruction that makes nose-tow impractical. By attaching the tow to the main landing gear, you can move the aircraft without relying on the nose gear steering, which helps in situations where the nose area cannot be steered or cleared safely.

GPU or APU status doesn’t determine the towing method; the choice hinges on nose-gear steerability and clearance considerations.