Aircraft brakes shall be used to stop aircraft during ______. A coordinated stopping procedure is required. Hard pressure shall not be applied.

• A. Taxiing
• B. Nose landing gear towing
• C. Tow tractor braking
• D. Main landing gear towing

Answer: (D)

When an aircraft is being moved under tow, stopping is done through the aircraft’s braking system, with the main landing gear doing the primary braking. This is the safest and most controllable way to decelerate because the main gear brakes handle the larger braking loads and distribute them across the airframe, keeping the nose gear and towbar protected from excessive stress. A coordinated stopping procedure means the tow tractor operator and the brake operator communicate and apply brakes smoothly in sync, so the deceleration is gradual and the aircraft stays aligned with the tow path. Slamming the brakes or using only lighter or secondary braking (like the nose gear) can cause steering issues, excessive loads on the towbar, or tire damage, which is why hard pressure is explicitly to be avoided.