When an aircraft is pushed back off a gate, it is connected at the nosegear to a heavy tow tractor by use of a tow-bar. In order to connect however, the aircraft's steering must be disabled by the ground crew. This is done by inserting a "steering bypass pin" into a mechanism on the nosegear.
After the plane has pushed and it's ready for taxi, the ground crew disconnects the towbar. If they forget to pull that pin, the captain can't steer the plane. It's common practice for the pins to have long red ribbons hanging off of them so that they stay highly visible, and any good Rampie will show it to the captain as he waves the plane off, to inform him he's good to go.
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When an aircraft is pushed back off a gate, it is connected at the nosegear to a heavy tow tractor by use of a tow-bar. In order to connect however, the aircraft's steering must be disabled by the ground crew. This is done by inserting a "steering bypass pin" into a mechanism on the nosegear.
After the plane has pushed and it's ready for taxi, the ground crew disconnects the towbar. If they forget to pull that pin, the captain can't steer the plane. It's common practice for the pins to have long red ribbons hanging off of them so that they stay highly visible, and any good Rampie will show it to the captain as he waves the plane off, to inform him he's good to go.
Here's what the hookup looks like. you can see the long red ribbon hanging off the nosegear if you look closely at the left side.
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