ISO 9667:2017 PDF

Overview

ISO 9667:2017 - Aircraft ground support equipment - Tow bars - specifies the dimensional and physical requirements for tow bar connections to tractors and aircraft. Applicable to new commercial transport-category aircraft tow bars designed or built after publication, the standard harmonizes tow bar attachments by aircraft mass category so a single tow bar head (with appropriate shear levels) can serve all compatible aircraft manufactured to ISO 8267.

Key Topics

• Scope and applicability
  • Applies to new tow bar types for commercial transport-category aircraft.
  • Interfaces referenced to ISO 8267-1 / ISO 8267-2 for mainline and regional aircraft.
• Aircraft connection requirements
  • Tow bar heads must be compatible with the aircraft horizontal pin per ISO 8267.
  • Grip requirement: device shall uniformly engage 96–98% of pin length.
  • Anti-disengagement design and clearance envelopes for safe engagement/disengagement.
• Protective provisions
  • Mandatory shock/overload protection (e.g., shear pins, energy-absorbing devices) to protect nose landing gear.
  • Devices must alert the tow tractor operator when actuated and remain captive to avoid FOD.
  • Shear pin requirements: non-standard diameters, shear at or below manufacturer force, tolerance (+0/−10%), and defined shear plane with hardened bushings.
• Tractor connection
  • Tow bar eye and rotating tow bar eye dimensions specified; pintle or hook hitches are discouraged to limit load spikes.
• Tow bar performance and undercarriage
  • Tow bar shall sustain at least 150% of protective device functioning point.
  • Unladen stability and towability up to 25 km/h (15 mph).
  • Wheeled undercarriage with height adjustment and CG limits for safe hookup.
• Markings, documentation and tests
  • Indelible markings for allowable aircraft types and maximum towing force; vendor nameplate required.
  • Tests and instrumentation to substantiate protective-device operation on request.
• Options
  • Flyaway designs, separable heads, warning systems, cable provisions and retention lanyards.

Applications

ISO 9667:2017 is used by:

• Tow bar manufacturers and GSE designers for compliant product design.
• Airlines, ground handling companies, airports, and MROs for procurement and safe operations.
• Safety engineers and procurement teams ensuring compatibility with aircraft nose gear interfaces and preventing FOD or overloading.
• Regulatory and standards bodies referencing consistent requirements for aircraft towing equipment.

Related Standards

• ISO 8267-1 / ISO 8267-2 - aircraft tow bar attachment interface requirements (mainline and regional).
• EN 12312-7 - aircraft movement equipment (related GSE requirements).
• SAE ARP1915 - noted harmonization in the ISO 9667:2017 revision.

Keywords: ISO 9667:2017, tow bars, aircraft ground support equipment, tow bar attachments, shear pins, tow tractor, nose landing gear, ISO 8267.