Goldhofer provides towbarless aircraft tractors and aircraft recovery systems that have been developed in collaboration with end users. The company is a specialist in general road traffic, heavy-duty and special transportation.

Thanks to its broad product range, Goldhofer is able to cover an extremely wide range of requirements for any transport task. Recognised worldwide, Goldhofer has proven its competence time and again in the challenging combined-transportation fields covering all modes of transport: air, road, rail and sea.

Towbarless aircraft tractors

Goldhofer’s towbarless aircraft tractors have been designed with extensive consideration paid to essential factors such as logistics, efficiency, safety and ecology.

Continuous airport growth, high daily air-traffic volumes and increasing aircraft type variation set continuous challenges for logistics operations at today’s airports. Goldhofer’s towbarless aircraft tractors provide help by means of safe, economical and particularly flexible and rapid movement of aircraft on the ground.

Goldhofer provides towbarless aircraft tractors and aircraft recovery systems.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>
The company provides two towbarless aircraft tractors for heavy aircraft.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>
Goldhofer offers two towbarless aircraft tractors for heavy aircraft, the AST-2 X 490 and the AST-2 R 210.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>
We also have two towbarless aircraft tractors for smaller aircraft.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>
Goldhofer developed the aircraft recovery and transport system (ARTS) in close collaboration with recognised recovery specialists.

Towbarless aircraft tractors for heavy aircraft

We have two towbarless aircraft tractors for heavy aircraft. The AST-1 X 1360 (6×6) aircraft tractor can pull aircraft weighing up to 600,000kg / 1,320,000lb, and has an engine output of 1,000kW / 1,360ps. The maximum NLG load is 600kN / 135,000lbf, and it is 11,250mm / 443in long and 4,500mm / 177in wide.

The AST-1 X 490 / 680 (4×4) aircraft tractor can pull aircraft weighing up to 600,000kg / 1,320,000lb, and has an engine output of 360kW / 490ps or 500kW / 680ps. The maximum NLG load is 480kN / 108,000lbf, and it is 9,490mm / 374in long and 4,500mm / 177in wide.

Towbarless aircraft tractors for medium-sized aircraft

Goldhofer also offers two towbarless aircraft tractors for heavy aircraft, the AST-2 X 490 and the AST-2 R 210.

The AST-2 X 490’s specifications are:

  • Can pull aircraft weighing up to 300,000kg / 660,000lb
  • Engine output of 360kW / 490ps
  • Maximum NLG load of 340kN / 76,500lbf
  • Length of 8,550 mm / 337in
  • Width of 3,500 mm / 138in

The AST-2 R 210’s specifications are:

  • Can pull aircraft weighing up to 300,000kg / 660,000lb
  • Engine output of 155kW / 210ps
  • Maximum NLG load of 340kN / 76,500lbf
  • Length of 8,550 mm / 337in
  • Width of 3,500 mm / 138in

Towbarless aircraft tractors for smaller aircraft

Finally, the company has two towbarless aircraft tractors for smaller aircraft. The AST-3 F 210 aircraft tractor can pull aircraft weighing up to 220,000kg / 500,000lb, and has an engine output of 155kW / 210ps. The maximum NLG load is 230kN / 52,000lbf, and it is 6,990mm / 275in long and 3,000mm / 118in wide.

The AST-3 L 140 aircraft tractor can pull aircraft weighing up to 160,000kg / 360,000lb, and has an engine output of 103kW / 140ps. The maximum NLG load is 160kN / 36,000lbf, and it is 6,990mm / 275in long and 3,000mm / 118in wide.

Aircraft tractors

Since their initial operation in 1989, Goldhofer aircraft tractors have performed for over 4.5 million operating hours, driving more than 18 million kilometres, and have carried out more than 7.5 million aircraft movements.

Aircraft recovery systems

Based on experience obtained by Goldhofer during numerous aircraft recovery operations worldwide, the company developed the Goldhofer aircraft recovery and transport system (ARTS) in close collaboration with recognised recovery specialists.

The flexible concept enables customers to design an individual recovery system that is optimally suited to the prevailing conditions.

The following systems are available:

  • ARTS-1/2: complete recovery system for use with one or more defective bogies for arcraft up to the A380
  • ARTS-3: Turntable / bolster for use with damaged nose-gear
  • ARTS-4: Recovery dollies for use with damaged nose and main gear, as well as for the ARTS-3 superstructure
  • ARTS-5: Lift tables for use under wings
  • ARTS-6: Various trailers for use in aircraft recovery in connection with ARTS-3 and ARTS-5

Quality and innovation have been our primary goals since the company was founded. The establishment of a quality-management system in accordance with DIN EN IS0 9001:2000 has enabled us ensure that the quality level of the products can be influenced at every manufacturing stage.