Are there non-pilots that are allowed to drive a plane on the ground without actually flying?

Like a maintenance person moving it from one hangar to another?
Answers

Anonymous

Qualified maintenance personnel may taxi an aircraft but more often than not, aircraft are simply towed.

JetDoc

There IS NO "license" or special certificate required to taxi an airplane on the ground, although companies who maintain and operate large aircraft DO require their maintenance people to receive specific training before they are allowed to do engine runs OR taxi under power.

champer

Yes. Some are qualified to taxi aircraft, some are qualified to carry out ground runs from the cockpit. Aircraft are often towed on the ground, with someone at the controls to operate the brakes etc. Friend of mine is an engineer for our local airline, and is one of those permitted to carry out engine runs and taxi the aircraft. They use a tug to move aircraft in and out of the hanger and around their pan, but if it is a question of taking the aircraft across the airfield to a distant parking place he can, and does, start them up and taxi them under power. He's not a pilot.

Rona Lachat

YES there are Airport personal that are allowed to move planes, They do not have to be a pilot to move planes in and out of hangers when going into hangers they are usually not driven but towed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXvhX0vi4g0

rick

I worked line maintenance for almost 40 years. Run-up and taxi qualification was a requirement for doing the job. I was checked out and signed off to taxi and run DC-3, DC-6, CV 240, 340, 440, 580, 600 . MD-80, L1011, Electra, B-707, 727, 737, 747. I'm sure there are some others I can't think of instantly.

duck you sucker!

Any A & P can start, taxi a plane to where they need it; no pilot's license needed. Some airlines may require further training as policy. Most planes are towed with a "tug", a 6 cylinder Ford engined machine. There are jacks that allow lighter aircraft to be moved by one person. EDIT: If this means on a real runway, some airports require security clearance for all personnel to be there, whether they are rampers, fuelers, or whatever they do.

Anonymous

Yes, they are called "Move Teams" and there is special equipment to do just that, move the plane to the runway for take off after loading luggage, fueling, catering, etc has been completed.

STEPHEN

While a plane is on the ground no pilot's license is required because it isn't flying. However, aircraft are moved around on the ground using tractors. They never EVER fire up jet or fan engine inside a hangar. The jet wash would blow out the side of the building.

paulmurphy42

I have never been able to find anyone with a licence that showed an endorsement to do this - it depends purely on company policy.

Mercury

It is taxi not drive.

rob

Yeah one of these yahoos was unable to turn the plane around on a taxiway when I was heading in the opposite direction , trying to exit the runway!

Matt

The are usually towed using special vehicles, Turning on the engines just to park it somewhere else would waste fuel. And you're right about maintenance personnel moving the planes on the ground. One usually sits in the cockpit in case the tow line breaks, in which case the one in the cockpit would hit the brakes.

USAFisnumber1

Yes. In fact a crew chief in England stole a C130 and tried to fly it back to the USA. He ended up crashing in the ocean.

Anonymous

There are "taxi qualified" and "ground turn qualified" personnel. But aircraft are simply TOWED when they are moved.

FlagMichael

It depends on the class of service. In Transport there are certified people; in General Aviation any schmuck can do it. I taxied hundreds of planes - singles and light twins - when I was an avionics tech. I drew the line at turboprops and twin Beeches (I was never comfortable with tail draggers) but a properly trained non-pilot can taxi those as well. How could it go wrong? Well... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4d7VKvG1z0

Pearl L

they nnight have to have a license to drive a plane