Before towing an aircraft on or across a taxiway or runway, what must the tow team supervisor obtain?

The requirement for obtaining control tower clearance before towing an aircraft on or across a taxiway or runway is crucial for several reasons. The control tower is responsible for managing all ground operations and ensuring safety in the airspace around the airport. When a tow team supervisor seeks clearance, they are essentially communicating their intentions to the control tower, allowing for the coordination of aircraft movements and preventing potential collisions or accidents.

This clearance ensures that no other aircraft are in the vicinity that could interfere with the towing process, and it verifies that the runway or taxiway is safe for the operation at that time. The control tower can provide necessary instructions or times for when the towing operation can safely occur, which is vital for maintaining order and safety in busy airport environments.

While permissions and reports related to weather, ground crew, and maintenance are important for various reasons during aircraft operations, they are not as immediately critical as the control tower clearance when it comes to the specific act of towing on or across active taxiways and runways.