Nadine Adden deploys heavy equipment at work: The 29-year-old from nearby Erding works as a tug driver and de-icer at Munich Airport. When winter arrives, she helps to make sure that aircraft take off safely.
Pushback – the backward push given to an aircraft to move it out of a park position prior to takeoff – and towing, which refers to the transport of an empty aircraft from one position to another, are part of Nadine Adden's year-round responsibilities.
"At the start, I was in awe of the sheer size of these planes when I was expected to dock the tug with only centimeters to play with. But luckily you get used to it pretty quickly and get a good sense of the radii, dimensions and procedures," explains the airport employee. With a smile, she adds: "And it's excellent practice for parking your car."