The Ground Handling Blog

Mototok is expanding its portfolio of fully-electric, remote-controlled, and towbarless aircraft tugs: May we proudly present the M518 – the latest addition to our Mototok M-Series for MRO- and FBO-purposes. Learn more about the application areas of our new aircraft tug model, what differentiates it from other models in the series, and why it might well make the perfect upgrade for your ground handling operations.

Mototok offers a full range of towbarless, remote-controlled aircraft tugs with fully-electric drive, suitable for almost all aircraft types in the aviation industry and for most tasks in airport operations. In our blog post “What Mototok Tugs are Compatible with what Aircraft”, we have provided a fairly comprehensive overview of what Mototok tug is suited for your respective aircraft and application area.

In 2026, we added yet another fully-electric and sustainable aircraft tug model to our product portfolio. This comes at a time when the transition towards sustainable aviation is gaining momentum, and electric ground support equipment (eGSE) is among the key trends shaping the aviation industry and leading it into a greener future.

M518: The Newest Aircraft Tug Model in the Mototok M-Series

With the M518 aircraft tug, efficiency and control are perfectly balanced. The model is operated with a remote control for driving and equipped with a semi-automatic nose wheel clamping system which makes the process of nose gear loading quick, easy, and safe. A LED battery indicator provides clear information on charge level at all times.

The new model combines hydraulic power with a high level of automation. The hydraulic and sensor controlled nose gear loading system of the M518 aircraft tug is controlled via two levers and a central pump control on the vehicle. Key processes such as platform movement, carriage positioning, and door mechanism are operated automatically thanks to integrated sequence valves. Only the securing paddles need to be operated separately.

Optionally, the M518 tug can be enhanced with an oversteering protection system to prevent damage to the nose gear. The system then automatically interrupts the torque at a predefined point with the help of shear pins, triggers an alarm, and immediately stops the transfer of the torque onto the nose gear, bringing the unit to an automatic stop. This Mototok safety feature is unique in this class of aircraft tugs.

What Aircraft is the Mototok M518 Tug Compatible with?

With a towing capacity of 18 tonnes or 39,700 lbs and a lifting capacity of 1.5 tonnes or 3.300 lbs, the M518 tug within the Mototok M-Series is specifically designed for light General Aviation aircraft as well as most wheeled helicopters. This includes smaller business jets with single or dual nose wheel, recreational airplanes, sporting airplanes, and turboprops. More precisely, the M518 tug is compatible with the following aircraft:

• Bombardier Challenger 300
• Embraer Praetor 500
• Gulfstream G280
• Learjet
• Aermacchi T-346/M-346
• Pilatus PC-24
• Embraer Phenom 300
• King Air
• Agusta/Leonardo
• Aermacchi MB-339
• Citation CJ2+/CJ2/CJ1
• Sikorsky
• Pilatus PC-12
• T-34
• Piper/Diamond

Please note: While the list provided is fairly extensive, it is not comprehensive. If your aircraft is not listed here, please check with us directly on compatibility. (Contact Mototok).

Mototok M518: New Aircraft Tug for MROs, FBOs, and Corporate Flight Departments

The application areas for the M518 tug correspond to those of the Mototok M-Series in general: This is Mototok’s entry-level solution of aircraft tugs, used at major Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities and fixed-base operators (FBOs) as well as corporate flight departments worldwide. In addition, M-Series tugs are also ideally suited for business aviation operators, private aircraft owners, aircraft management companies as well as special mission operators.

All M-Series tugs are designed with a focus on operational efficiency, combining flexibility, safety, and cost-effectiveness. Their strong return on investment (ROI) in daily use makes these tugs, including, of course, the new M518 model, a viable business case.

If you are looking for the right aircraft towing tool for light aircraft or wheeled helicopters and want to enhance operational efficiency, hangar efficiency as well as aircraft safety, and reduce carbon emissions all at once, the M518 aircraft tug might be just the perfect choice to upgrade your electric ground support equipment. Here is an overview of the key advantages that can help MROs and FBOs, among others, optimize their performance in daily operations:

• Optimize ground handling operations: Thanks to remote-controlled precision, semi-automatic nosegear loading, and its compact and towbarless design, the Mototok M518 tug can help you significantly increase both time efficiency and aircraft safety. For instance, Mototok tugs access aircraft in the hangar more than twice as quickly than other aircraft tugs, such as conventional tractors with a towbar.
• Semi-automatic nose wheel clamping system: With the semi-automatic nose wheel clamping system of the M518 tug, loading and unloading the nose gear is easy, safe, and only takes 10 to 15 seconds. The nose gear is fixed hydraulically, with no winches or lashing straps, and only minimum physical effort required. This enhances the safety of the operator and minimizes the risk of damage to the aircraft.
• Hangar optimization: M-Series aircraft tugs help airports, MROs, FBOs, and corporate flight departments optimize hangar efficiency and accommodate up to 60 percent more aircraft.
• Sustainability: With fully-electric drive and zero emissions, Mototok tugs are the sustainable alternative to conventional Diesel tugs. As such, they help airports in successfully reducing their carbon footprint and achieving their sustainability goals.
• Single-operator control: Like all Mototok tugs, the M518 can safely be operated by a single person, thanks to the remote control-feature enabling unobstructed view – the operator can move freely around the aircraft, so that an additional wing walker is no longer required.
• Ease of use: Remote-controlled and towbarless, the M518 Mototok tug is easy to maneuver and, therefore, requires no special licence, nor extensive training – operators can, in fact, be trained in just half a day.

What Differences are there between the M518 and other Models in the Mototok M-Series?

If the application areas of the three models of aircraft tugs within the Mototok M-Series largely overlap, what makes the M518 tug the right choice for your ground handling operations, then? The main differences between the models concern the level of automation, the towing capacity, and aircraft compatibility. So, let’s briefly compare the key characteristics of the three M-Series models:

Level of Automation:

• The flagship M528 tug has the highest level of automation within the Mototok M-Series. It is equipped with a fully-automatic nose wheel clamping system: It only takes the push of a button on the remote control for the entire nose gear loading process to be completed automatically – with maximum ease of use, safety, and efficiency.
• The new M518 aircraft tug is in the middle range and still offers a high level of automation. The semi-automatic nose wheel clamping system is operated via two levers and a central pump control on the vehicle. Key processes such as platform movement, carriage positioning, and door mechanism are automated and only the securing paddles need to be operated separately.
• The M515 tug, in turn, is a simple and cost-efficient, yet solid entry-level solution. The nose gear loading process is hydraulically supported, yet manually operated with different levers on the tug, rather than being automated. The door mechanism is controlled mechanically via a Bowden cable and a spring opening system.

Towing Capacity:

• The M528 aircraft tug has the highest towing capacity within the Mototok M-Series with 28 tonnes or 61,700 lbs.
• The M518 tug is, again, in the middle range, with a towing capacity of 18 tonnes or 39,700 lbs.
• The M515 tug has the lowest towing capacity within the M-Series with 15 tonnes or 33,000 lbs.

Aircraft Compatibility:

We have already discussed the aircraft compatibility of the new Mototok M518 tug above. In comparison, the M528 Mototok tug is compatible with light to medium sized General Aviation aircraft as well as most wheeled helicopters. This includes the following aircraft types:

• Bombardier Challenger 650/604
• Lockheed Martin F-16
• Embraer Praetor 600/500
• Bombardier Challenger 3500/300
• Gulfstream G280
• Learjet
• Aermacchi T-346/M-346
• Pilatus PC-24
• Embraer Phenom 300
• King Air
• Agusta/Leonardo
• Aermacchi MB-339
• Citation CJ2+/CJ2/CJ1
• Sikorsky
• Pilatus PC-12
• T-34
• Piper/Diamond

The M515 tug, in turn, is compatible with light General Aviation aircraft as well as most wheeled helicopters, including:

• Learjet
• Aermacchi T-346 / M-346
• Pilatus PC-24
• Embraer Phenom 300
• King Air
• Agusta / Leonardo
• Aermacchi MB-339
• Citation CJ2+ / CJ2 / CJ1
• Sikorsky
• Pilatus PC-12
• T-34
• Piper / Diamond

Conclusion: New Mototok Tug for MRO- and FBO-Purposes

Mototok has expanded its product portfolio of fully-electric, towbarless, and remote-controlled aircraft tugs with a new model within the M-Series: The M518. Equipped with a high level of automation, the aircraft tug perfectly balances efficiency and control. It is compatible with light General Aviation aircraft as well as most wheeled helicopters and is a perfect entry-level solution for MRO- and FBO-purposes as well as corporate flight department operations, among others.

If you want to upgrade your eGSE and want to learn more about how the new M518 model can help you optimize your ground handling operations, just contact us – we’re happy to find the perfect solution for your aircraft and application area.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about the Mototok M-Series