Date: 202101
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Operator: Air Carrier
Flight phase: Taxi
Second aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Ramp
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Confusion; Distraction; Training / Qualification
Anomaly: Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
When detected: Taxi
Result: General None Reported / Taken
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Procedure; Staffing
Primary problem: Procedure

Narrative: Today we completed XX moves; which puts us at the upper limit of historical average daily movement totals; a rate that has been ongoing consistently for over a month; at the same time while dealing with staffing issues largely related to out of service personnel due to the ongoing public health situation.  All that being said; this team could be considered as being pushed to near its operational limits.  This report serves to document an inconsistency in the midst of this already stressful situation. It needs to be mentioned that I have previously submitted two reports on this issue; and a few of my colleagues have indicated they have as well; yet the situation continues to cause issues. Like so many other problems that this company attempts to address; the issue garners some focus for a while; but is soon forgotten.While assigned to operate super tug X; we were tasked to tow off an aircraft X type from gate X.  The Z gates on the X terminal at ZZZ are known entities when moving aircraft X type; because of the minimal clearance between the nose gear and a line of concrete curbing between the building and the gate.  I was acting as the observer on this move; and so I prepared the ship to tow while my partner attempted to capture the nose gear with the super tug X.  Because of the extreme limited space; it took him approximately twenty minutes of constant maneuvering to capture the gear.  Obviously this adds unnecessary strain to us which could affect our focus. Numerous times while he was attempting to connect; the bumper of the super tug X made contact with the curb wall; at one point almost knocking it over.  This was not due purely to neglect; but more so because there was simply no other choice; he needed every available inch and more to complete the task.  During the course of this; our Supervisor called us to inquire as to our status.  I let him know we were having difficulty; without being specific; and his response was that other crews had towed off of that gate many times without a problem.  I am not sure having just seen it firsthand how that would be possible.  We had significant difficulties which jeopardized aircraft and equipment; although there was no reportable damage in this instance.Later on that day; during the busiest part of the shift; we again took an aircraft off another questionably accessible gate.  At this time; though; no other gates were available.After the main flight departure bank had left; we took another aircraft; an aircraft Y type 2; to a gate which it would have been better not towed to.  After releasing the aircraft; I checked the time and it took a full five minutes to egress with the super tug X from the area in front of the plane.  Ideally it should take about one minute; or perhaps two depending on driver competence.  It took five minutes because it is significantly more difficult to access or egress from the X; Z; and Y gates on the X terminal at ZZZ with a super tug X. This is due to space constraints.  Tows should not be assigned to these gates unless operationally necessary beyond just a basic need.  In the case of the second tow; it was necessary; because there was no other gate available.  On the first tow; from my perspective on that gate; I could see that two other more optimal gates were unoccupied. On the last tow; I decided that I would count the available gates on the North side of the terminal; but I did not have to because they were all open; the only aircraft on that side was the one we had just placed.  All though it will soon be a moot point; as the aircraft X type will no longer; at least for a time; be routed through ZZZ; I still feel it is necessary to bring it up because of the avoidable oversights which gave rise to the situation; escalating the risk level with little to no need or gain.




Synopsis: Ground employee reported difficulty moving aircraft off a specific gate due to reduced clearance.