On Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at 4:18:15 PM UTC+3, Waveguru wrote:
It seems that most operations here in the USA use a 200' tow rope, and I've heard that some places in Europe even use a rope as short as 120'. Ropes at our operation are more like 275' because it seems safer and easier when it's longer. What is the rational behind using shorter ropes? I see no reason for short ropes unless you are towing out of a short field.

If you're towing out of a 1500+ ft field it's hard to see how 50 feet difference on the rope can make the difference between a clearly safe takeoff and a clearly unsafe takeoff.

Or, to look at it another way, if the tug climbs at a 1 in 10 angle (6 knots of climb at 60 knots forward speed), then 50 feet difference in the rope length makes 5 feet difference in clearance over the fence/trees.