ATC help WRT starting all engines taxiing.
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ATC help WRT starting all engines taxiing.
Some background to what I am asking for non-pilots, in case you don't know: We fly around with often fairly limited amounts of fuel, especially if the weather enroute and destination looks good. Waiting to take off with engines running can rapidly burn through our planned taxi fuel, especially at airports we don't expect to wait at.
We can mitigate this to some extent by single engine taxiing. This is good for the fuel on board, good the for environment and good for the airline. The engines have a minimum warm up time, on one type of engine I fly this is 5 minutes. Without adequate information I have to often be cautious about starting the second engine early to make sure we are ready to go when we can. If we had an approximate idea either how many aircraft are at the hold, or how long we could expect before take off at push back it would allow better decision making for us whether to single engine taxi and if we do, when to start the second engine.
Is there anyway (referring to UK airports here realistically) that you could pass some information to pilots eg. 'Cleared push and start to face west, 4 ahead' or something, it would really help, plus could bring some environmental impact bragging rights to the airport I would guess.
We can mitigate this to some extent by single engine taxiing. This is good for the fuel on board, good the for environment and good for the airline. The engines have a minimum warm up time, on one type of engine I fly this is 5 minutes. Without adequate information I have to often be cautious about starting the second engine early to make sure we are ready to go when we can. If we had an approximate idea either how many aircraft are at the hold, or how long we could expect before take off at push back it would allow better decision making for us whether to single engine taxi and if we do, when to start the second engine.
Is there anyway (referring to UK airports here realistically) that you could pass some information to pilots eg. 'Cleared push and start to face west, 4 ahead' or something, it would really help, plus could bring some environmental impact bragging rights to the airport I would guess.
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Probably best addressing that to the airport concerned otherwise you may get a whole load of reasons from various ATCOs about why that's not possible at their unit.
Care to mention the airport?
Care to mention the airport?
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I'm talking about BHX but I think it could be applied to others successfully. It doesn't have to be an exact science but just something to give you a clue. At the end of the day I realise with single runway ops you have the added complication of landing traffic, but anything would be better than nothing. Thanks.
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"Stand by for start/push, short delay only due to congestion at the holding-point"
Worked a treat when I did it, I heard it at EGLL which is where I got it from, thinking 'these folks have their fingers-on-the-pulse'.
The problem now is that if you say stuff like that, chances are several members of various 'management trees', who are monitoring the GMC frequency, will be on the blower to the tower supervisor asking why XXX is being delayed.
In spite of the fact that said 'managers' have never flown an aircraft, (or controlled one), in their lives.
Worked a treat when I did it, I heard it at EGLL which is where I got it from, thinking 'these folks have their fingers-on-the-pulse'.
The problem now is that if you say stuff like that, chances are several members of various 'management trees', who are monitoring the GMC frequency, will be on the blower to the tower supervisor asking why XXX is being delayed.
In spite of the fact that said 'managers' have never flown an aircraft, (or controlled one), in their lives.
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I regularly have pilots asking how many departures are ahead with their push & start clearance & it's no bother at all.
I would suggest that you ask rather than have the ATCO remember in case they are busy and forget!
Also, if there are no inbounds you could probably get an approx airborne time from the TWR controller if there's a big queue.
I would suggest that you ask rather than have the ATCO remember in case they are busy and forget!
Also, if there are no inbounds you could probably get an approx airborne time from the TWR controller if there's a big queue.
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Noted
Thanks for your suggestion and I will certainly give you the best info I can. Personally, one of the biggest problems we have is planning gaps for departures only to be told that 'you are still waiting for the cabin....' when approaching the hold. I know there is loads going on but get the bu##ars strapped in and secure before you even taxi. Realistic?? I missed out on using 2 departure opportunities for this very reason the other day. If I think it is going to be a problem I use an intermediate hold to keep stuff moving, but I am not a mind reader. Keep up the good work.
Tom775257
Charlie23 is correct in his comments. Please be assured that all the ATCO is trying to do is move as many a/c as safely as possible in the minimum time. Sometimes, that may not be apparent from the pilots' point of view !
I think asking & informing,at an appropriate time, is the best course of action. Unless the ATCO is informed there is no way that he can know that an a/c has only one engine running. To base a "cunning plan" on the assumption that all a/c are ready, & then to find out that a key player is not, is frustrating & exasperating; & ruins the plan & leads to unnecessary delays.
So, passing the relevant info. To ATC is the way to go, for me.
Charlie23 is correct in his comments. Please be assured that all the ATCO is trying to do is move as many a/c as safely as possible in the minimum time. Sometimes, that may not be apparent from the pilots' point of view !
I think asking & informing,at an appropriate time, is the best course of action. Unless the ATCO is informed there is no way that he can know that an a/c has only one engine running. To base a "cunning plan" on the assumption that all a/c are ready, & then to find out that a key player is not, is frustrating & exasperating; & ruins the plan & leads to unnecessary delays.
So, passing the relevant info. To ATC is the way to go, for me.
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Charlie 23,
I suggest the problem of the cabin not being ready is that cabin crew usually don't start the safety briefing until the aircraft starts moving. If there is a short taxi they are still demonstrating how to use the oxygen mask when the aircraft gets to the holding point. As a passenger I have seen this a few times.
I suggest the problem of the cabin not being ready is that cabin crew usually don't start the safety briefing until the aircraft starts moving. If there is a short taxi they are still demonstrating how to use the oxygen mask when the aircraft gets to the holding point. As a passenger I have seen this a few times.
