First off, thanks for a lot of great information.
It seems that having the pilot exit a running bird is not a strict yes/no answer, but is based on a bunch of factors such as:
- type of A/C (are its systems & controls suitable for such practice)
- landing environment (wind, slope and makeup of spot)
- company/insurance policy rules
This brings up a parallel question. I have heard of the practice of having capable but non-rated personnel start up the aircraft before the pilot arrives, or sit in & "mind" running aircraft while the pilot gets out. How does this fit into the mix?