Push and remote hold can be used for various reasons. One is autonomy as given by your Captain, another is to cheat the 'on time' stats as a push off stand 'on time' and a 45 minute (or 4.5 hr) delay elsewhere on the airfield is still 'on time' for the bean-counters - or at least it was in my last company.
Engine cycles? Never heard that raised as a consideration so assume cycles aren't an issue. I have a vague recollection that they only come into play if the aircraft is employed mainly or exclusively on short sectors (ie averaging well under an hour). For all normal ops they are not a limiting factor.
Cooling? As explained above jet engines don't need cooling periods as such. They can be re started as soon as they've been shut down - the only conideration is that the EGT is below the appropriate limiting figure and to achieve that with a hot engine you merely motor it for a few extra seconds to pull cold air through the core until the EGT is within limits and then fire it up. A hot engine does tend to flash-up with a bit more alacrity than a cold one though, you sometimes hear a definite 'bump' as it lights up. Hot start? Ditto as long as the EGT didn't get too high (you're supposed to prevent that...) which would require an engineering inspection and an awkward interview without coffee.
One of the considerations in remote holding is fuel consumption. With the modern attitude of some Captains to fuel policy (ie rigid adherence to minimum carriage) an hour burning the APU can leave one having to be a bit creative with fuel figures on occasion, and also tempt the more 'company minded' (ie uttely unimaginative and toady) Captains to turn off the aircon even in hot conditions in order to save fuel to the extreme discomfort of the pax. Remote holding on skosh fuel plus a longer delay might require a return to stand to refuel and that really buggers up everyone's day. It's also thoroughly unpleasant for the environment and neighbours, but where permitted (some airfields have strict limits on APU usage).
Last edited by meleagertoo; 31st Mar 2024 at 09:42.