As to the A-380 reversers - YES - only reversers on inboard engines.
xxx
Heard that it was for 2 reasons - weight saving (yes, maybe), and FOD since these engines will hang far outside of runways and taxiways... (???) What kind of justifications are these...?
xxx
Absence of reversers is not a problem. As mentioned, JAR/FAR 25 landing distance certification does not take reversers in account. There are/were airplanes without reversers - the early Caravelles, and the Fokker F-28s... and others (too old to remember).
xxx
I fly 747s (and teach pilots to fly them as well) and yes, in the 747, the outboard engines are far from centerline as well. Twenty years ago, my own 747 instructors told me to be careful about outboards and FOD... Now the A-380 guys get the same song and dance. Nothing ever changes...
xxx
So the practical considerations will remain the same. For me, they are -
Reversers are nice to cancel "residual (idle) thrust"...
That is the main inconvenience of jet engines. Even at idle, they "push" the plane quite a bit.
So I appreciate to be able to deploy reversers to block the idle thrust.
And...
Face it, FAR/JAR 25 or not, I like getting the help of my reversers for braking the plane.
There are times your brakes and wheels dont get the bite like test pilots got for certification.
I have landed on wet and slippery runways, and was happy to use reversers to stop my whale.
My slippery runway is always more slippery than the one test pilots had.
And I use these reversers "which are not needed for certification" until my GS is ZEERO KNOTS.
I am not a test pilot. My tires are probably older than they were on certification flights.
Maintenance told me that the tires are good for another 5 landings...
And so are my brakes. They are supposed to change the brakes "maņana".
Further, I am just an average pilot, not the "ace of the base" as these test pilots are.
Test pilots fly brand new planes. My 747 are about 25+ years of age.
xxx
The way I use reversers in the 747 is as follows (and the way I train "my guys").
I dont know how this will translate on the A-380.
When I touch down, I immediately go full reverse on inboards.
Then (half a second later) I deploy outboard reversers carefully in case one does not deploy.
Then around 60 KIAS, I reduce reverse on the inboards first.
Because the inboard reversers disrupts the engine inlet of the outboards which are further aft.
Then when the inboard are at idle reverse, I reduce reverse on outboards.
I keep all of them in idle reverse until taxi speed is achieved (20 Kts on INS).
xxx
I am curious to see how this will work with A-380s...
The inboard (only) in reverse will probably upset the inlets of outboards.
So, like I do in the 747, they will get out of reverse at 60 KIAS, or so.
After (say 60 KIAS), our majestic A-380 will have 4 x idle forward thrust.
I think these machines at idle must blow forward "better" than my hair dryer.
xxx
The only thing I admire of Airboos is... their brake fans...
I suppose they will have fans on A-380s... I wish 747s had brake fans.
xxx
I retire in 9 months - so I dont care... then upgrading to Check-SLF status.
And I rather drive my '91 Peugeot 205 for 2 days to go to the beach.
My mother-in-law gets an airline "pallet class" pass (cargo flight due to her weight/size).
I rather have my dog with me. My blue-eyed canine F/O...
He barks all dog SOPs check-lists ok, in Spanish, with Russian accent.
SOP - means standard ops. peepee... stop car, proceed to nearest tree, snif, raise leg, L/R option.
It is 5 recall items to be memorized by any well trained Husky.
xxx
Happy contrails