Reverse Thrust in the air - Limitations
- Inboard engines (either or both) only
- Idle power only
- Between 30,000 ft - 3,000 ft AGL only
- Subsonic only
- Max speed 370 kts over most of the allowable range
- Min speed 250 kts above 15,000 ft
- Min speed 225 kts below 15,000 ft
- 4 minutes only
The descent profile was planned without the use of reverse thrust, but it was available, and used, when required.
The principal benefit of reverse thrust in the air, in my view, was the ability to reduce speed quickly in a shallow descent, whilst keeping the aircraft attitude (and so the cabin floor) substantially level. Passengers found this more comfortable than using reverse thrust, at a constant IAS, to achieve a very high rate of descent, with the consequent steep nose down attitude.
If a runaway bar trolley, dragging a stewardess behind it, thumped into the back of the flight deck door, you had probably overdone the nose down attitude!
