Originally Posted by
Old and Horrified
Using reverse thrust to back up a 727 to the end of the runway- incredible! If that's a regular occurrence, then its quite possible the engines won't be giving the thrust they are meant to due historic FOD damage.
Backing 727s and MD-80s using the reversers was SOP at many airports back in the 1980's. I was personally on an MD-80 that used its reversers to back out of the gate at the old Stapleton airport in Denver so we're not just talking the small or poorly equipped airports. Operators like it because there was a significant labor savings in not having to do the push-back from the gate.
Eventually they figured out that the labor costs savings were cancelled out by the increase in engine maintenance and the practice fell out of favor. But it's stayed in the books as a manufacturer approved practice.