Beacon Light during Engine Shutdown
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Beacon Light during Engine Shutdown
When the aircraft is parked at the gate and shutting down the engines, any operators consciously wait for the N1's to wind down to zero before turning the beacon light off? Is it part of anyones SOP's?
On our 737 Classics which are long gone, SOP was to wait for 10% N1 before swithcing the anti-collison light off. In our current fleet of 757/767 this is not in the SOP, but I know a lot of guys still use the same ref 10% N1
o/c
o/c
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Once the last fuel shutoff lever is placed to the oh eff eff position, the beacon light goes off. Thats our procedure. I'm sure someone will come up with a profound reason to wait till the N1 goes to zero, but the engine winds down quite quickly, does it not?
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On the 737CFM, 5% N1 on No 2 is a common figure to protect against the ??keen?? baggage handler rushing towards the forward hold and losing his tam o'shanter.
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Our SOPs are 20% N1. Heard a story from a captain I used to fly with who was flying as FO in a turbo prop operator when a ground handler walked backwards into the prop. The engine was shutting down after fuel off and the handler was decapitated. The subsequent investigation cleared the captain of any responsibility because the Anti Coll was still illuminated. Apparently if the lights had been switched off then he could have been prosecuted for causing the death of the grond handler.
Since hearing that story I have been very careful with warning lights.
Since hearing that story I have been very careful with warning lights.
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There is a (true?) story of an incident on an offshore rig.
Apparently the convention is that, if the rotors are turning, the deck officer can approach the aircraft only when the anti-coll is turned off, and this is common practice. It was forbidden to approach until this had happened.
Story goes that HRH P of W was due to visit a rig in the days when he still used to pilot occasionally. Helicopter with HRH aboard lands on the deck, and gradually the rotors start to wind down. Deck officer, keen to ensure HRH is not kept waiting, tries hand signals to the pilot to get him to turn the anti-coll off. No response, so eventually her gets on the radio:
"Hey, you ******* idiot, turn the anti-coll off so I can approach the ******* aircraft".
Anti-coll goes off, pilot takes off helmet and looks out of the window with a smile.
Guess who!
Apparently the convention is that, if the rotors are turning, the deck officer can approach the aircraft only when the anti-coll is turned off, and this is common practice. It was forbidden to approach until this had happened.
Story goes that HRH P of W was due to visit a rig in the days when he still used to pilot occasionally. Helicopter with HRH aboard lands on the deck, and gradually the rotors start to wind down. Deck officer, keen to ensure HRH is not kept waiting, tries hand signals to the pilot to get him to turn the anti-coll off. No response, so eventually her gets on the radio:
"Hey, you ******* idiot, turn the anti-coll off so I can approach the ******* aircraft".
Anti-coll goes off, pilot takes off helmet and looks out of the window with a smile.
Guess who!
Last edited by Jetdriver; 25th Feb 2006 at 09:40.
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Originally Posted by eyeinthesky
pilot takes off helmet and looks out of the window with a smile. Guess who!
PP
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I operate the 767 and our procedure is just the same after the last fuel control is closed we perform the shutdown check after setting the fuel pumps to off we close the the red beacon.
But we dont wait to N1 to reach zero
But we dont wait to N1 to reach zero
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As an aircraft dispatcher I often chock and power the aircraft on arrival before poping upstairs to wack the jetty on.
The other day the aircraft arrived, I plugged the power in, and the anti-collision lights were turned off before shutting the engines down!! Naughty Pilots!
One of our handling agents approached the aircraft (behind the running No.1 engine) to put the chocks in .... luckily one of his mates managed to signal and shout some profanity to him and he stopped just short of the jet pipe, saving his dignity, his beard and his turban too !
Could have been a different story if he approached the engine from the front !
The 2 pilots were given a rollocking and they, of course, appologised
Abo
The other day the aircraft arrived, I plugged the power in, and the anti-collision lights were turned off before shutting the engines down!! Naughty Pilots!
One of our handling agents approached the aircraft (behind the running No.1 engine) to put the chocks in .... luckily one of his mates managed to signal and shout some profanity to him and he stopped just short of the jet pipe, saving his dignity, his beard and his turban too !
Could have been a different story if he approached the engine from the front !
The 2 pilots were given a rollocking and they, of course, appologised
Abo
