Speed to vacate runway
 

Dear All,

I’m a spectator, very curious about A320. On the net I see that many airlines monitor carefully taxi speed. My question is regarding the speed to vacate the runway. When you vacate, and also when you make turns on ground, do you assess your speed visually, as we do when we drive a car, or you monitor your GS on ND for better precision?

Cheers

Depends on the angle of turn required especially if it is a Rapid Exit Turnoff(RET).

Not on the 320 but I use GS. NO REASON THE AIRBUS WOULD BE ANY DIFFERENT.

Hello, we monitor the groundspeed on the ND and the speed limitations in our company are:
5kt..... Taxiing into the gate.
10kt..... Turns >60 degrees or entering the gate
20kt..... When exiting runway
30kt..... On straight line.
45kt..... High speed taxiway in dry conditions using rudder pedals. Tiller should not be used above 30kt groundspeed.

We always rely on the groundspeed indication on the ND. Except after landing when entering the gate as the speed is not very accurate cause of the IRS Drift. Then I look outside for better assessement. Some guys uses the GPS speed displayed in the MCDU page. I do not do it tho. I slow down if required by marshaller or Guidance System.

I just eyeball it most of the time, unless going in a straight line and getting significant speed up. It’s probably easier in a small jet like ours (BAe146) than something bigger that has the pilots sitting higher up.

I eyeball it most of the time too. I suppose the 320 is also a "small jet".

As a reader of accident reports, when the plane skids off the runway, many times the end of the reports says " the PF made no use of GS on ND." (eg sas a320 in CPH exit B5)
Do you think the use of GS on ND could have prevented many runway excursions?

Possibly. The issue here, though, is that if you're so unaware of your speed and are so out of touch with your aircraft that the only thing keeping you off the grass is the ND, you probably have bigger problems...

I agree with you. I think It could be as in the car, while driving the most difficult times with speed are night, darkish roads maybe a bit of mist.....
Or maybe being used to a lower flight deck (eg a320 to A380) could be a possible threat on the first flights