anti collision lights

[brs planespotter]

i have noticed when easyjet come onto stand sometimes the anti col lights get switched off instantly and some easys take what seems "minutes",is this due too each aircraft being at different stages of the shutdown checks when going onto blocks,just wondering,thanku

[Localiser]

According to SoPs we should turn the anti-col off when the N1 (front fan) is less than 10%. So everyone should be turning them off at a fairly similar time during the engine shutdown.

Hope this helps.

[HeathrowAirport]

brs planespotter,

I remember hearing from many Airbus pilots including a trainer I personally know, and they switch Engine 1 off before entering stand so they can get the air bridge or in EasyJets favourite case the Stairs and engine 2 is switched off as soon as parking brakes are applied along with the Anti-Collision lights switched off, so a short turn around can be completed. Also I noticed BA do the same thing with there aircraft, becuase the pilot switched the left engine off and came into stand and then had to put a lot of power on the right engine (lots of vibration) to get onto gate correctly.

[Rainboe]

Correct, that is what they do with their aircraft, Heathrow Airport. Some airlines taxi in on one engine- we used to turn off the engine on the inside of the final turn onto stand. You can then shut down immediately along as your APU is running and you have transferred electrical supply onto the APU generator so the lights don't suddenly go dark! If your APU is not working, you must wait until the ground crew attach an electrical supply to the nose and you transfer to this before you shut the last engine down, so sometimes the engine will keep running until this is done. if they are slow, it can take quite a while. You have to keep the engine running and anti-collision light on which keeps the other groundstaff and jetty clear.

The other day in Baku, I was leaning out of the window gesticulating to the groundstaff that we needed groundpower, and I watched one of the groundstaff idly walking by with chocks just a few feet in front of the 737 engine which was running. I really thought he was about to be sucked in. It is a very dangerous time with engines running and people milling around.

[HeathrowAirport]

Rainboe,

Thanks for that Information, I was on BAW913U, and one of the Engines was shut down, I believe 1 (left) and 2 was still on becuase I was placed on the wing exit as a favour of the cabin crew as they did me a huge favour (Wont go into it on here) so they wanted me to do something for them, So I did and I noticed very strong vibrations, Engine was shut down abeam A10W, it was just a short taxi then to T5A 2nd stand on the right. As we pulled in he came in too short, and he applied thrust and the aircraft vibrated heavily before moving, I hope you could explain why that is.

Yes thats one thing I would never dare to go near a running jet engine, but people have survived like that aircraft carrier video but It can end in sadness like GCTS.

Do you fly 737s?

[MrFixer!!!]

Ha ha........try asking that questions to those engineers who do all the leak checks on running engines.......great fun!!! specially in heavy rain!!!

[Chesty Morgan]

and they switch Engine 1 off before entering stand so they can get the air bridge or in EasyJets favourite case the Stairs

You haven't got that bit quite right.

Nobody and nothing should approach the aircraft until the red beacon/anti collision light is off, the exception is the GPU guy. As both engines are turned off within seconds of each other, if you've left them both running, you aren't really saving any time by shutting one down.

The single engine taxi is for fuel saving purposes. You usually do it when you judge that you can reach the stand without needing to stop or use too much power. If you do stop too early, as the case appears to be in your second post, then it needs a pretty big handful of power to get the thing moving again.

[DooblerChina]

You also haven't quite got that bit right

Many stands have fixed airbridges and require the left engine to be shut down before taxiing on.

Anyway another reason why the ant-col doesn't go off straight away.....we forget!

[K.Whyjelly]

If the aircraft has used more than REV IDLE on landing or if on the taxi in has been operated at a thrust setting above that required for normal taxiing, the engines should be operated at or near idle power for a minimum of 3 minutes to avoid performance degradation of the engines and possible HPC blade damage.This is my operators SOP and if EZY follow the same procedures this may explain why some shut down sooner than others

[Rainboe]

Many stands have fixed airbridges and require the left engine to be shut down before taxiing on.

Not right, you can always in all types taxi onto stand with all engines running. You do not ever need to shut down because of airbridges- they are adjustable.

[K.Whyjelly]

Originally Posted by Rainboe

Not right, you can always in all types taxi onto stand with all engines running. You do not ever need to shut down because of airbridges- they are adjustable.

Not so Rainboe............page B3 or B4 if my memory serves me right on the LHR Aerodrome booklet specifically states that certain aircraft types (A319 in my case) parking on certain stands (in the Juliets on 102,104 and a few others) must close down the No1 engine due to the fact that these are laterally fixed airbridges and the shortened fuselage length of the319 (and subsequent reduced clearance) means there is risk of damage to the engine and FOD ingestion


Other airports have these fixed jetties..... GLA I think is one

[Rainboe]

Well I suppose there's always one to prove the exception to the rule. In 39 years of flying all over the world, I've never yet experienced any of these oddball, cheapskate stands anywhere. How nice to know they have them at that dreadful place, Heathrow!

[Chesty Morgan]

DooblerChina, so which bit did I get wrong? Or was it that I just ommitted something type and stand specific.

I've been operating in and out of Glasgow for over 10 years and I have never heard of these dangerous stands, mind you I haven't flown anything as stumpy as a 319.

[K.Whyjelly]

Hi Chesty, not sure what behemoth you drive () but i seem to recall that Stand 25 at GLA was fixed and as such all bmi 319's taxied in with No1 shut down. Rgds KY

[Chesty Morgan]

KY. I was only being a bit TIC, I'm on the E195 which you can't call stumpy!

Have to admit I haven't parked on 25 before but out of interest if you are precluded from shutting down No 1, say a U/S APU, do you have to wait for another stand or is there a way around it?

[K.Whyjelly]

Hopefully ops or even the crew themselves will pick up on the fact and the aircraft wont be dispatched to GLA and if it is then you ask for a different stand!!