A320 Ground Reversing?

[putco]

To the Chaps who fly this beaut.

Is it approved for reversing away from the bridge on the ground, as in when the tug is broken perhaps?

I would think that the FOD considerations were too great to risk such activity.

Thanks.

[320DRIVER]

Wouldn't like to see your CPs face if you accidentally press the footbrakes during this maneouvre. :-)

[putco]

I agree, I was a passenger on this flight and it caught me by surprise.

[Seloco]

Using reversers to back off the gate used to be SOP for 727s at O'Hare a few years back, I seem to remember. I'm not sure that it would work quite as well with your CFM56s so close to the ground though.

[SOPS]

737-200s were approved for this. New generation aircraft/engines are not.

[Airbanda]

Saw a Sterling Airways Caravelle VI R do this at Manch 25 years or so ago when spotters could walk down the tops of the piers. May have sustained some FoD myself from all the dust swirling about. Impressive though.

[spannersatcx]

We are aloud to pop the reversers to idle on on 744 to aid in pushback when snow has fallen and the tug can't manage on it's own.

[BEagle]

I seem to remember that, after they goddam-Roosskies had shot down a Korean airliner, the ground blokes at Thiefrow were rather miffed at having to handle an Aeopvot IL-62. This didn't worry the tovarich-at-the-helm when it came to push back time and the tug wouldn't - he merely stated that he was going to put them into reverse and back out. Much worry that the windows in Terminal whatever would get blown in, the area was cleared and our hero of the sovietski soyuz did precisely what he said he would!



[This message has been edited by BEagle (edited 01 June 2001).]

[SK]

For the DC-9 (and derivatives) family planes, one sees reversers used for gate pullback all the time. Here are some examples from airliners.net :
http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=112046
http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=37973
http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=55282

[Flight Safety]

Agreed SK, this is common practice with DC-9s, MD-80s and F-100s. Happens at DFW all the time.

[Max Angle]

In the limitations sections of the Airbus FCOM it quite clearly states "Backing the aircraft with reverse thrust is not permitted" end of story.

Max.

[U R NumberOne]

In a BA interview many years ago I was given a scenario that I was the captain of a 1-11 and pulled onto stand a few feet beyond the airbridge which could not be moved - would I consider a quick reverse as there was no tug available for a while. I suggested using the rear airstairs, but surprise, surprise they were u/s! Can't remember what answer I gave but it obviously did me no good as I was chopped at that stage

Any ex BA 1-11 crews tell me the correct answer according to SOPs etc?