Airbus Off-Blocks Time?
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 42
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From: Manchester, UK
Airbus Off-Blocks Time?
Hi
Been searching through the FCOM, but it was fruitless!!
Does anyone know the min speed required during pushback before the off-block time is recoreded on the FMGS? I think I heard it was 3 knots, but can't find any reference of that.
Thanks
Been searching through the FCOM, but it was fruitless!!
Does anyone know the min speed required during pushback before the off-block time is recoreded on the FMGS? I think I heard it was 3 knots, but can't find any reference of that.
Thanks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 83
Likes: 19
From: Sandcastle 2
From my personal experience on the 320/1s I fly it's not the pushback speed that determines the off blocks time, its the Parking Brake.
Sneeky way to get an OTD, release the parkbrake for a couple of seconds whilst holding the a/c with the footbrake. After a few seconds re-apply the parkbrake and it usually records that as the off blocks time, and in our case automatically sends it via ACARS.
Maybe you have a different mod though.
Dreamland beat me to it, but he is correct all doors have to be closed, although not sure about the slides armed, we can do it without that.
Sneeky way to get an OTD, release the parkbrake for a couple of seconds whilst holding the a/c with the footbrake. After a few seconds re-apply the parkbrake and it usually records that as the off blocks time, and in our case automatically sends it via ACARS.
Maybe you have a different mod though.
Dreamland beat me to it, but he is correct all doors have to be closed, although not sure about the slides armed, we can do it without that.
Joined: Dec 1998
Posts: 3,038
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From: .
Sneeky way to get an OTD, release the parkbrake for a couple of seconds whilst holding the a/c with the footbrake. After a few seconds re-apply the parkbrake and it usually records that as the off blocks time, and in our case automatically sends it via ACARS.
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 105
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From: Dublin, Ireland
dont ya just love acars, especially when an inbound aircraft puts on its parking brakes when holding for a stand thus recording an early on block time to the tune of 10mins or so.... as pilots can you guys overwrite or re-send an acars block time? generally as handling agents we can, depending on the airline but it looks dodgy.
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: ???
Got to agree with my friend spanners here, on the A330/340 it is the ADIRU that senses the pushback. Good move if awaiting clearance (& obviously jetbridge off/doors closed), is to ask for brakes released to remove the chocks & get the tug driver to give the aircraft a nudge (not too gently though). Low & behold a nice off blocks time!!!!
Joined: Dec 1998
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 52
From: .
dont ya just love acars, especially when an inbound aircraft puts on its parking brakes when holding for a stand thus recording an early on block time to the tune of 10mins or so.... as pilots can you guys overwrite or re-send an acars block time? generally as handling agents we can, depending on the airline but it looks dodgy.
Denzil, did you get my e-mail?
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 118
Likes: 1
From: Geneva
it's multiple entries: if you'v released the Prk Brk and have started en engine in the next 2 or 3 mins that's the block time you'll get although there are differences between the older ACARS's and the newer ATSU's
seb
seb
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 29
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From: Miami
It depends on the what the customer airline requested when ordering from Airbus, the oldest aircrafts in our fleet generate an out time when the brakes are released(hence our SOP call for placing zeros in the Flight number/AC line number fields in ACARS to help prevent false in/out time being registered in the system), others when cabin door is closed and brakes released, and the newer A320/A321's which weren't second hand is based on groundspeed greater the 3kts , later MSN on combination of engine start and brake release, its all set to what the customer requests as for triggers of out time.
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,178
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From: UK
For EZY 319s I believe it to be park brake off (obviously!) and 1.5kts G/S.
Can't find a reference i'm afraid and it really wouldn't surprise me to see several different versions/mod states around the place.
Can't find a reference i'm afraid and it really wouldn't surprise me to see several different versions/mod states around the place.
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Manchester, UK
Thanks for all the replies guys!! It's EZY info I'm after. I didn't know there were so many different ways to trigger the off time. So a safe bet will be 1.5 - 3 kts groundspeed? 
Cheers
Col
Cheers
Col
