Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Flight Deck Forums > Tech Log
Reload this Page >

braking while aircraft moves aft.

Wikiposts
Search
Tech Log The very best in practical technical discussion on the web

braking while aircraft moves aft.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11th Jan 2008, 09:18
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: sweden
Age: 61
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
braking while aircraft moves aft.

I read on a different thread that you should not apply brakes on an airplane while it's moving aft.
I remember when i was a f/o at a md-80 operated airline some commanders put on the electric hydraulic pump (not engine driven) during push back and start up. This, they explained, was a back up incase the towbar broke during the push.
Now i'm in the left seat on the same type and our sop's don't include having the pump on during pushback but i still imagine that braking is the only thing one can do if the towbar collapses......
Can someone explain why you shouldn't apply the brakes in such a situation?
928s7 is offline  
Old 11th Jan 2008, 09:30
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Frosty part of Europe
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Applying the brakes while aircraft is moving backwards may well cause it to tip backwards causing a tailstrike. However if the towbar brakes and your engines are not running your only way to stop would be using tour brakes carefully. But you should have brakes available from acc pressure anyway.

Hope this helps.
Md-driver is offline  
Old 11th Jan 2008, 09:30
  #3 (permalink)  
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Derbyshire, England.
Posts: 4,096
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Because if you are not very careful you will tip up. Use of brakes going backwards is not a recommended procedure.
parabellum is offline  
Old 11th Jan 2008, 09:37
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: away from home
Posts: 897
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Did a lot of power-backs from stand during my time as capt. on the Fokker 50. After start, release parking brake and both pilots FEET ON THE FLOOR so as not to inadvertently use the brakes to stop the airplane. Coming out of reverse to just a bit of fwd power would stop the airplane quite smoothly.
oceancrosser is offline  
Old 11th Jan 2008, 09:42
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: East side of OZ
Posts: 624
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I had a towbar break during pushback, in a B707 years ago, with three of the four engines started. The first thing I knew about it was the tug rapidly moving away from the aircraft because we were rapidly chasing it, even with only three engines at idle. The brakes came in handy then.

If the engines weren't running and the towbar broke then I doubt whether the aircraft would roll much at all and if it did there should be enough pressure in the accumulator to stop it. There should be enough hydraulic pressure with the engine cranking before lightoff to stop the aircraft.

Regards,
BH.
Bullethead is offline  
Old 11th Jan 2008, 09:43
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Brisbane
Age: 77
Posts: 1,406
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I knew someone would ask this, after that other thread about the A380.

While it would not be "normal" to do that, it is done GENTLY sometimes, as you mentioned during pushback, and also I have seen it regularly on MD80s when reversing out from the gate under power (not pushback).

As others have said, BE CAREFUL though............
airsupport is offline  
Old 11th Jan 2008, 09:47
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Choroni, sometimes
Posts: 1,974
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I had a cracked towbar during pushback on A321. The aircraft was heading (tailing) to the terminal windows. Ramp agent was yelling "Set parking brake."

Smooth pedal pressure was applied. Aircraft nose came up significantly but tail didn't kiss concrete.
hetfield is offline  
Old 11th Jan 2008, 09:55
  #8 (permalink)  

SkyGod
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Palm Coast, Florida, USA
Age: 67
Posts: 1,542
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 1 Post
Had the towbar break during pushback in Lima in a 747-200 some years ago, slightly downhill behind us.
We had no choice but to hit the brakes, no tailstrike tho...

Next time I would perhaps hit just one brake pedal, make for a softer stop.
TowerDog is offline  
Old 11th Jan 2008, 12:47
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Brakes Backwards

A very old "War Story"

Many many years ago as a very young space cadet I was trying to bum a ride at RAF Abingdon.

The Squadron (can't remember which!) operated Blackburn Beverleys.

As we were being escorted out to our steed of the day for a low level navex arround the south of England we saw a Bev powering back, first time I had ever seen an aircraft move backwards under its own power.

I asked the Loadmaster who was escorting us how it was able to do that and he explained about Beta range propellors etc. Being an irritating little ****** I asked how the pilot could see and he explained that the loadie watched from the rear doors and told the pilot to tuen left or right etc.

As we watched an RAF jeep shot past the rear of the aircraft. Obviously the loadie shouted stop. Instead of moving the prop levers forward the pilot stood on the brakes!!

The aircraft pivoted over its main wheels and the tail boom and endplate fins got closer and closer to the ground, the nose wheel must have been at least 6 feet off the ground.

The pilot realised what he had done and released the brakes. The nose wheel hit the ground with a resounding crash that could be heard above the sound of the engines.

The aircraft was shut down and the crew climbed out and clustered around the nose gear.

The aircraft was last seen by us as we taxied out in our Bev, being towed very slowly towards the maintenance hangar, where I believe it stayed for several weeks.

Moral of this story- POWERBACKS BAD, using brakes whilst moving backwards even worse. If the tail doesn't hit the ground the nose gear will.

Surf Bum
surf bum is offline  
Old 11th Jan 2008, 14:10
  #10 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: sweden
Age: 61
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
thanks for the explanations and insights guys. u've just made one more aviator '' safer '' .
928s7 is offline  
Old 11th Jan 2008, 15:41
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Argentina
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
in MD80 if you apply brakes while reversing back, you could "sit" the aircraft.
md-100 is offline  
Old 11th Jan 2008, 19:27
  #12 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: uk
Posts: 260
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If you do not have any forward thrust available, then use the brakes VERY, VERY GENTLY. In both incidents that I experienced, the aircraft was being pushed towards parked aircraft when it became detached from the tug.
skiesfull is offline  
Old 11th Jan 2008, 21:26
  #13 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AEP
Age: 80
Posts: 1,420
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
brake break brake break

Brake and breaks...
The airplane has breaks...
The towbar brakes... or is it the contrary...?
xxx
I assume same would happen when discussing 'hangar' and 'hanger'...
And 'their' or 'there'...?
Correct spelling optional.
xxx

Happy contrails
BelArgUSA is offline  
Old 11th Jan 2008, 21:43
  #14 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Brisbane
Age: 77
Posts: 1,406
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Brake and breaks...
The airplane has breaks...
The towbar brakes... or is it the contrary...?
xxx
I assume same would happen when discussing 'hangar' and 'hanger'...
And 'their' or 'there'...?
Correct spelling optional.
There is only one way in English.

Aircraft have brakes.

A towbar sometimes breaks.

The Aircraft would go into the hangar.

But my shirt is on the hangar.

And their Aircraft is over there.

Of course this is English, not American.
airsupport is offline  
Old 11th Jan 2008, 22:38
  #15 (permalink)  

Aviator Extraordinaire
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma USA
Age: 76
Posts: 2,394
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Of course this is English, not American.
Same in American English, however, I did use to fly with an old Captain that always used the term 'aircrafts'. I tried to correct him, but back in those days young co-pilots did not correct old Captains. Not without getting a slap up the side of the head.
con-pilot is offline  
Old 11th Jan 2008, 22:49
  #16 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Brisbane
Age: 77
Posts: 1,406
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I did use to fly with an old Captain that always used the term 'aircrafts'. I tried to correct him
He was of course correct, the term IS "aircraft" in English as spoken Worldwide, except in the US of course where they use "airplane".

I worked for about 12 months some years back in New York, and that was the hardest part of the job, hardly anyone spoke English.
airsupport is offline  
Old 12th Jan 2008, 00:33
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: La Belle Province
Posts: 2,179
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Except that aircrafts as a plural is wrong, everywhere.
Mad (Flt) Scientist is offline  
Old 12th Jan 2008, 00:40
  #18 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Brisbane
Age: 77
Posts: 1,406
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Except that aircrafts as a plural is wrong, everywhere.
Except it seems in the USA.
airsupport is offline  
Old 13th Jan 2008, 10:09
  #19 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: taking up the hold
Age: 53
Posts: 812
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Further to the above answers. I had a tow bar that wasn't attached properly disconnect during push back. We were rolling back towards the taxiway & the grass beyond (at about 2 kts) so I very gently dabbed the toe brakes.

There was a big lurch. The nosewheel oleo extended by what felt like about 3 feet & the steward in the forward toilet peed all over his shoes!
Tail-take-off is offline  
Old 13th Jan 2008, 12:10
  #20 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Here, there, and everywhere
Posts: 1,127
Likes: 0
Received 13 Likes on 8 Posts
And what about this term of finals. There is only one final approach for each runway....I think.
punkalouver is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.