B737-800 brake cooling schedule
Thread Starter

Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 51
Likes: 9
From: N/A
B737-800 brake cooling schedule
After a high speed rejected take off and setting the parking brake, can you just vacate the runway and set the parking brake again even if the brake cooling schedule says it needs few hrs? (Yes, I know the runway will be closed anyway until it get inspected but I was just wondering)
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
From: Home soon
As written above,you do not set the parking beake until /if the decision is made to evacuate.
If you have steel brakes(check your AFM)following a brake limit energy stop (check your perf table) then good luck trying to taxi anyways,might as well call for a 'cab'
If you have steel brakes(check your AFM)following a brake limit energy stop (check your perf table) then good luck trying to taxi anyways,might as well call for a 'cab'
Last edited by de facto; 24th October 2013 at 05:58.
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,507
Likes: 4
From: last time I looked I was still here.
Setting the Park Brake yes/no is a company SOP. I've flown for airlines that use both philosophies. The 'set park brake' SOP is approved by the XAA & Boeing, I assume.
This is not a discussion of right or wrong, just what happens.
This is not a discussion of right or wrong, just what happens.
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
From: Home soon
Setting the Park Brake yes/no is a company SOP. I've flown for airlines that use both philosophies. The 'set park brake' SOP is approved by the XAA & Boeing, I assume.
I guess ryan air has carbon brakes fitted in most if not all their -800s?
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: London
Thanks fulminn,
I was sort of expecting the answer to be brake binding or something. I have to ask, what is the pressing issue with cooling duration after a high speed RTO? One may as well assume the fuses will go sooner or later unless the cooling schedule says otherwise - when time allows.
BTW, caution and fuse plug melting becomes an issue with Carbon brakes at slightly lower energy levels than steel.
I'm thinking that when stationary, setting the parking brake would seem a pretty sensible and risk averse action. It is SOP at our place too.
I was sort of expecting the answer to be brake binding or something. I have to ask, what is the pressing issue with cooling duration after a high speed RTO? One may as well assume the fuses will go sooner or later unless the cooling schedule says otherwise - when time allows.
BTW, caution and fuse plug melting becomes an issue with Carbon brakes at slightly lower energy levels than steel.
I'm thinking that when stationary, setting the parking brake would seem a pretty sensible and risk averse action. It is SOP at our place too.
Last edited by Kefuddle; 24th October 2013 at 11:42.
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 860
Likes: 0
From: FL410
I guess Ryanair has carbon brakes fitted in most if not all their -800s?
Boeing SOP would recommend setting the brake as part of the RTO before getting around to assessing the problem causing the RTO. The alternative would be for you to stand on the brakes whilst making an evacuation decision, setting it then if not forgetting it (much more dangerous).
But, once the decision NOT to evacuate is taken, when taxied clear of the active runway, return to the cooling schedule guidelines and follow them, eg consider not setting your brakes.

Joined: Sep 2008
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,435
Likes: 1,202
From: 41S174E
I have often wondered about this. If it is just a cooling issue then in my mind setting the brake after the RTO would be prudent while assessing the situation. If there is a brake binding/welding issue then it may be better to stand on the brakes but I have found no mention of binding or welding anywhere so I plan to set the park brake when the aircraft stops. Can anyone provide a reference to binding being a concern?
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
From: Home soon
The alternative would be for you to stand on the brakes whilst making an evacuation decision, setting it then if not forgetting it (much more dangerous).
For the 'forgetting ' issue refer to the Evacuation CHECKlist.
One other difference between carbon and steel brakes that might be evident in certain RTOs is brake welding. Steel brakes, which usually have rotors of steel and stators of a copper-iron mix (with a number of special ingredients) can weld together, preventing further wheel rotation. This can even happen before the airplane comes to a full stop, particularly in the last several knots where the antiskid system is not effective.
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 451
Likes: 0
From: Scotland
After a rejected t/o with steel brakes you really do not want to set parking brakes if it can be avoided.I once had to recover an A300-600 that had a rejected t/o and the brakes were welded on. We did not have enough brake units so we could not clear the aircraft from the runway.The result was a runway closed for hours until we flew some brakes in - fortunately another runway was available. Just to compound the problem we did not have 8 wheels either!
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 860
Likes: 0
From: FL410
Have a look at this PDF document from 2003 produced by Boeing, I'd suggest...
It explains very carefully the risks and reasons behind Brake Cooling and its importance, with references t brake wear pin, welding, comparing carbon vs steel and much more. Interesting is also the graph showing temperatures of brakes, measure temperature of brakes and nitrogen over time.
It explains very carefully the risks and reasons behind Brake Cooling and its importance, with references t brake wear pin, welding, comparing carbon vs steel and much more. Interesting is also the graph showing temperatures of brakes, measure temperature of brakes and nitrogen over time.
Thread Starter

Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 51
Likes: 9
From: N/A
I still need clarification. Assuming an SOP that require a parking brake set after an RTO on the runway. If evacuation is not required you will vacate the runway and check the brake cooling schedule. My question here is, in this case how would you stop the aircraft again after clearing the runway?
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,017
Likes: 0
From: deepest darkest recess of your mind
Please correct me if I have the wrong impression wof, but you seem to be approaching his from the point of view that after the RTO, and possibly exceeding the brake limits, that the brakes won't work at all subsequently. They will, they simply won't have the efficiency you expect. Setting aside the welding issue and a subsequent take off scenario, you should be able to exit the runway, and still be able to stop the aircraft from a slow taxi speed. The brakes don't simply stop operating at all.



