Ryanair SOP's
 

I sat there the other evening at LGW giving way to a Ryanair 73-200 that taxied in front of us through the pouring rain.

Every few seconds we saw the aircraft disappear in a cloud of spray as the reversers were deployed for up to 15 secs at a time. Loads of water and crap from the taxyway recirculated over & under the wings visibly being ingested down the engines.

We used to powerback on the -200 but is this a new Ryanair cost saving braking technique for the -200 ???

They do it all the time in DUB aswell!!

[ 17 October 2001: Message edited by: INLAK ]

Sorry, I'm confused - are you suggesting Ryanair have SOPs ?

It's probably coz he needed to slow down, i.e. have you seen how fast they taxi ?!

If you think they taxi fast you want to see how fast they fly their descent profile.

It ain't just Ryanair...I saw an Olympic 737-200 doing much the same thing at Athens a little while ago.

Magplug; no it isn't. Just that a very few of the skippers like doing it. SOPs and ops manual state that the company prefer reverse thrust be stowed below 60 kts on the landing roll due FOD and pax comfort. Also most effective braking from reverse thrust occurs at the higher speeds ie; immediately after touchdown. Cos of the 25 min turnaround brake cooling is an issue, but on a cold wet windy day..?
Lots of urban myths out there, and there's bound to be one in favour of the bunch who do choose to use reverse thrust as a braking device during taxi. Hope that answers your question. :cool:

This is also a trend seen amongst citation drivers.. a bad habit to say the least.
In reference to Descent profiles, what speed do you speedbirders use? I seem to get caught behind a slow S'bird everytime I go into LFMN.. what is it, idle descent or 280IAS that you use?
Reason I ask is that we plan 320-300IAS on a normal profile.

Boeing permit use of reverse for slowing a/c on ground on the 200, but not on CFMs. Dodgy in winter with engine icing.

Speed wise, normal descent is 'econ' from the FMC. That varies between 250 and 320 depending on Cost index. 280 is the norm.

300/320 - isn't that a bit fast for a balloon?

I take it you are Easyjet desperately trying for a few more minutes on the t/r?

[ 21 October 2001: Message edited by: BOAC ]

For your info, eJ fly 250 kts below 10K unless INSTRUCTED to go faster by ATC. We're not desperate for anything!

Yeah its easier to think at that speed? Isnt it! :D

4u :cool: