Engine Start up during Pushback of "Ferry A/C"
 

Hi Guys

Thought I would rack the brain of you fly guys and ask your personal opinions and company procedures regarding the Start Up of engines during the Pushback of "Ferry A/C".

I am a Ground Services Training Manager and have been a Pushback Operator for 20+ yrs and have always been told "never start engines of "Ferry A/C" during Pushback due to the increased risk of A/C skipping and jumping which could potentially cause a Jack-knifing of the Pushback Tractor (Towbarless or Conventional).


Reently 1 of our Customer Airlines have reversed their policy and stated it is now safe to carry out this procedure doing Pushback.

I am asking the same question in the Ground Handlers section and just want to measure the different approaches to this subject.

By "Ferry A/C" do you mean an aircraft without payload? If you do, I cannot see a problem with starting engines providing they are run at no more than idle thrust - with or without payload. This assumes the surface over which the pushback occurs is reasonably level and is not slippery.

PM

What airplane type? What do the Ground Handling Manuals say?

I have never heard of this restriction for the 747, though common sense tells us not to do it on snow or ice...