81
votes
Accepted
Why don’t airplanes use turn signals?
At uncontrolled airports, there is rarely enough traffic for signals to be needed, and pilots should (though are not required to) communicate with each other on CTAF—an option that cars do not have.
...
- 27.6k
63
votes
Accepted
Are there any drawbacks to requesting progressive taxi every time?
Apart from appearing really unprofessional, the obvious drawback is a significantly higher workload, both for the pilot but especially for ATC. You're not the only aircraft moving around at the ...
- 36.2k
58
votes
How can this kind of confusion about taxi instructions occur?
I continue my series of "not actually an answer but I got to say this":
The most valuable lesson you can learn from this is not figuring out afterwards what was said, but getting into a habit of ...
- 27.2k
52
votes
Why don’t airplanes use turn signals?
I think the points raised in other answers are good, but they miss the essential difference. Cars choose from a discrete set of options, but planes do not.
When you indicate left when driving you are ...
- 650
48
votes
Has a plane ever run out of fuel while taxiing?
I saw this happen one time. A DC-3 pulled up to a flight school's pump because no one else had gas. The flight line kid dutifully pumped x gallons into the tanks, but didn't verify with the dipstick. ...
- 12.6k
47
votes
Accepted
How can two planes be on the same taxiway facing opposite to each other?
The taxiway is being used for parking. Specifically, parking of two MD-80s that have attracted press attention—The Australian: Clive Palmer’s $10m in tax-haven jets sitting idle:
TWO 155-seat jets ...
- 8,287
35
votes
Accepted
Why do I hear the "real" engine noise only when the plane is on the runway?
When you have the thrust levers of, say, a 747 all the way back to idle, the airplane still has enough power to move. In fact, you will have to use the brakes to keep it from taxiing too fast. If you ...
- 39.2k
35
votes
Accepted
What is "judgemental oversteering" in taxi procedures?
"Judgmental oversteering" means to intentionally not follow the taxiway centerline when turning. It is a technique used on large aircraft to turn on tighter or smaller taxiways.
In a sense, it is ...
- 39.7k
35
votes
Why is aircraft marshalling still necessary?
There are automated systems that provide the same function as a marshal. They are in place at some airports but not all since upgrades cost money and not all airports may see a use for it.
At ...
- 100k
31
votes
How do pilots identify the taxi path to the runway?
Almost always pilots use a chart, ie a map which shows the airport from the air. Runways are numbered according to their magnetic bearing (runway 22 is roughly aligned to 220 degrees magnetic for ...
- 52.9k
31
votes
Accepted
How do tugs push back the Antonov 225?
Quite simple ― use a (special) towbar! Aircraft with such unique front wheels (like the Antonov An-225 Mriya and Lockheed C-5 Galaxy) carry their own towbar around, which is then attached to the tugs ...
- 100k
30
votes
Accepted
Taxiing with one engine: Is engine #1 always used or do they switch?
Airbus aircraft have 3 hydraulic systems (Green, Blue, Yellow). Green is pressurized by left engine, Yellow by right engine, and each one can be pressurized by the other using the PTU. In addition the ...
- 70.9k
30
votes
Accepted
How can this kind of confusion about taxi instructions occur?
Most ATC controllers will try to avoid using the words “to” and “for” for obvious reasons. Especially in giving taxi instructions. This is not patently true in all cases for all controllers. But, it ...
- 16.5k
29
votes
Accepted
Does taxiing time gets considered in a pilot's flying hours?
In the US, taxi time can be logged. 14 CFR 61.51 says the pilot must log (emphasis mine):
Total flight time or lesson time.
And 14 CFR 1.1 says (emphasis mine):
Flight time means:
(1) ...
- 71.6k
29
votes
Accepted
Why aren't there brake lights on aircraft?
They simply aren't necessary.
Brake lights are on road vehicles because often they travel at relatively high speeds, and follow relatively close to one another. If a driver suddenly slows, the brake ...
- 2,418
29
votes
Accepted
Why are thrust reversers not used to slow down to taxi speeds?
A minimum max reverse power speed is often an airplane operating limitation. It's mostly related to FOD (mostly sand grains and small gravel) and on some designs there may be compressor stall issues ...
- 126k
29
votes
Accepted
What is the name of the movement which is carried out by plane beginning from the runway and ending at takeoff?
Takeoff Roll
As per the FAA handbook (page 5-2)
Takeoff roll (ground roll) is the portion of the takeoff procedure
during which the airplane is accelerated from a standstill to an
airspeed ...
- 100k
28
votes
Do the wheels of taxi-capable helicopters have power?
The wheels do not have power - there is no propulsion system linked to the wheels, they just spin freely.
Taxiing is achieved by adding just enough collective so that the helicopter starts moving, ...
- 39.7k
27
votes
Accepted
Do the wheels of taxi-capable helicopters have power?
Helicopter wheels do not have power. Taxiing is accomplished by using the thrust from rotors- for example, in case of CH-47, with rotors at normal rpm, the helicopter will have some forward speed (5-6 ...
- 100k
26
votes
Accepted
Are there any aircraft with powered landing gear?
WheelTug makes an addon motor for a nose wheel. This is a demo of the unit being developed for a B737. They intend to lease it to airlines. It works well under most circumstances, but has difficulty ...
- 19k
25
votes
Why does the Cessna 152/172 nose wheel turn only when the aircraft is moving?
Because the nose wheel is only attached to the rudder pedals indirectly, through some springs (or maybe a bungee cord), that transfer the displacement of the pedals into a force that is applied to the ...
- 5,742
24
votes
Accepted
Is starting a jet engine without ground support possible?
Modern jet transport category aircraft have APUs and they will be running if no engines are. Batteries on jets do not work very long with all electrical buses energized and the first thing you do ...
- 35.2k
24
votes
Accepted
What are these devices on or adjacent to an airport taxi-way?
It is not a road that you are looking at, it is the edge of the runway / taxiway.
The double yellow lines are used to define the taxiway
edge from the shoulder or some other abutting paved
surface ...
- 82.8k
24
votes
What do these white on red words indicate on a London Heathrow taxiway chart?
They are named holding points; this allows them to say things like "taxi to RABIT" rather than "taxiway Bravo, hold short of taxiway Charlie". This saves a lot of time for ground controllers at busy, ...
- 27.6k
23
votes
Accepted
Do pilots have to stop at the hold position of the takeoff runway?
No, there is no mandatory stop. Typical clearances given before departure are:
BigAir 123, hold short of runway 36.
BigAir 123, line up and wait runway 36.
Former phraseology in the US was "...
- 286
20
votes
Why is aircraft marshalling still necessary?
You are talking about aircraft marshalling, not sky marshal.
When an aircraft comes a gate, one of the tasks is to park on a designated spot. A marshal will help in that, and so can a camera do that. ...
- 29.4k
19
votes
How do tugs push back the Antonov 225?
It is a half hour operation at the best. That's why these aircraft are usually parked away from other aircraft as they take longer to get moving.
The aircraft will usually carry its own towbar. ...
- 4,526
19
votes
Accepted
What are the most challenging taxi manoeuvres that a typical commercial airline pilot must execute?
"Most challenging" is a matter of opinion, but if I were to pick, it is probably the 180 degree turn.
The purpose of the maneuver is to turn the aircraft around and face the opposite direction. The ...
- 39.7k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible