Originally Posted by
Cycle Pilot
What's funny is that with both engines running on the bus, the Captain always seems like he's riding the brakes to keep the plane from taxiing too quickly. I've never single engine taxied an Airbus before, but it seems like it'd be a pretty easy to do. Probably easier than the -88!
I'll try to add some perspective as a "south" guy who recently transitioned to a "north" airplane. When I went through training on the -9 a few months ago, I heard every excuse in the book from the sim instructors about single engine taxi. At least from what I've seen so far in the DC-9 world, there seems to generally be a very strong aversion to doing this.
Having spent 12 years doing single-engine taxi on the MD-88, I see no problem with it on the DC-9... with some caveats:
- Yes, the DC-9 engines have less thrust than the MD-88 engines and, at heavy weights it requires a few seconds longer to get rolling without using too much breakaway thrust.
- There are places like MEM where single-engine taxi is prohibited in some of the alleyways.
- Because the DC-9 can generally only run one pack off the APU, there are also considerations for keeping the aircraft cool in the summer.
- And then there's the problem with the single-engine taxi weight restrictions in the Vol 1... which I think are ridiculously low... and the fact that the OE Guide contradicts the Vol 1 and says there is no weight limit for single-engine taxi.
Anyway, I have been doing single-engine taxi when it makes sense to do so, and it has worked out just fine... just like it does on the MD-88.