Originally Posted by
detpilot
I've noticed a lot of saab operators seem to taxi with one engine feathered, yet running. Why is this? On our plane (PT6), it burns the same fuel at idle feather as it does at idle unfeathered (assuming no beta use, etc).
Is it just to prevent them from needing beta on that side to keep taxi speeds down, and in that case, does beta really burn that much fuel over an idling engine?
Or is the reason not to save fuel, but to increase bleed air for passenger comfort? In that case, would you go to flight idle or even higher, with the prop in feather? Thanks!
On the Saab, you should have the engine in feather before opening the High Pressure bleeds for better cooling. One operator I flew for would allow the HP bleeds open with the props out of feather but you had to be very careful with the power lever or you would exceed the ITT limits.