Airline Pilot Central Forums

Airline Pilot Central Forums (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/)
-   American (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/american/)
-   -   Another sub par quarterly report (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/american/150758-another-sub-par-quarterly-report.html)

MinimumEffort 07-30-2025 03:07 PM


Originally Posted by BusBoi (Post 3933395)
One of my friends is an AA 73 captain and he said there's a lot of cultural opposition to taxi on one, and also they have pretty strict taxi thrust limitations that are hard to work with for the 737NG. At Spirit we used to have a 40% limitation, which was removed around the time I became a captain. Definitely made it easier as sometimes 40% just didn't cut it.

But yea, I've been on AA where we had a 40 minute taxi out and they ran both engines the whole time. That's fuel you could have in your tanks and could make the difference between diverting or not later in the flight.

Frankly, taxi thrust restrictions are ridiculous. It's incredibly frustrating watching pilots practically crawl across a runway or up a slope, all because they're strictly adhering to a low N1% limit. Here's a news flash: Exceeding that limitation on taxi isn't going to trigger an alarm. I do it almost every flight and have never had any repercussions. As for anyone behind you, their spacing is their responsibility—focus on what's in front of you.

AllYourBaseAreB 07-30-2025 04:59 PM


Originally Posted by MinimumEffort (Post 3933479)
Frankly, taxi thrust restrictions are ridiculous. It's incredibly frustrating watching pilots practically crawl across a runway or up a slope, all because they're strictly adhering to a low N1% limit. Here's a news flash: Exceeding that limitation on taxi isn't going to trigger an alarm. I do it almost every flight and have never had any repercussions. As for anyone behind you, their spacing is their responsibility—focus on what's in front of you.

i would say it’s important to adhere to on ramps with ops pages stating use min taxi thrust near the gates and in alleyways; which exist at a lot of stations… but hey you do whatever you want so why not stop *****ing about other guys “techniques”??

Beech Dude 07-30-2025 05:13 PM


Originally Posted by Tattooedaviator (Post 3933378)
I don’t know what the 320 AOM flow guide says, but the company already tells us to do what your recommending: in the 73 after landing flow guide it says “appx 2 minutes prior to gate arrival, APU start”.

Yeah, I was just longwinded in saying it. My point I guess is too many bubbas just crank it ASAP and that's not the best.

joepilot50 07-31-2025 09:21 AM


Originally Posted by Beech Dude (Post 3933527)
Yeah, I was just longwinded in saying it. My point I guess is too many bubbas just crank it ASAP and that's not the best.

I’ll crank it ASAP in the summer in order to switch to the APU bleed for cooling during a 20 minute taxi in into DFW.

FlyyGuyy 07-31-2025 09:34 AM


Originally Posted by joepilot50 (Post 3933708)
I’ll crank it ASAP in the summer in order to switch to the APU bleed for cooling during a 20 minute taxi in into DFW.

This is the way. Shut one down, APU bleed.

tallpilot 07-31-2025 10:00 AM


Originally Posted by FlyyGuyy (Post 3933717)
This is the way. Shut one down, APU bleed.

I'm fairly certain that's even in the book. A large number of pilots reject it because then after you park and shutdown you can smell a little exhaust getting sucked into the APU inlet.

I think that's somewhat silly since we're getting exhaust from other aircraft as we taxi around but it seems to be the primary objection. It's also critical to distinguish between fume events (your own burning, atomized oil) and just stinky exhaust. One is a major health hazard and the other is just an olfactory annoyance.

FlyyGuyy 07-31-2025 10:31 AM


Originally Posted by tallpilot (Post 3933726)
I'm fairly certain that's even in the book. A large number of pilots reject it because then after you park and shutdown you can smell a little exhaust getting sucked into the APU inlet.

I think that's somewhat silly since we're getting exhaust from other aircraft as we taxi around but it seems to be the primary objection. It's also critical to distinguish between fume events (your own burning, atomized oil) and just stinky exhaust. One is a major health hazard and the other is just an olfactory annoyance.

My technique at shut down is to deselect the APU bleed for about 2 minutes to minimize the smell and then select it on again. Works well, if it's too hot then we deal with the smell

joepilot50 07-31-2025 10:32 AM


Originally Posted by tallpilot (Post 3933726)
I'm fairly certain that's even in the book. A large number of pilots reject it because then after you park and shutdown you can smell a little exhaust getting sucked into the APU inlet.

I think that's somewhat silly since we're getting exhaust from other aircraft as we taxi around but it seems to be the primary objection. It's also critical to distinguish between fume events (your own burning, atomized oil) and just stinky exhaust. One is a major health hazard and the other is just an olfactory annoyance.

Decent tailwind will blow engine #2's exhaust into the inlet on the 737.

When that happens, I do switch back to normal config and opt for 30% N1 when possible.

But I don't outright object to taxiing out or in on the APU bleed. Will give it a shot and if we start to smell exhaust, go to Plan B. But APU bleed taxi is always Plan A in hot temps.

Solution is obviously shut down number 2 if you decide to SET, but depending on which way you turn for the gate, can make your job fun by always electing to shut down #2.

I am not against SET. I have toyed around with it on the NG. Obviously it is no issue on the Max even when heavy( I have set a Max at 170,000 lb. and it was easy on flat ground at least). Only issue with the Max is just timing the other engine given how long it takes to start the LEAP's. When I had that 50 minute taxi in ORD in an NG, it was a pain to SET. Getting it moving from a standstill required ~50% N1 on the running engine and it was slow to accelerate. Can't recall the weight, but it was less than 155,000 lb. as that is my cutoff on whether I SET at all through my playing around. And as stated the CEFA app stated it only saved 100 lb. Didn't really prevent a RTG or diversion. Now again 2000 flights saving 100 lb on taxi adds up for the company. But just looking at my flight, it was nothing.

When the NG is below 140,000 lb. does it seem happy to SET. 140,000-150,000 lb depends on how flat it is. Even taxing on Kilo on the echo echo route can require 35-45% N1 on the running engine to maintain speed.

Beech Dude 07-31-2025 11:29 AM


Originally Posted by joepilot50 (Post 3933708)
I’ll crank it ASAP in the summer in order to switch to the APU bleed for cooling during a 20 minute taxi in into DFW.

Agree, but also...Bid Avoid DFW May-Sep :D

ImSoSuss 07-31-2025 11:58 AM

Additional cooling procedures in the 737 work great. Huge difference in the blasting heat.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:49 PM.


Website Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands