Single engine taxi
 

I was having lunch at the Downwind at PDK and couldn't help but notice that all the corporate jets and props have both engines cranked while taxiing. I understand that it's a short taxi but do you guys ever single engine taxi?

I don't unless delays >30 mins are expected. I often see old turbojets like the LR24/25's with only one started since they're burning a lot of gas sitting on the ground.

When I was on the 650 we'd sometimes taxi with one engine and the APU running, especially if long delays were expected.

Most of our taxies were so short that it was easier just to start both since you'd be airborne soon anyway.

Yes back when flying a Lear 25....but no now. Modern corp jets just dont burn any fuel on the ground and its fairly rare to wait more than 5 mins to depart (at least for us)

An issue would also be all the self-tests/checks that happen prior to leaving the ramp, and on our plane these require all engines running. Single engine taxi is just not practical, many of these planes are not designed for it.

We will, however, just pull over and shut them all down and leave APU on if notified of a substantial delay...weather etc...that may happen after we taxi (again, rare)

Turbo props cant taxi on one engine because of the substantial Asymetrical thrust with the engines being so far of center line....we would just go in circles.....

You can if you have a tiller. PDT has to taxi on one engine as a SOP, conditions permitting.

Huh??? Which ones can't?

Wrong. Or should I say 'incorrect'.

It is quite odd to see the Piedmont planes running around with one engine shutdown...it just looks a lot funnier on a turboprop than a jet.

Sadly we can only feather one when pulling into the gate.

If you need to taxi on one to save fuel, get a better ranged plane. Most airports used by corporates have less than 5 minute taxi times anyway. I have at Mumbai and Delhi where waits can stretch to an hour.

GF

Ok...maybe not can't, but as said, without a tiller you'll be fighting it and riding the brakes. At least that's my experience with King Airs...don't know about the others.

Single engine taxi on the ATR was a norm for us. As for smaller aircraft, I've seen the Dornier for Vision taxi single engine. I'm not sure about the King Air but one would think you could keep an engine feathered.

I don't think the concept of single engine taxi has to do with fuel consumption for range as much as it does for $$

Yes, I understand range still plays a part also, clearly.

Yeah, I understand saving fuel, ex-Eastern Airlines, but saving a few bucks on fuel isn't in the corporate program. Besides, when we only fly a plane 400 hours a year, the savings are much less. It isn't like an airline where the plane spends a considerable percentage of its time on the ground taxiing. If a bizje spends 12 minutes taxiing per day, it is a normal.

GF

The ONLY time I ever single-engine taxi is when I'm on an FBO ramp, pulling in to park, and there are passengers boarding/deplaning on either side of me; in that instance I'll often shut the same side engine down as a courtesy so they don't have to deal with the noise.

Besides, I can save FAR more fuel by how I fly the airplane than I could ever save with SE taxi.

I always taxi single engine, but I am flying a PC-12, so that is a little different. :)

Nope,
Used to taxi a Metro on a single engine from time to time. It was a PITA but doable. I think I even remember taxiing a BE-200 on one. No tiller on either one.

Tried it with a C310 once, was a royal pain. I could see it being ok in some jets, but as mentioned above, not worth the fuel savings in the corp market since it's just not an issue like in the airlines.

Remember when I had to try and taxi a C402 on one donk after a starter motor failed after refuelling at a bowser. A drunk driver in a steering challenged car would have driven a straighter line than I achieved that day.

Used to do it in an Aerostar with no problem.

CJ4 has single engine taxi (and start up of the other engine just prior to T/O) built into the checklists - so Cessna can sell it as a "green" jet: fewer carbons spewed forth with all that taxiing and sitting around waiting for T/O clearance.

We never do it.

Single engine taxi is something I do in a Piper Cherokee. ;)

All other times, it's both of them running.

I do it in the metro just fine. Hydraulic steering helps the situation.