I've noticed a number of Airbus (cargo and passenger) that will literally come to a complete stop on the runway after landing.

During busy pushes, this can really lead to some excitement in the Tower. The Local and Ground Controllers are often coordinating with each other to have a landing aircraft follow a taxiing aircraft at a specific intersection; there might be another landing aircraft on short final or the Tower Controller might have an aircraft slotted for immediate takeoff.

When an aircraft comes to a complete stop on the runway, we are wonding what is happening out there. The aircraft then comes up on the power and slowly inches off the runway -- while the Local Controller sits poised with his thumb on the mike button waiting for the "GO AROUND!" or "CLEARED FOR IMMEDIATE TAKEOFF!" command to be transmitted.

Can someone shed some light on the subject? It's always an Airbus.

MEM_ATC

 

I don't know for sure, but it could be the autobrakes. I know I have forgotten about them (first transitioning into the ac), and a few others have too! The airbus' autobrakes will bring the aircraft to a COMPLETE STOP if you forget to push the brake pedals to de-activate them (usually around 70 knots for us). I did it once in LGA, but at the last second, remembered to push the pedals, so didn't come to a complete stop, but close enough to make the Captain, and I am sure the contoller, a little "puckered".

 

I did it once in the 737. Landed with autobrakes set to "1", the min setting. I eased on the brakes to make a turnoff, and the airplane came to a complete stop. My easy braking was just less than the autobrakes minimum braking. Usually I press the brakes hard enough to disengage them, or tell the non-flying pilot to turn them off after we've slowed a bit. That morning, The FO and I just forgot they were still engaged.

By the way, it was a smooth gentle stop.

 

I thought this was gonna be an Airbus joke.

Here's one: What's the difference between an Airbus and a chainsaw?

 

About 400 trees per minute.

 

With all due respect to our friendly ATC folks, it always irks me when y'all complain we don't get off the runway fast enough.

When you clear us to land, we OWN that runway until we exit, and it's our discretion to roll as far as we want to (providing we haven't accepted a LAHSO clearance) or slow as much as our judgement says is safety prudent before turning off. If you packed the guy behind me in too tight, that's your misfortune. Oh, and don't be calling us during the roll out to say expedite either.

 

Not exactly.

You're expected to take the first exit consistent with safety . . . I don't recall the exact verbiage, but I'll look it up. If you can safely exit at midfield, you do not have clearance to taxi to the end.




[EDIT TO ADD:]

Aeronautical Information Manual -- Section 3. Airport Operations





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What annoys me is when they start giving you taxi instructions just when you are still hauling down the runway at 130 kts, especially when you are the FP and FO.

 

Multitasking

 

Max taxi speed for the A320/319 at one major airline I know is 30 knots. To make a 90 degree turn, the max taxi speed is 10 knots. So it probably seems like they are stopping on the runway a lot but I'll bet they are slowing to max taxi speed as per company ops manual.