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ATR Tailstand ???
What is the thing that they hang off the back of the ATR when it is at the gate? Is it to keep the plane from tipping backward if it is loaded to heavy in the back? I noticed it on my way through Dallas last week and wondered how many planes have went flying with that thing on there by accident.
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Originally Posted by Duksrule
(Post 991203)
What is the thing that they hang off the back of the ATR when it is at the gate? Is it to keep the plane from tipping backward if it is loaded to heavy in the back? I noticed it on my way through Dallas last week and wondered how many planes have went flying with that thing on there by accident.
INFO LAMP: Overloaded Plane Incident at Dubai International Airport |
I figured that is what it was for. First time I have seen one on a passenger plane. Or maybe just the first time I have paid attention. Wonder if it is because of the way the PAX come in through the rear of the plane rather than the front.
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Yes the thing you are referring to is called a tail stand, and yes it is to prevent the aircraft from tilting backwards, which is especially important on the ATR, because the PAX door is at the back of the plane.
I almost crapped my pants one day, because they started to board the passengers before loading the cargo (which is up front) and the nose started to come up. I heard stories of ATRs at Eagle taking off with the tail stands still attached and losing them enroute :eek: |
Tailstand. It's on the checklist and the ground crew has to show the tailstand to both the Capt and FO prior to engine start.
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While on the subject of the ATR, is it me or do they guys flying these things taxi like it's the indy 500? Maybe it just seems fast but I think that if I were to taxi my C-172 as fast as my last ATR ride, I would be airborne. Not a dig at the pilots just wondering the why part.
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Haha, i'm going to get scolded for this, but....if it were an american eagle atr it's probably because it's running late already, like every AE flight i've ever been on. LOL :-)
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Originally Posted by quinny89
(Post 991239)
Haha, i'm going to get scolded for this, but....if it were an american eagle atr it's probably because it's running late already, like every AE flight i've ever been on. LOL :-)
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One reason could be that the ATR will not cool down until you get airborne. The plane cools down much better at altitude. But who knows.
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Originally Posted by quinny89
(Post 991239)
Haha, i'm going to get scolded for this, but....if it were an american eagle atr it's probably because it's running late already, like every AE flight i've ever been on. LOL :-)
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Originally Posted by RJ Pilot
(Post 991270)
Based on your theory, Southwest is always running late.:rolleyes:
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I've seen a couple ATRs taxi in with tailstand attached. hehe.
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They taxi in with the tail stand if it's maintenance taxing from the hanger.
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Originally Posted by Duksrule
(Post 991234)
While on the subject of the ATR, is it me or do they guys flying these things taxi like it's the indy 500? Maybe it just seems fast but I think that if I were to taxi my C-172 as fast as my last ATR ride, I would be airborne. Not a dig at the pilots just wondering the why part.
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The ATR's way of saying "No Fat Chicks"
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Originally Posted by lavMan
(Post 991666)
As a former ATR driver, the ATR wants to taxi fast. On the six bladed variety especially. When the props are unfeathered, you rarely ever have to add power to taxi, it just wants to go, all the time. So that is why. Otherwise it would be brake riding city all day. That was my experience.
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Just my opinion, but almost all regional aircraft I see are always taxiing at quite a sporty pace. Now, before you all jump on me...
** HERE IS MY DISCLAIMER!!!*** I do realize I work for AA and we specialize in safe taxiing.. ;););)... however, if you watch regional-size aircraft and compare them with bigger aircraft, the smaller ones tend to taxi a lot faster. Must have something to do with the multi leg days and wanting to get them over with. When I was at ACA and we had 7 leg days, we taxiied a lot faster than I liked just because we wanted to wrap it up. It's also easier to maneuver a smaller aircraft than a large one... and don't forget about perspective - when you're sitting a lot lower to the ground, going slow feels REAL slow. A notable exception to this rule is obviously SWA... and, well, their contract speaks for themselves. They aren't paid by the hour like the rest of us - and they are all part of a winning team, again unlike the rest of us. But as a general rule - the regional guys taxi faster than the rest. It's just the way it is. Funny side note - one time we had just landed at DFW and were northbound on Kilo... an ATR was beside us on Lima and just blew us away, we were doing a respectable (and shocking for AA!) 15kts... the CA and I were like, holy cow, can you say future SWA pilots? then DFW Ground got on the horn and told them, "Eagle XXXX, please respect AIM-suggested taxi speeds.." priceless! |
Originally Posted by aa73
(Post 991788)
Just my opinion, but almost all regional aircraft I see are always taxiing at quite a sporty pace. Now, before you all jump on me...
** HERE IS MY DISCLAIMER!!!*** I do realize I work for AA and we specialize in safe taxiing.. ;););)... however, if you watch regional-size aircraft and compare them with bigger aircraft, the smaller ones tend to taxi a lot faster. Must have something to do with the multi leg days and wanting to get them over with. When I was at ACA and we had 7 leg days, we taxiied a lot faster than I liked just because we wanted to wrap it up. It's also easier to maneuver a smaller aircraft than a large one... and don't forget about perspective - when you're sitting a lot lower to the ground, going slow feels REAL slow. A notable exception to this rule is obviously SWA... and, well, their contract speaks for themselves. They aren't paid by the hour like the rest of us - and they are all part of a winning team, again unlike the rest of us. But as a general rule - the regional guys taxi faster than the rest. It's just the way it is. Funny side note - one time we had just landed at DFW and were northbound on Kilo... an ATR was beside us on Lima and just blew us away, we were doing a respectable (and shocking for AA!) 15kts... the CA and I were like, holy cow, can you say future SWA pilots? then DFW Ground got on the horn and told them, "Eagle XXXX, please respect AIM-suggested taxi speeds.." priceless! I probably get razzed by my peers behind my back for taxiing slowly, but I'm paid by the flight hour, and safety and job security are more important to me than impatience. But that's just me. |
As lavMan pointed out the ATR doesn't take a lot of power to hustle. It's easy to ride the brakes the entire taxi, especially with a respectable tailwind.
The tail stand is just that, a tail stand. The SAAB had one too. It is supposed to be removed by the ramp crew prior to departure and show it to BOTH crew members but there have been incidents of some outstations having two tail stands and showing one of them to the crew while the other is still attached to the aircraft. When I was on the airplane I would make a mental note of the color of the tail stand since stations were know to have multiples stands in different colors. |
Originally Posted by aa73
(Post 991788)
I do realize I work for AA and we specialize in safe taxiing.. ;);)...
Well we wouldn't want your "senior" guys to break a hip....:) |
The ATR tail stand generally doesn't come off in flight, and generally doesn't bang on the fuselage in flight either. I think the slipstream during flare and rotation also generally keeps it from contacting the runway. Emphasis: Generally. Source: Not in the AFM!
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