Quote:
Originally Posted by cornbeef007
Why do you guys keep saying procedures? Where does it say you can’t backtaxi at an uncontrolled field?
There are a lot of things we do that are in the name of safety, that aren’t spelled out.
On the flip side, there are a limitless number of things that our manuals don't specifically say are prohibited, and thus COULD be done. But just because something isn't expressly forbidden doesn't mean it SHOULD be done. Nothing prohibits one pilot from following the other pilot around on the walk around to make sure they don't miss anyting. But just because you COULD follow the other pilot doesn't mean you SHOULD, nor does the lack of prohibition mean such an action makes sense or falls within operating norms. Having some degree of leeway in an extremely complex, dynamic environment is absolutely necessary. Every single contingency and iteration cannot be fully scripted. It is up to us to use common sense and judgment to determine how much of that leeway we need to safely and legally operate a flight.
So no, a back-taxi FOD check is not prohibited in our manuals. My guess is it is not mentioned not because someone assessed that it would be an operational option one day, but rather no one even thought that someone might consider doing that and thus never thought to mention such a procedure, pro or con, in any manual.
Having said all that, for some fleets (or pilots on those fleets), going in/out of an uncontrolled field is practically an emergency procedure. Other fleets (I'm looking at you, 717) non-towered ops are encountered with some regularity. Doing a back-taxi FOD check is definitely outside of the norm, but if a CA wanted to do that I'm not sure it would be a hill I'd die on by refusing to operate the leg.