Landing without thrust reversers?

Question

In this video an Air Canada 767 is shown landing with no indication that I can see or hear that the thrust reversers were used.

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When the reversers are deployed the engines are usually given full power to help in the stopping. Elininating thrust reversers under ideal conditions and depending on the latest high performance brakes could be another idea to save fuel but I question this for safety reasons.

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Does the pilot have the option to not used thrust reversers?

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http://www.flightlevel350.com/Aircraft_Boeing_767-200-Airline_Air_Canada_Aviation_Video-7079.html

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It could very well be that the guy that took this video was unaware that the plane had mechanical problems with the reversers and he just never noticed.

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Answer 1

Generally, it is up to the pilot in command to use thrust reversers.  Thrust reverser credit is not used to calculate total landing distance, so technically the pilots should never have to use them (as in this case).  I found this video on YouTube showing one in action.  Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ-wh8Kuh...

Answer 2

I dissagree that full thrust reverse is normal. For the most part, any more than idle reverse is just making noise. Cancelling the residual foward idle thrust is what helps most. Brakes and ground spoilers are far more effective.

Answer 3

The items that stop a jet are the brakes, the spoilers and the thrust reversers, in that order.  And, the main reason for the spoilers is to spoil the wing's lift so that the brakes work better.  Ask any test pilot how to get the shortest stopping distance, and he will say it is how you use the brakes.  There is no such thing as aerodynamic braking on a jet, since the flaps are already set, and doing things like keeping the nose up will not slow you down as much as putting the nosewheel down and using the brakes.  Thrust reversers are usually used to help keep the brakes cooler, but they are not required.

Answer 4

Since thrust reversers are neither required or necessary(not all aircraft are fitted with reversers), it is not unusual to land without them.  Thrust reversers are an option, and not all airlines order the option.

Answer 5

Each airline does have it's own policies and procedures but the final decision is up to the pilot in command whether to use them or not. A few years ago the airline I work for recommended the pilots use the thrust reversers to stop as much as possible to increase the lifetime of the brakes. You must still use the brakes while taxiing and this just extends the overhaul time on the brakes which lowers the Maintenance costs for the airline.

Answer 6

well if you look at some airport charts there is written that "thrust reversers should only be used for safety issues". It means, that, when you have a runway which is about 13,000 ft long, and you land with your B757, you will not actually have to use your reversers, as the runway is long enough... But mainly, it's for noise... People living near airports don't wanna hear this noise (because reversers are very loud), that's why it's written to not use reversers at some airports..

Answer 7

So do i, Reverse thrust helps compense for the brakes short coming's do you think for one second that brakes alone can stop a large plane under some instance's.

Answer 8

In this case, the airplane may have been light and the runway long; using the the thrust reverser would have shortened the stoping distance but increasing the taxi distance; notice how the plane reduced its speed just enough that it could turn onto the taxiway?

In this case, it seems like the crew very effectivley selected the best solution to get to the gate quicker, without needlessly using fuel; it was an operational decision and it could have been the best one.

Answer 9

Thrust reversers are just one of several ways to slow an aircraft after landing, along with brakes, spoilers, parachutes, etc.  There is generally no technical requirement that they be used.  If they are used, the aircraft stops faster, but it also uses more fuel, and there may additionally be some risk of FOD ingestion by the engines.

The Airbus A380 was originally designed without any thrust reversers, so confident were the designers in the stopping power of the brakes alone.  The FAA did not share their confidence, and compelled them to install thrust reversers on two of the four engines.

Answer 10

Use of thrust reversers is a command decision that is adapted to company policies and sometimes local rules and regulations.  Some airports discourage the use of thrust reversers when not actually needed.

No aircraft commander is required to use them when in her judgment they are not needed.  And it's one less thing to fiddle with if you don't need them in a particular situation.

Answer 11

Well hello,

Reverse thrust is just a way of inc. drag not enough by it's own to stop the aircraft,spoilers as well. using rev. can be at any amount of thrust in jet engin the outlet closes and a flap open from the side of the engin. or depending on the type of the reverse in that aircraft. allowing the air which is blocked to to go in the other direction,but,in the turpoprop the blades changes it's angel to the other direction when using the reverse it reduces engin life.

So in planing  for the arrival airport depending on the wind direction as well, runway length, elevation of the airport we can determine if using reverse is manadatory or not but not to use alot of breakes as well,what ever, some airports says to the traffic to use idel reverse for noise appatment,but, it is up to the pilot flying at the end to determine for the safty of the aircraft.

Answer 12

The landing distance is determined under Landing weight, final approach speed, runway conditions, aircraft configuration, reversers, ground spoilers, Density altiude and Braking with the Antiskid on or off.

If it is calculated that the airplane can make a full stop landing with the usable runway available then he can choose to use Aerodynamic breaking (Elevators, flaps, spoilers) and just breaks to stop then he can do so. Reverers are used if he has one of this at large: really heavy (Maximum landing weight), wet runway, high density altitude, downsloping runway, breaking problems and high speed approach due to ATC, then he can decide to use it....

If all conditions satisfy a landing without reversers then it can be done.

Answer 13

yes, also thrust reversers arent used if it can be avoided due to the big sound it makes

Answer 14

That's probably an airline specific question. Each airline has their own policies.