What does pushback manually mean?

Question

A few years back I was on a B737-7 and it was so windy that the whole airport lost power. They announced they lost power and had to pushback manually rather than the normal way. What the heck is the normal way? I didn't know there were "ways". I didn't notice anything different.

Answer 1

You cannot push yourself back by reverse thrusters.  They are made primarily to slow your speed greatly on the runaway upon landing.  Tug trucks are used to pushback aircrafts from the gate far enough for the plane to safely turn and continue taxing.  Normally, the gate aids the pushback in how far it should be done according to the distance between the gate and the plane using light signals.  Manually is where it is done based on visually seeing and estimating without any aid from the gate since their power is out.

Answer 2

Push back means to PUSH the airplane BACK. I like these easy ones.

And c'mon you guys. Thrust reverse is not a push back and in no way a normal way of exiting a gate or ramp. How many times do you see it done? Jeez people.

Answer 3

A "pushback" is carried out by a tug that physically pushes the aircraft back on to the dispersal taxi-way, via a tow bar connected to the nose langing gear strut. A "hot" pushback is pretty much the same but with the engines running - which generally seems to be the most common.

To me, both of the above are "normal" ways - I cant think of any others! Using thrust reversers for pushbacks does not happen - running engines at high power with ground crew, equipment, luggage etc in close proximity is not sensible.........!

RE: Bobbs b:

Thanks for the constructive comment, unfortunately I'm not talking out of my a*** - I do actually know what I'm talking about. A "hot" pushback is a term used in UK Military heavy aircraft circles - obviously we dont dispatch from gates so it is perfectly acceptable to push back with the engines running at idle. Obviously, military airfield procedures will differ from those for civil airfields.

Answer 4

Not all pusbacks are done with a tug tractor.

Many airports have equipment that goes undeground to complete the pushback, and those systems are... yes... AUTOMATIC.

I have seen the training videos for those systems, but can recall airports names.

This kind of equipment is used at airports with very low temperatures and are hydraulically powered.

So, a manual pushback makes sense.

Answer 5

That's strange , well a normal pushback is done by a tug and ground crew personnel.A manual pushback , or at least as i know it is when my CFI and I get out of the plane and push the Piper back into its ramp spot , I doubt that was done with a 737. A reverse thrust pushback is not done on the 737 only on twin jets with high engine placement (i.e MD-80) although that's not done often either. Can you describe the sounds.......?

Answer 6

Probably they used another way to guide the planes to/from that airport. There has to be a backup way in case of black out.

Or maybe they went on the back up power generators for the airport and they had to do that manually.

Answer 7

this means they used reverse thrust.

Answer 8

For god's sake people there is a push-back and a power-back.  Why do flight sim a$$holes come on here and spout off c**p about things they don't know.  And to the dillweed that said the engines aren't strong enough to use reverse thrust and go backwards, you are a complete and utter dumba$$.  The reason the pushback is used 99.999% of the time is for safety and fuel.

hey woody, please explain where they do what you call a "hot pushback".  Starting the engines at the gate is an ABNORMAL PROCEDURE!!!!!!!!!  Engines are very rarely started at the gate for safety of all the people around the planes.  Engines are started once the plane is clear of all people and equipment.  Also, planes used to power-back all the time.  Obviously you are just talking from your a$$.

Answer 9

"Normal way" is done by reversing the airplane (or jet) thrust.

"Manually" they mean to extend the runway and possibly allow the tow vehicles to aid in taxi.

I don't know why that would be related to the power outage.  But my guess; there were service workers in the area of a generator or a loose power line that could be affected by the powered engines.  Putting peoples lives in danger on the ground and in the plane.

Answer 10

Call the airline and ask.

Answer 11

pushback is when the small flat lookin tow cars use a short metal bar to push the plane back also pay no attention to people saying its when u use reverse thrust because it isnt possible as there is not enough thrust created to push the plane back

Answer 12

comair its called thrust reverser's there is no such thing as reverse thrust.

Answer 13

I don't know. But Jesus Christ your avatar is scary!