Taxiing

[flying4dollars]

Might sound like a silly pointless thread but out of curiosity, how many of you F/O's are given full control from taxi to shutdown?

At my last company, captains started, would taxi, line the aircraft up and then gave control to F/O's. On landing, they then took control through 60kts, would taxi in and shut down. At the company I'm at now, if its our leg, we taxi the airplane for take-off, and taxi it in after landing and shut it down (condition levers, props and everything on the right side of the airplane).

I'm actually curious to know if F/O's on AC and WJ taxi the airplane and do the PF shutdown checks on his/her leg.

[Rowdy]

I know AC doesn't allow FO's to taxi off the runway.

I don't have my SOP's handy.. but I believe it's captains discretion where i am now.

In reality, FO's are captains in training right. So wouldn't it be advantageous to have them taxi the aircraft under the supervision of a skipper?

[iflyforpie]

On most big tin there is only one tiller wheel on the left, so it is impossible for the F/O to steer the plane effectively (rudder only gives limited nose wheel travel).

Probably alright for King Airs and such, but never for Boeings or Airbuses.

[blockheater]

At my last company, captains started, would taxi, line the aircraft up and then gave control to F/O's. On landing, they then took control through 60kts, would taxi in and shut down. At the company I'm at now, if its our leg, we taxi the airplane for take-off, and taxi it in after landing and shut it down (condition levers, props and everything on the right side of the airplane).

Was that first aircraft a Metro, by chance? F/Os aren't able to effectively taxi and manoeuver the aircraft, due to the nosewheel steering arming switch and park button being on the Captain's side. Rudder pedals either only allow 10 deg control (or even nothing at all, depending on the model) Does the aircraft you fly now have identical ground steering authority for either seat? Then, I could see why you are able to have more hands on experience. Never take it personally, there's usually a reason.

[flying4dollars]

some heavy iron have tillers on both sides. actually I'd assume most would.

[flying4dollars]

At my last company, captains started, would taxi, line the aircraft up and then gave control to F/O's. On landing, they then took control through 60kts, would taxi in and shut down. At the company I'm at now, if its our leg, we taxi the airplane for take-off, and taxi it in after landing and shut it down (condition levers, props and everything on the right side of the airplane).

Was that first aircraft a Metro, by chance? F/Os aren't able to effectively taxi and manoeuver the aircraft, due to the nosewheel steering arming switch and park button being on the Captain's side. Rudder pedals either only allow 10 deg control (or even nothing at all, depending on the model) Does the aircraft you fly now have identical ground steering authority for either seat? Then, I could see why you are able to have more hands on experience. Never take it personally, there's usually a reason.

Nope, not a metro. It wasn't taken personally or anything, it was actually SOP at my other company that captains do all the taxiing and ground control. At my current one, its PF doing all a/c controlling both ground and air.

[North Shore]

At my place we just swap seats (at Captain's discretion) for the leg, and get to use the tiller to steer on the ground.

[iflyforpie]

some heavy iron have tillers on both sides. actually I'd assume most would.

I've heard there are some right drivers out there. But from Short Skyvan to 757, I've never seen one on any plane I've worked on or even a picture of one.

[Lear45XR]

On most big tin there is only one tiller wheel on the left, so it is impossible for the F/O to steer the plane effectively (rudder only gives limited nose wheel travel).

Probably alright for King Airs and such, but never for Boeings or Airbuses.

never say never...

[flyincanuck]

At the 703 turbo-prop job I'd almost never not let an F/O taxi unless it was 100% ice and they were green. Capt discretion, but mainly if it's your leg, your taxi.
At my current job, the Capt taxiis...SOP.

Personally, I prefer the discretionary rule if a tiller is not involved. Flying is simple...maneuvering on the ground takes a little more skill. And if I can't trust you on the ground ................... (?!)

[iflyforpie]

Yeah I shouldn't have said never. Damn these fancy new planes!

[Lear45XR]

Yeah I shouldn't have said never. Damn these fancy new planes!

I'll admit I'm just picking on you

[Lear45XR]

some heavy iron have tillers on both sides. actually I'd assume most would.

I've heard there are some right drivers out there. But from Short Skyvan to 757, I've never seen one on any plane I've worked on or even a picture of one.

B757 WITH AND WITHOUT TILLER...

[Rockie]

Some big airplanes have two tillers, some don't. Even among the same type there is no continuity. Some companies have the FO drive on the ground, some don't. There are lots of reasons given for not having FO's drive on the ground, some are valid, most aren't.

About the only one I've heard that is valid is that if FO's taxi then it has to be trained. It is such a challenge cramming everything in as it is that if something can be jettisoned, it is. Then there is the fact that all automatic steering guidance at gates are calibrated for the left seat.

[Meatservo]

It really doesn't matter, does it? There actually are a lot of planes with a tiller only on the one side, and taxiing the plane isn't exactly exciting, is it? Do a good landing and make the skipper park the damn thing, that's what I say.

[balfour]

As a captain at my previous company's, I would always let the FO taxi as long as it was safe to do so and we had the time. Now at WJ, only a select few have let me taxi to the gate from the runway. Yeg for example. Not a lot of turns so why not.

To be honest I would rather not, I just don't care to. I don't take it personally either, it's a job, that's it. You will get your turn soon enough. Just enjoy where you're at.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

I always let the FO taxi when it is their leg, here is a FO taxing.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e353/ ... nriver.jpg

[flyincanuck]

He's not on the yellow line.

[iflyforpie]

Hey it's been three hours! Where's the pic of the Skyvan with a tiller on the right Lear45XR?

[twinpratts]

None of our NG's have a second tiller... but I don't lose any sleep over it

[swordfish]

He's not on the yellow line.

He's taxiing too fast; meant to be a "fast walking pace"....not a "fast swimming pace"...

[complexintentions]

Not AC or WJ, but the B777 does have a tiller on both sides as noted. At Emirates the the SOP allows the FO to taxi from brake release to brakes set on the stand. Just to correct a small error - most of the alignment systems I've seen worldwide are NOT calibrated to either seat, they use a laser that calculates the alignment of the fuselage and then displays a "steer-left steer-right" arrow. Only on a couple of airports in places like Africa do they have the old-style docking system where parallax error requires the captain to complete the parking. Even then he will only take it for the last 30 metres.

On a -300 there's no excuse not to keep it on the yellow line, you can watch the nosewheel right on the camera!

[Irops]

At Emirates the the SOP allows the FO to taxi from brake release to brakes set on the stand.

At Captains discretion

[complexintentions]

Let me guess...Aussie skipper?! Or FO the captain doesn't trust?

Of course it's at the captain's discretion. So are takeoffs and landings. The only thing that isn't is the jumpseat. But what's your point other than stating the obvious?

[Cap'n P8]

You wanted a LR45 Pie...no tiller though!

PS Not my picture, I found it on airliners.net