Captain's Best Kept Secret

derg

derg

Apparently a "terse" writer
Staff member
Taxiing around with a tiller is pretty darned fun! :)

(I did a left-seat certification this evening in the sim)
 
I guess, I don't know!

Last time I taxied anything larger than a Cessna 172 I could steer it with Beta.

However I do know a guy who was able to land on DFW 17C and steer it into the gate without having the captain assist with the tiller.
 
Doug Taylor said:
I guess, I don't know!

Last time I taxied anything larger than a Cessna 172 I could steer it with Beta.

However I do know a guy who was able to land on DFW 17C and steer it into the gate without having the captain assist with the tiller.
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I'm guessing that it is probably a factory option if so. And most airlines probably don't want to pay for dual tillers.

That is only my educated guess...
 
typhoonpilot said:
Yes, they do. At Emirates the First Officer taxis when he/she is the pilot flying. Very few airlines operate that way. Most widebody aircraft and some narrow body ones come with dual tillers.


TP
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Dual tillers sounds cool idea. But I guess having dual tillers in the US would take most of the excitement out of upgrading!

:sarcasm:
 
Some of our old 727s used to have dual tillers but nothing in our fleet today does. You're right, it is fun to drive on the ground. It is challenging at times to try to make the airplane stay on the lines, especially when taxiing into tricky and close quartered parking spots. Many airliners do not provide a view of the wings from the cockpit which also adds to the excitement. When you taxi into position and hold, you pass the runway centerline to where it ends up back by the gear. Then as you come hard right or left, the airplane pivots 90 degrees to where the nose gear ends up right on the centerline (hopefully). You realize how much airplane you have back there when you are almost to the runway edge before beginning your 90 degree turn. Now that is cool.:cool:
 
My guess is incase the CA becomes incapacitated and the FO needs to switch side to allow a jumpseater to take the right seat. Or it could be just just a teaser to the FO's!:D
 
I'd probably have a less than stellar approach and landing if I tried to sit in anything other than the seat I've been in for the last 3.5 years. :D
 
E_Dawg said:
And why the need for left seat certification??
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All International pilots at Delta are type-rated on the aircraft so the Captain can leave the cockpit for his rest break. To get the type rating FAA says you must demonstrate you can land and taxi from the left seat.


Kevin
 
"Taxiing around with a tiller is pretty darned fun!"

I think of it as the most dangerous part of my duty day...

You should see ramp 9 at SDF at night. Tugs everwhere, crossing in front of you. A narrow taxi path. And a 200 degree turn to get into a tight parking spot. Then, think about taxiing around an unfamiliar airport, or ramp, at night.

It's not my favorite thing.
 
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