Out of IAD we run the Saab props at the gate after all passengers are boarded up. We used to be able to run them during boarding the cool down the aircraft.
Couple of reasons why we start #2 engine up at the gate:
- GPU needed on the Saab for the most part. We require the ITT to be below 175 before introducing fuel. In the summer the engines sometimes dont cool off on their own, so you have to motor the engine to cool it down, this burns up battery big time, and sometimes they just dont make it. Our manual actually recommends 30 seconds of motoring regardless of the temp of the engine. I had a brand new CA who decided to go LGA style and push back with no engines running, then try a batt start. It was pretty embarrassing to have to get a tug pull us back into the gate to get it started. We also clogged up the ramp while we coordinated that. And anyone who has had to deal with AWAC ops out of IAD knows how long that proces probably took.
- No Air Con unless we have an engine running. We try hard to get them to plug in the wall air, but sometimes they dont (sometimes Ill go out there and do it my damn self), and sometimes it doesnt work. Even when we do get it plugged in, those few minutes between disconnect and engine starting the cabin gets extremely hot. We clocked it at 100F the other day inside the cabin. Once an engine is started we can turn on the high pressure bleed and get it cooled down normally.
- On coming into the gates we normally shut #1 down and bring it in on #2. But our operations manual states that any contaminated surface requires us to use both engines. If its raining, most captains will still shut down #1 even though you are not supposed to. The rampers use to refuse to bring us in until it was shut down, but a friendly phone call to ops from our director of ops put a stop to that. I flew with a brand new captain from IAH who had never really taxiied on snow patch surfaces before try to feather the engine and then move from a complete stop with the other engine, once the plane went side ways he realized his error. I just laughed.
There is also a tiny incline going into one of the ramp areas, if the rampers make you stop prior to the incline, with a full boat, one engine is going to get you moving. I have seen guys have to restart an engine just to get us moving. While taxiing we arent using thrust, we're using beta ;-)
For those of you who work out of IAD and the A gates, you know how crazy those gates are, and how the idiots will try and board an RJ next to us, while our prop is spinning 15 feet away. All it takes is one kid to go running out not paying attention. I normally tell the captain that we arent clear until all the doors are shut leading onto the ramp and I will normally motion to a ramper to either shut the door, or keep an eye on the door. The RJ guys probably get pissed because they cant board, but what else are we gonna do?
