engine startups

[Aussie]

G'day guys,

just a question in regards to airlines and engine start-ups.
I noticed commercial pilots always start engine 4 first followed by 3-1-and 2. Anyone know why they start the engines in this order, on four engined aircraft?

Cheers

Aussie

 

[kellwolf]

Well, I've only got experience on two engine a/c, and only ground crew at that. But, I'll give it a stab. At least on our 737s, the air conditioning is run off the #2 engine, so that is why they normally start #2 first. It really depends on the captain. Some start #1 first.

 

[derg]

We started the right engine first on 737 for reasons as kellwolf said.

On the -88/90 we start the left first.

 

[Aussie]

thanks Doug and Kellwolf.

I didnt know that. I heard that the reason they start the engines on the right wing first are due to safety. If there is an engine fire, the pax can evacuate through the left side of the aircraft (normal exits) whereas if they start left side engines first, and they catch fire, its more of a risk when unloading pax.

I dont know how true this statement is, but thats what a RAAF C130 pilot told me.

Cheers for ya help guys

Aussie

 

[mtsu_av8er]

Each organization has it's own policies, I'm sure, and I'm sure that each aircraft is different. Back in my H-53 days, most squadrons would start #2 first, because if you start #1 first, and then #2, you would have trouble getting to a fire on #2 with #1 one still running...

Then again, we are talking about the idiots that ask for fire bottles at civilian FBOs....lol.

 

[Maximilian_Jenius]

Yet another good question would be why after planes sit overnight in the morning upon push back and engine start is there a rather large plume of smoke coming from both engines.

I have heard it is from the fuel and air mixing and igniting anyone care to expound on that.

Yet another question would be does this plume of smoke only occur in the morning and in the cold.

In all my years working around planes never seen it occur in the mid-afternoon or when it is hot at least I think.

Lastly omg it can tend to scare passengers you don't know how many times I have seen people freak out and think the plane is on fire.

Actually it can be quite ammusing

Except if there seated next to you and freaking out.

Matthew

 

[mtsu_av8er]

[ QUOTE ]
Yet another question would be does this plume of smoke only occur in the morning and in the cold.

[/ QUOTE ]

Pretty much for the same reason that your car seems to smoke more in the morning in December than it does in the afternoon in July...

 

[kellwolf]

I've gotten spectacular plumes of smoke at 1 PM pushing back before. I think it depends on the humidity, and we gots plenty of that here.

 

[FL270]

That's nothing ... try starting up after you get de-iced and there's fluid everywhere. "Torching" is pretty common ... as in actual flames coming out of the tailpipe! It can be interesting to watch ...