Alex asks:

Hi Kent,

I was on a 757 about a year ago and I noticed that when we landed at our destination the thrust reversers weren't used. I asked for a seat close to an engine because I like to see the thrust reversers deploy but it didn't happen that day.

I thought that maybe there was something wrong with an engine but the flight crew didn't mention anything so I lingered around the gate to see if a maintenance truck would pull up to the plane but that didn't happen either.

Someone told me that maybe it had something to do with noise abatement, but it was about 5 or 6pm.

Can you think of any other reason why the thrust reversers may not have been used?


Hi Alex,

Great question.

There are a few airports–Manchester, England comes to mind–that restrict the use of thrust reversers early in the morning or late at night.

But I suspect that wasn't the case on your flight. I'll let you in on a little secret.

Occasionally, if a pilot touches down early enough on the runway and the point at which we plan to exit is a ways down field, we'll consider NOT using any reverse thrust. Usually, however, we'll do this by opening the reverser blocker doors, but not adding thrust to stop the aircraft.

Why, you ask?

Because we're vain. Passengers tend to think it was a smoother landing if we avoid following up a nice touchdown with the noise and shake associated with the reverse thrust.

So there you go. Vanity!


Marius asks:

Does it take a lot of force to advance the throttles and yoke or can you hardly feel them at all?

And would you prefer a sidestick to yoke?

The throttles on the 767 are rather stiff. Most of the other Boeing aircraft have throttles that move back and forth rather smoothly, with little or no resistance.

Each airplane has a different 'feel' on the yoke (control wheel). Some are rather heavy, like the 757, and some are light, such as the A300.

The A320 and later Airbuses have a side-mounted stick. I can't tell you what it's like to fly this type of stick, since I've only flown Boeings and the MD-80, but I really would like to give it a try.

One interesting thing about the Airbus side sticks; they aren't interconnected between the captain and the co-pilot. So when you move one side stick, the other one doesn't move.

If the captain pushes full down and the co-pilot pulls full back, the inputs cancel each other out.

The yokes on Boeing aircraft move together, so it does give you an idea what the other guy is doing when they're flying.



Do you have a question about something related to the pointy end of an airplane? Ask Kent and maybe he'll use it for next Friday's Plane Answers feature.