Can commercial air crafts at airports move backwards or in reverse?



Answers:
Of course aircraft are always pushed backwards while at the parking gate by a tug. On the taxi-ways aircraft can appear to move slightly backward (more of a pivot) by increasing the thrust to only one engine, which will cause the opposite side to swivel slightly backward. This is mainlyl done when ATC has (for example) advised of delays and requested that an aircraft exit a main runway, taxiway and hold in position.
no they have a little car thing (not sure what it's called) that pushes them backward.
Yes.
No, they are pushed back by the pushback tugs operated by ground handling crews.

They attach a towbar to the tug and the front wheels of the undercarige, and overide the captains steeing, then they wait for the air traffic controler to give the order and push the plane back and around onto the taxiway. They then remove the towbar and signal to the pilot that he is clear to taxi.
Not sure exactly what the vehicle is called, but after the pilots do inspections, and are ready to set out to the runway from directions of control tower, they ask the driver of this vehicle for a 'push back', which allows them to get to a clearing to start turning right or left, etc.
Any pilots out there that could explain this better?

.there you go, as I was typing, 'king paulii' gave a much better response!
They can move backwards but think of the thrust needed to get a 747 moving from a stop?? It'll blow everything not nailed down. Dangering the aircraft and people on the ground.
Yes, the pilot can reverse the engines to back up. All airlines do no use the little tug tractors.
Yes.

As mentioned, many can move backwards while on the ground only using reverse thrust. It's called a "powerback".

WATCH A VIDEO OF AN AIRCRAFT DOING ONE HERE- http://www.flightlevel350.com/video_stre.

Photo of a powerback-
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/09757.

Powerbacks are done on a/c with tail mounted engines, commonly the MD-80. Not only are their engines more in line with the body of the aircraft, they are mounted hugh and injesting debris into them during the proceedure is unlikely compared to lower wing mouted engine aircraft.

The proceedure must be approved by the airline and airport must approve them on a specific gate to do one.

BTW- the amount power/thrust used isn't that much, nor is the amount fuel, so those aren't concerns. The main reason they aren't done is that the proceedure isn't approved (as explained above) and there is a FOD (debris/swirling dirt) hazard to the ramp personnel.

Also, "aircraft" is plural so it requires no "s" to mean multiples, while "aircrafts" is possesive.
depends on the aircraft. older 707, 727, 737, 747 cannot, for instance.
yes
especially when they land.
they put on reverse thrust cause they cannot put brake on
while touching down in sum 200 km/h if not,the tyres will break off
so they apply both
reverse thrust n brake

The answers post by the user, for information only, UKQnA.com does not guarantee the right.

  • P Reg Corsa, one rear wheel has locked and will not freeup, been standing for a couple of weeks.?
  • sratches on car?
  • Does anyone know where i can get standard rear suspension (just springs)?
  • Super car lovers?
  • Can anyone tell me why I get a strong petrol smell inside my 1995 Vauxhall Vectra?
  • what exactly are those 2 black cables that are fixed to the road that we someties drive over.speed traps or?
  • I am looking at a 1997 Honda Prelude 2.2 Vtec Auto in two days time. What are the major problem areas?
  • 1966 BSA Bantam D7?
  • Bycycles & trains?