Happy 2012 everyone! I was remembering the days when fuel prices didn't matter, and some airlines like Eastern and American used reverse thrust for pushback. I tried simulating it on the NGX, but the airplane won't move backward with full reverse applied on the ground. Does this reflect reality? I did a night flight from Miami to Providenciales last night, and for not looking at the airport chart ahead of time, I turned my aircraft into the fire station after completing my touchdown roll :-) There was not room to maneuver, so I just cheated with a SHIFT+PJust curiousP.S. this week marks five full months of not being able to go back to any of my other payware aircraft - it's been NGX non-stop!Luis Linares

If you're light, the reversers should be able to get you rolling back.

It can yes, but should it be done? No..

Thanks for the info, and I agree that it should not be done but just needed to satisfy my curiosity.Luis Linares

I'd love to see the ground crew run around while doing a reverser push out :)

I've seen md 8 0's do it, because of the higher engines I imagine..

Edited January 3, 201214 yr by CaptBillyBob

I dont think it ever was an option on the 737...however, DC-9 and family... yep they did do it, and maybe still do.

Depends how much you like FOD.

Once, I landed in a runway and I forgot to disarm reverse thrust....my 737 NGX, once stopped, started to go back slowly along the runway and I stopped the funny maneuver. :(So I saw it happening, even if it was not intended.

I saw Eastern do it with 757s in Miami, when the airline was about to shut down. By that time, they probably could not even afford a ground staff. I[m sure it was a huge FOD risk, and anyone on the ground would have to seek shelter!Luis Linares

I had the opportunity to experience it on an American MD once, oh sweet, sweet vibrations.

When I was a kid and flying on a L1011 with Caledonian Airways from Gatwick to Dalaman (Turkey) our flight was pushed back from a remote stand during very heavy rain.From what the pilot said the tugs could not shift us, so as the engines were already running the Captain cautioned us that we would hear an increase of noise and then engaged reverse thrust on engine 2 . The Captain had explained that he was doing this to ‘assist’ the ground crew...I am guessing that as the engine was high the chance of it kicking something up was remote.Any how it worked, we pushed back fine with the help of that number 2 in reverse.Kimberly Richmond-Jones

I've done it as a ground marshaller with 727's, Saab340 and once with a 737-200. It's not a really good idea. We didn't do pushbacks at the time and a disabled piece of ground equipment was in the way, I asked the captain if he wanted to try to powerback off the gate otherwise there was no telling how long it would take to get him out. He agreed, so I gave him the signal and he deployed the thrust reversers. It became obvious that this wasn't one of my better ideas pretty quickly as the jet blast began pealing the asphalt off of the ramp. He was able to get clear of the debris and depart but it could have turned out much differently. Ingesting fod on a low slung engine is always a concern and it's especially dangerous for the aircraft and any personnel who might be in the area. That was 30 years ago and I've grown a whole lot smarter since then. :(

The airport will not allow you to powerback with low-slung engines, as it will spray the airport buildings, not to mention the ground crew, with debris.

AA used to do it in ATL in the 90's on their MD80's but stopped due to safety issues.