Why does an plane have to be pushed back from an airport stand?

Question

Why can't the pilot just reverse the plane him-/herself?

'a plane' - sorry! Please excuse my poor grammar!

Answer 1

The aircraft has to be pushed back for two reasons. Firstly, the aircraft is too close to the terminal if its connected to a gate even though most aircraft can turn virtually sideways. The engine thrust would damage the terminal building during the turn. Secondly, There are often other aircraft parked too close to make the turn possible. If the reverse thrust is used, apart from the incredible noise generated, again the thrust would be dangerous to ground staff, terminal and aircraft parked nearby. There is no connection between the wheels and the engine, they only have brakes.

Answer 2

There are different scenarios which warrant the pilot reversing the plane himself. Most planes are pushed from the gate for safety reasons. There are certain gates in Terminal 3 of O'hare that the plane is only reversed out by the pilot. I'm not a pilot, but there are times when the pilots can reverse the plane out vs. a push.

Answer 3

Using reverse thrust at a gate would not only be an enormous waste of jet fuel it could also be a serious hazard to all kinds of things. In fact they are talking about not only pushing back from the gate but actually using the tractor to move planes up to the main taxi-ways i.e. nearly the end of the runway. On big jets this allegedly would save something like 3 tonnes of fuel.

Answer 4

The airplane doesn't have a motor that turns the wheels like a car. It has a jet engine that pushes air. Putting jet thrusters in reverse uses ALOT of energy and fuel (and might cause damage to the immediately adjacent building). It's easier and more efficient to use the engine on a small truck to push the plane backwards.

Answer 5

An aircraft engines do not reverse - the blades in the jets do. An aircraft on the apron could do this - but it would be a waste of energy when a tractor can 'tug' it out.
When an aircraft lands, you hear the engines roar. This is NOT reverse, it is the engines working hard, with the blades reversed

Answer 6

Only jets and turboprops can pushback on their own.Commercial jets are pushed back because it's less stress on the engines ands saves fuel,it's also less dangerous around the gate area.You don't get the turbulance from the reverse thrust of the engines around the gate area where luggage or traffic cones may become airborne.

Answer 7

Jets can't push backwards. And can you imagine what jet thrust would do to the terminal buildings?

However many propeller driven aircraft CAN reverse the thrust of their propellers and reverse unaided- The DeHavilland Dash 8, for instance. They regularly do this when they are "out in the sticks" at minimal, rural airstrips.

Answer 8

I thought "pushing Back" was just a term, and planes DID reverse themselves. Just goes to show, eh!

Answer 9

I think mainly to save fuel needed for the flight and I don’t think most planes can reverse (well not into mountains :-)

Answer 10

Good question. They could reverse engines and back up, but that would blow the **** out of the docking area. That's the only reason they don't.