Eli5: Why can’t jetliners go backwards under their own power?
In: 2
Because it would completely destroy the airport terminal if the jetliner backed out of the terminal under it’s own power. The engines aren’t even on while you’re at the terminal being pushed back. They only turn them on once you’re in a safe location where the jet wash won’t hurt anything. That’s why there’s a brief period between when you’re being pushed back from the terminal and you’re lined up on the taxiway where the air conditioning is shut off. While your at the terminal, air conditioning is provided by an air hose connected to the aircraft or an APU on the aircraft. They disconnect it once they start pushing you back; after the tow driver disconnects from the aircraft and the pilot is told it’s safe to start the engines the air conditioner will come online.
Secondly, it’s very difficult to back an airliner up, that’s why it involves a tow operator and 3 other people to make sure you’re not going to crash it into something. An airline pilot can only see what’s going on directly in front of them, not behind them. You can’t even see the wings from the cockpit.
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