Why do pilots back taxi?

[rpayne88]

I work at Tipton Airport (KFME), in MD. We just had a charter pilot back taxi from the mid-field turnoff and taxi to the end of runway 28 before turning around to take of. My question is why? There is a taxiway running the entire length parallel to the runway and no one else was using it.

 

[Henning]

You'd have to ask them...FOD on the taxiway?

 

[James331]

Why not?

If it's not busy often times I'm more comfortable doing a fast taxi on a runway if it's not that far, or the taxiways could have crap on them, or maybe some animals around, maybe the taxiway was closed, crappy taxiway lights, lots of bumps, snow buildup, bunch of reasons.

 

[SixPapaCharlie]

Because there is no taxi way

 

[frfly172]

Probably has used that taxi way before,and is not happy with its condition.

 

[Sac Arrow]

Sometimes it's more expedient to back taxi vs. make the next turnout, depending on the length an layout of the runways.

 

[Zeldman]

Can't explain why the pilot didn't use the taxiway, but I sometimes go to a certain airport and I use the runway to taxi. I do so because the taxiway is always full of broken beer and whiskey bottles.

 

[hotprops]

why not?

 

[Checkout_my_Six]

lazy.....

 

[MAKG1]

Sometimes it's more expedient to back taxi vs. make the next turnout, depending on the length an layout of the runways.

If you've ever landed at New Jerusalem, there is no way you would use the taxiway with a spinning prop. WAY too many rocks.

The runway is better, but I still thought I blew a tire when I landed there.

 

[Maciej]

At KFWN the potholes in the taxiway are so bad I'm sure I'd have a prop strike if I were to use it.

 

[Kritchlow]

Not sure what type of airplane it was, but some taxiways have a weight and/or wingspan limit.

 

[Sundancer]

I work at Tipton Airport (KFME), in MD. We just had a charter pilot back taxi from the mid-field turnoff and taxi to the end of runway 28 before turning around to take of. My question is why? There is a taxiway running the entire length parallel to the runway and no one else was using it.

I sometimes back taxi at FME when it's dead, especially at night, and if I've landed well short of the mid-fieid taxiway.

Also, the lighting at FME is really bad; the floods on the hangars are aimed to blind you, as you taxi in, and after you make the turn on the parallel taxiway.

 

[oldShar]

At E80, they just opened a new runway with taxiway stubs that loop around and bring you 100' back up the runway.

You have the choice to back taxi or stay put at the runup pad (unless you have giganticus tundras and want to stroll thru the toolies and cactus to get back to the FBO apron)


((( BTW, the new runway [13/31] hasn't yet been put onto the charts or A/FD or Airnav, or google maps or .... ))) {but IS in the NOTAMs}

 

[MachFly]

What plane was it and how wide is the taxiway? He could either be concerned that we wouldn't fit there or FOD.

 

[Lindberg]

As others have said, it depends. Sometimes it's shorter than going all the way to the other end. A few weeks ago at Bermuda Dunes (UDD) we had to wait for a jet to back taxi all the way down the runway. The taxiway is narrow and runs right past several houses.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/B...2!3m1!1s0x80daf97b214ff9db:0x8e3e407aaf73180e

 

[ahkahn]

We have a King Air that lives at my home field and our taxiways are pretty narrow. If there are any types of snowbanks the brush gets too high he has to back taxi on the runway.

 

[Gucci Pilot]

You'd have to ask the pilot

 

[MooneyDriver78]

Maybe he missed the turn to the taxiway...it happens

 

[JustinD]

another thing to consider is the aircraft and taxiway. I know at work we sometimes fly into airports where the taxiway is not wide enough or can not handle the weight bearing of the aircraft thus we sometimes have to back taxi even if there is a parallel taxiway

 

[kgruber]

Expediency

 

[Kritchlow]

Or, he just effed it up.

 

[Checkout_my_Six]

runway....hogs.

 

[arnoha]

As others have said, it depends. Sometimes it's shorter than going all the way to the other end. A few weeks ago at Bermuda Dunes (UDD) we had to wait for a jet to back taxi all the way down the runway. The taxiway is narrow and runs right past several houses.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/B...2!3m1!1s0x80daf97b214ff9db:0x8e3e407aaf73180e

You are not kidding about "right past several houses"! At first I wasn't even sure I was looking at a taxiway.

 

[Kritchlow]

You are not kidding about "right past several houses"! At first I wasn't even sure I was looking at a taxiway.

I have been in there with a span roughly two feet shorter than allowed. I thought I was going to pick off the porch furniture.

 

[Brad Z]

You would have to ask the crew to know for sure, but at FME the parallel taxiway is on the edge of the parking ramp. My guess is they didn't realize that and missed it taxiing out; having been committed to the runway, the just back taxied to the end and took off.

 

[rocketflyer84]

Larger planes often back taxi because their wings are too wide for the taxiways at small airports.

 

[Captain]

Just off the top of my head maybe the pilot wanted to inspect the runway prior to departure. FOD or birds maybe...

 

[cowman]

Maybe the pilot is unfamiliar with the field and the grade makes it unclear if the taxiway goes all the way to the end or not.

 

[weilke]

What kind of plane ?

 

[Checkout_my_Six]

Well....it once was an Army base.

I can't imagine every plane back taxied back then....

 

[weilke]

The load bearing capacity of the runway is documented. Unless they have documentation that the taxiway and ramp conform to a certain standard, I can see why some pilots will minimize their exposure.
Tipton was an army airfield and the surfaces look well maintained. Shouldn't be an issue.