You’re on a turboprop plane, and after landing, you notice one of the propellers isn’t spinning as fast as it was. You might think something’s wrong, but relax, it’s all part of the plan. The pilot is just running the plane on one engine while you taxi to the terminal. This is known as Single Engine Taxiing or Engine Out Taxiing (EOT), and it’s totally standard.
This isn’t just a turboprop thing, jets do it too. Say you’re on an Airbus A320 and you’re sitting up front where you can get a good look at the engine. You’ll notice one engine gets turned off while you’re taxiing to the runway or terminal. You might even hear a unique whining sound as you move along.
Saving Fuel is the Game
The main reason for single engine taxiing is to save fuel. When a plane taxis with just one engine running, it cuts the fuel consumption in half. This is especially common in twin-engine aircraft like the Airbus A320 or Boeing 737.
According to Open Airlines, even a short taxi time of 45 seconds can save around 3 kg of fuel per flight. Multiply that by the number of flights an airline operates in a year, and you’re looking at significant savings. For an airline with 30,000 flights per year, that’s a whopping 100,000 kg of fuel saved!
Less Noise, Happy Neighbors
Airports are increasingly focusing on noise reduction, and single engine taxiing helps with that. When one engine is off, the noise level around the airport drops. If you’re inside the plane, you might not notice the difference, but for those outside, it’s a noticeable change. So, this practice is a win-win, reducing both fuel consumption and noise pollution.
Keeping the Engines in Good Shape
Another advantage of single engine taxiing is reduced engine wear. During taxiing, engines can suck up debris from the ground, causing what’s known as Foreign Object Damage (FOD). By running only one engine, the risk of FOD is lowered. This is good for the plane’s health and also cuts down on maintenance costs.
Single engine taxiing isn’t just a random decision; pilots have a lot to consider. For instance, they have to account for the plane’s weight and the condition of the taxiway. If it’s slippery, they might not opt for EOT. They also have to think about system operations like nose wheel steering and brakes. Plus, if there’s a problem starting the other engine, they might have to head back to the gate for a fix.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
