What is reverse thrust? Explained by CAPTAIN JOE

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Today´s question is another favorite of mine. What is reverse thrust and when do you use it?
Okay, I´ll break it down for you to the absolute basics.
Reverse thrust is used to slow down the aircraft on the runway after touchdown.
There are three main components which slow down the airplane on the runway:
Primary Braking with disc or carbon brakes similar to your car
Secondary with reverse thrust
Thrid with aerodynamical braking with the ground spoilers
So we have two words in reverse thrust.
“Reverse” cause the turbines output is being guided into the reverse direction and as you might not know we apply "thrust" in order to increase the braking action.
So let´s look at this video to see what happens at touch-down.
Here you can see engine number one of a Airbus A320. At touch-down these flaps open up, so called “reverser doors”. They act as guiding vanes in the mid section of the bypass-channel of the turbine and force the accelerated air of the fan to blow into the opposite direction.
Now these reverser doors don´t open automatically at touch-down, no you lift up these little levers which will activate the hydraulic system to apply pressure to the actuator which then opens the reverser doors. Keeping the levers in this position only give you “Idle reverse”, but as soon as you move the levers to the aft position, the engine will spool up creating more thrust increasing the reverse output. The engines will increase thrust up to 70% which then resembles in “Full reverse thrust”. I know it´s odd to think that you would apply thrust again just after touch-down.
You can definitely hear the difference between “Idle” and “full reverse thrust”, trust me :)
Using the reversers significantly decrease the landing distance, varying between aircraft, weight and environmental factors. If you look at this great video of here, showing a Boeing 747 touching down and applying full reverse thrust you can clearly see how the water on the runway gets blown forwards.
I actually experienced that myself landing on a snow covered runway, we applied full reverse thrust and you could literally see the snow blowing infront of the aircraft.

So when do you use reverse thrust?

Using “idle reverse” at touch-down is mandatory by many aircraft manufactures and airlines. First and far most to immediately decrease the aircrafts speed and to stabilize the aircrafts roll out plus to reduce brake usage.
Landing on wet or snow contaminated runways using reverse thrust is absolutely vital to decelerate the aircraft and preventing it from skidding and keeping it in a straight line.
Full reverse thrust is not permitted at some airports due to noise abendement procedures or at least restricted in between hours from here to then. Nevertheless pilots can use full reverse thrust when deemed necessary, but might have to state their decision in a report.
Airplanes with wing mounted engines may only use full reverse thrust until slowing down to a specified speed, cause using the reverser below that speed could blow up loose gravel on the runway which could get sucked into the engine and damage the turbine. For example in an Airbus A320 you would have to reduce "full reverse thrust to idle reverse" at 70 knots, and retract the reverser at speeds below 40 knots.
There are many different reverser types out there, but all work after the basic principle by forcing the air or even the exhaust into the opposite direction.

So I hope I´ve answered another aviation related question for you. If you have a question that´s been on your mind, don´t hesitate to write me, therefore subscribe my channel, check out my website and spread the word!

Farewell your Captain Joe

[mihalis]

That Captain Joe logo has to be the coolest and most clever thing that I have seen today.

[rouser]

You're educating without being boring, you hold my attention and I'll give you a thumbs up ...but PLEASE the music distracts more than it helps and you don't really need it.

[ahmadaiman]

Thank you so much Captain Joe for producing these videos, it helps with my studying a lot, I'm currently doing CAT A1 License programme, MRO, and hope to further my knowledge by learning and obtaining B1 or B2 license and become a pilot after that. I'm truly am happy that you share with us all your knowledge :D

[marktwain]

Thanks, Captain Joe! Simple and thorough explanations, as always. Have the background music turned down a bit so it does not distract from your message.

[Engineer]

Those reverse thrust doors have to be so incredibly strong.. Diverting a force which normally launches an 100.000KG+ airplane to ~800km/h. Good topic!

[freewill]

I hate to ruin the "777" number of comments but I really love this channel! Thanks for taking the time to make the videos.

[dixd]

They told me lies


Planes can drive reverse

[anoopkumar]

Professors have explained this to me a 1000 had i paid with such attention cozz its the captain itself explaining it to one who actually applies it every time we land!!

[ahmedlahlou]

Captain Joe. You are so friendly and your videos are very well explained. It's a pleasure to watch you!

[captian]

When I Watch your videos always help me simpley understand what you are taking about

[mawage]

Your background music is way too loud. I couldn't find my background music reverse volume lever.

[bingbing-tirv]

I'm a future aeronautic mechanic, (student) and even if I already know everything u said, i love your vids...
(PS: Brakes on a plane is not exactly like your car, but i understood what you meant 😂✈️, it's more like a motorcycle clutch, plane brakes on the landing wheels has multiple discs, some friction discs and some normal smooth discs, some of them are rolling at the wheel speed and there's a gap between the other ones who are not in movement. When the pilot push the brake pedal the moving discs "hugs" the non-moving discs to fill that gap between them, and it create a lot of friction exactly like a brake caliper will do on your brake disc in a car and that friction convert the plane speed into heat energy... So at the end the brake discs are really hot, but the plane is at 0 km/h...
Have a good day 👌

[arunrajendran]

Out of many pilots channel you are the best as far as i have seen. More knowledge and clarity in explanation.

[ACB]

Thanks Captain Joe, well explained, I work at LAX and always wondered how reverse thrust works and yes you will DEFINITELY know when reverse thrust is used vs engine idle. Great video👍👍👍

[thihal]

I’d love to hear more about the different styles of reverse thrust and their efficiency

[rich]

Captain Joe, I recently discovered your channel and love these videos. Keep up the great work!

[harveyhalloway]

Nice use of Tangerine Dream as a soundtrack - takes me back to Risky Business 1983!

[vslingam]

Capt Joe is good. He explains in plain English, in bite-sized portions, which is easily understandable.

Could you pls explain reverse thrust in a turbo-prop plane? Thank you.

[clif]

My wife's plane was diverted to Denver upon the loss of hydraulic control of flaps and reverse thrust. Denver has a three mile long runway and it was hoped that would provide enough distance to drop speed with only the landing gear brakes. It worked.

[NDRONES]

good video, just use an external lapel microphone when recording your voice to prevent echo and it will be even better !