VA 866 Friday 16/10 Stuck in a rut
 

On Friday night after push back and the tug disconnected the pilot advised that we were stuck in a "rut hole." We could not move forward until a car (Car 4) came to clear the area behind to enable the engines to be powered up enough to get the plane out of the hole. The hole was somewhere adjacent to gate 36.

Curious as to how deep a rut it was to stop a 737 (VH VOL)!

If it's where I think it is (Tow Disconnect Point 4), then the reason there's a rut is because that's where all the pushbacks in that area are towed forward to. Always requires a bit more power to get away from there than usual.

Maybe it's time to redo that area?

Mick

SACL is more interested in turning the airport into a shopping centre than appropriately looking after its core infrastructure ;)

But isn't it nice that you can buy some cologne to use so the dude next to you doesn't start to smell while you wait to get towed out of the rut Hugh? :cool:

Are you taxiing around on instruments? You should try looking outside instead; the view is changing constantly ;)