Alternative Pushback

[gatesession]

What is exactly an alternative pushback?
Is it a pushback that deviates from aerodrome pushback procedures?

[EivlEvo]

Ive never heard of either of those. Im thinking maybe you heard someone get cleared to pushback and they either wanted to request a different turn, or to push into a different alley? Since you need clearance to go where you want to go in a Non-movement area, they may have gotten clearance to push in a certan direction but perhaps needed to de-ice or get over to another terminal. Hence requesting to get a push to turn in the opposite direction to prevent u-turning on a taxiway in the terminal environment.

Although, I'll be honest I have very little experience with using actual gates. So... feel free to correct me on this one guys.

~DAVE

[Greg01]

Do you know what kind of aircraft it was?

The Mad Dogs (and similar models) could "power back" from the gate using reverse thrust rather than having a tug push them back.

Not very common, but it does happen.

Greg

[gatesession]

Nope, I do not know which aircraft it was.
Anyways I was listening to Dublin.
It happens sometimes on Schipol, Amsterdam.

[EivlEvo]

Usually you have to be at a special gate or area to do a powered push because the glass has to have a rating that will protect it from the potential thrust and flying debris.

~DAVE

[Greg01]

True, Dave. Yet, Schipol is a major airport and powered push backs are more common at major airports than 'lesser' airports.

Greg

[MathFox]

Citing from the AIP http://www.ais-netherlands.nl/aim/070301-070412/eAIP/html/eAIP/EH-AD-2.EHAM-en-GB.html#ssid-1109062724136:

Standard push-back directions from the stands, except the M-ramp and the General Aviation terminal, are in force (see AD 2.EHAM-APDC.1 and AD 2.EHAM-APDC.2). To expedite, traffic instructions can be given for an ‘alternative push-back'. The aircraft will be pushed in the opposite direction.

The alternative pushback will point the plane in the opposite direction from the usual pushback, so it will have to leave the apron via another exit. AFAIK, all push-backs on Schiphol are done with trucks; there are some "taxi-out" stands where the plane leaves in the direction where it parks.