EridanMan writes:

Advisable? No.
Safe? Depends on too many factors to tell say outright... Front
engined aircraft that boards over the trailing edge of the wing?
Probably safe (although I'd imagine getting some doors open under even
an idle prop-stream would be a pain/might risk damage to the door...
light aircraft doors tend to be very flimsy) Twin which boards over
the wing? Not a chance... WAY to many other variables (how bright is
it (how visible is the prop disc), how much idle blast does the prop
throw?
Done anyways? Sure.

The scenario I have in mind is sitting waiting for a passenger to get on or
off, or helping a passenger get on or off. It's mainly just to have a more
realistic simulation. The aircraft I use in the sim is usually a Baron 58; if
I fly it online (VATSIM), it's important that stops at airports be of
realistic length (of the length that they would be if you stopped for some
specific purpose in real life, such as picking someone up or dropping someone
off).

Thus, I wanted to know if it's possible/safe/practical to sit with the engines
running while someone gets into or out of the plane, much as one would do with
a car when picking someone up. Maybe that is too farfetched for an aviation
context. I suppose the passenger would have to be able to get to the aircraft
on his own, and I don't know how tough that would be. And if the pilot had to
help him board or disembark, I assume it would be way too risky to leave the
aircraft running while he left his seat and got out of the plane.

Kinda a nonsensical question, how long until the next stiff wind
blows?

Not for me, as I don't have direct experience with this. I don't know how
easily small aircraft can be moved by the wind.

In all honesty, most chalks will
probably do no better than the wheel brakes alone at protecting from a
stiff gust... t takes quite a bit of wind to overcome the static
friction of the wheels. If the wind is strong enough to overpower a
brake, a chalk probably won't do much better- what you'll need is good
heavy chains, or better yet, a hangar.

A hangar would be great, but unfortunately the simulator doesn't support that
in most cases.

The flip-side is that in general, if your paying the MX bills, its
really not a good idea to leave the brake engaged, this is simply a
wear issue (Its better to store a hydrolic system unpressurized then
pressurized, If you have the choice). Wheel chalks are slightly more
reliable, and much cheaper, then a parking break, but no
"safer" (better at keeping an aircraft stationary)

OK.

when park your plane.... duh?

I meant, do pilots keep a set of chocks in the aircraft and position the
chocks themselves, or is there a lineman or someone who does this, or what?
With large airliners there are crews who handle all of this, but I don't know
how it is done with tiny airplanes.

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