Definition
A thrust reverser setting in which the reverser is deployed but the engine is at idle power, producing a small amount of rearward thrust without spooling the engine up. It is typically used as the initial step after touchdown and as the standard setting for the final portion of the landing rollout before stowing the reversers.
Plain English
The reverser doors or buckets are open and pointing engine air forward, but the engine itself is just ticking over. You get a little bit of braking from the reverser, not the full effect.
Context Anchor
Used in airplanes with thrust reversers during landing rollout, especially just after touchdown or when procedures call for reverse thrust without adding engine power.
Derivation
Idle comes from an old word meaning empty or unused; for an engine, it means running at its lowest power without being shut off. Reverse comes from a Latin idea meaning turned back, which fits because the engine’s normal push is redirected forward instead of backward.
Why Pilots Care
Allows controlled slowing on landing while reducing engine stress, noise, and wear compared with higher reverse thrust settings.
Intuition Check
Idle reverse does not mean the engine is off, and it does not mean full reverse thrust is being used. It means the reverser is deployed while the engine stays at idle power.
Example Sentence 1
After touchdown, the captain selected idle reverse, then advanced the levers to full reverse thrust as the nosewheel came down.
Example Sentence 2
On a long runway the crew used only idle reverse and relied mainly on the wheel brakes.