Definition
Cockpit control levers, mounted on or just above the forward thrust levers in turbojet and turbofan aircraft, that the pilot lifts and pulls aft after landing to deploy the thrust reversers and command reverse thrust. The reverse levers control both the deployment of the reverser system and the amount of reverse thrust applied, from idle reverse up to maximum reverse.
Plain English
The handles in the cockpit the pilot pulls back after touchdown to redirect engine thrust forward, helping the airplane slow down on the runway.
Context Anchor
Seen in turbine airplane cockpit procedures for landing rollout, takeoff aborts, and thrust reverser operation.
Why Pilots Care
They provide additional deceleration, shorten the required landing distance, and reduce brake wear.
Intuition Check
Reverse levers are not a gearshift that makes the airplane back up like a car. They command reverse thrust, mainly to help slow the airplane after touchdown or during an aborted takeoff.
Example Sentence 1
After the main wheels touched down and the nose was lowered, the captain raised the reverse levers to deploy the thrust reversers.
Example Sentence 2
The pilot returned the reverse levers to the forward idle position once the aircraft had slowed to taxi speed.