"Mxsmanic" wrote in message
Is it safe/advisable to board a small single- or twin-engined aircraft
while
the prop(s) and engine(s) are turning? I'm just wondering if this is
feasible
if you just have someone getting on or getting off (with the pilot being
in
the aircraft the whole time).

It's feasible if some precautions are exercised. I did single-engine turns
in 19 seat turboprops for years. The left seat pilot watches out the window
for passengers who go anywhere but the stairs and the right seat pilot is at
the base of the stairs to guide the passengers. Only once did we shutdown in
a panic. I saw the wind take a stuffed animal from a child's hand toward the
running engine. I feared the child would bolt for the stuffed animal and I
feathered the engine into shutdown. Fortunately the child didn't go after
it.

On a related note, how long can you safely leave an aircraft (engines off)
with just the parking brake set, and when do you normally put chocks under
the
wheels?

On the big jets, we stop at the gate, set the parking brake, check for
alternate electrical power, shutdown the engines, turn off the seatbelt
sign, wait for the signal that chocks are in place, and release the parking
brake for heat dissipation.

D.