2.taxiing. Taxiing
Taxiing is the controlled movement of an airplane under its own power on the surface of an airport. Although it appears straightforward, taxiing requires the pilot to be alert, deliberate, and aware that the airplane is moving in a three-dimensional environment with other aircraft, vehicles, and pedestrians. Most ground-handling accidents are the result of inattention, excessive speed, or improper use of flight controls — all of which are entirely preventable.
Before Taxi. Before releasing the brakes, the pilot should:
- Verify that the area in front of and behind the airplane is clear.
- Check brake operation immediately after the airplane begins to move by smoothly applying the toe brakes — both for proper function and to detect any asymmetry.
- Set the directional gyro/heading indicator and confirm the attitude indicator is erect and stable.
- Tune ground control and obtain a taxi clearance at controlled fields.
- Review the airport diagram, hot spots, and the taxi route, and brief any hold-short instructions.
Power and Speed. Use only enough power to start the airplane moving, then reduce throttle to idle if necessary. A safe taxi speed is one at which the airplane can be stopped promptly with the brakes — roughly a brisk walk in congested ramp areas and no faster than a slow jog on open taxiways. Speed is controlled primarily with the throttle; brakes are used to slow or stop, never to control speed continuously (riding the brakes wastes brake life and can cause overheating).
Directional Control. On the ground the airplane is steered with rudder pedals, which are mechanically linked to the nosewheel (or tailwheel) through the steering system, and supplemented as needed with differential braking. The control yoke does not steer the airplane on the ground. Smooth, small inputs produce smooth tracking; oversteering leads to S-turning and brake wear. Look well ahead of the airplane — at least to the next turn — rather than at the nose.
Flight Control Positioning in Wind. The taxiing airplane is vulnerable to upset by wind, particularly in tricycle-gear airplanes with high wings or large vertical surfaces. Use the memory aid "climb into a headwind, dive away from a tailwind":
- Quartering headwind: aileron into the wind (yoke turned toward the wind), elevator neutral.
- Quartering tailwind: aileron away from the wind (yoke turned opposite the wind), elevator down (yoke forward).
- Direct headwind: ailerons neutral, elevator neutral.
- Direct tailwind: ailerons neutral, elevator down.
In tailwheel airplanes, hold the elevator full aft in any headwind component to keep weight on the tailwheel for steering authority, and full forward in a tailwind to prevent the tail from lifting.
Turning. Begin turns gradually, anticipating that the airplane pivots about the main gear. In a sharp turn, a small amount of differential braking on the inside wheel can tighten the radius, but avoid pivoting on a locked wheel — this stresses the gear and can damage the tire. Never attempt a turn while stopped using full brake on one side and high power on the other; this is hard on the tires and brakes and can shock-load the engine.
Engine Considerations. During prolonged taxi, especially with a tailwind or behind another aircraft's exhaust, monitor cylinder head and oil temperatures. Avoid high power settings that could ingest debris (FOD) into the propeller or blast aircraft and personnel behind. On loose surfaces, taxi with the yoke held back to reduce the angle of the propeller's relative flow into the ground.
Runway Incursion Avoidance. A runway incursion is any unauthorized presence on a runway. To prevent incursions:
- Maintain a sterile cockpit during taxi — defer non-essential tasks.
- Read back all hold-short instructions verbatim, including the runway designator.
- Stop short of any lighted or painted hold line until specifically cleared to cross or enter.
- Use the airport diagram to verify position before crossing any runway.
- At night or in low visibility, use exterior lights (taxi/recognition lights on while moving; strobes per local practice) to enhance conspicuity.
Markings and Signs. Taxiway centerlines are yellow; taxiway edges are double yellow lines. The runway holding position marking consists of four yellow lines (two solid on the taxi side, two dashed on the runway side) — never cross the solid side onto a runway without a clearance. Mandatory instruction signs are red with white inscriptions; location signs are black with yellow inscriptions; direction signs are yellow with black inscriptions.
Example. Cleared to taxi to Runway 27 via Alpha, hold short of Runway 33: read back "Taxi to two-seven via Alpha, hold short of three-three, N123AB." At the Runway 33 hold line, stop with the nose short of the solid yellow lines and verify that no traffic is on final or departing before requesting or receiving clearance to cross.
Practiced properly from the first lesson, disciplined taxi technique becomes a habit that pays dividends on every flight thereafter.