#3 Taxiing

#3 Taxiing

Aim:

To determine your ability to manoeuvre the aircraft on the ground and avoid unnecessary interference with the movement of other traffic.

Assessment is based on consideration for other traffic, use of appropriate taxiing speeds, adherence to local taxi rules, procedures, and ATC requirements, and proper flight control inputs in response to actual or specified strong wind conditions and the proper confirmation of functioning flight instruments.

Discussion

The secret to good taxiing is two-fold: smoothness in the movement of the aircraft (to utilize momentum), and the minimum use of power and braking.

Before you begin taxiing, be sure the power is back to minimum idle. This serves the function of saving the propellers from picking up rocks that produce very expensive “dings” on the leading edge. Also check to ensure you have proper wing-tip clearance.

Taxi slowly, but try to use the momentum of the aircraft in making tight turns so that only minimum power is necessary.

Avoid jerky inputs with the rudder pedals to minimize the stress—especially any side loading—on the landing gear.

In checking the brakes, remember that a sudden stop is not required—what is important is that you bring the aircraft to a smooth stop, and then place aggressive foot pressure to ensure the hydraulic system will properly pressure up.

Take advantage of turns along the taxiway to check the flight instruments, but if this is, for some reason, not possible, perform some gentle s-turns during the taxi—watch the wing tips as you have about eight-foot more wing length than you do in a Cherokee.1

In a multi-engine aircraft, it is considered by many imperative to taxi accurately on the taxiway centreline.2

Safety

It is very important when taxiing a twin to be conscious of the position of prop discs; in flying single engine aircraft we get quite accustomed to the idea that the spinning prop mass is directly in front of us, but it is quite different with the twin as the distance between the outer limit of the propeller disks is over 17’. You want to be especially sure that you don’t have a prop-strike with some taxiway light.

References

1. Never taxi off the main taxiway—i.e., the alternate routing between the aircraft parking rows.

2. I have heard stories—possibly urban legends—of Examiners failing candidates because they did not to taxi on taxiway centrelines. Regardless, you will lose points in what would normally be an easy item in the flight test.