Taxiing

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A privately owned Sea Vixen taxis back from an air show flight, with wings folding as it moves.

Tarom Boeing 737-300 and a United Airlines Boeing 777-200 taxi side by side at London Heathrow Airport.

Taxiing refers to an aircraft moving under its own power on the ground, usually on wheels, but also includes aircraft with skis or floats (for water-based travel).

An airplane uses taxiways to taxi from one place on an airport to another. e.g.: From a terminal to the runway or on the runway during take off.

The thrust comes from the aircraft's propellers or jet engines and steering by a nose wheel or tail wheel/rudder. Braking is controlled by differential toe or heel brakes. Not all aircraft have steerable wheels, and in some cases steering is solely by means of differential braking. Pilots control the direction travelled when taxiing with their feet.

The aileron and elevator controls are used to prevent wind from lifting the tail or a wing.

Possible jet blast damage limits engine thrust near terminals.

Helicopters with skids must hover taxi while those with wheels may taxi on the ground. Rotor downwash limits hover taxiing near parked light aircraft.