Definition
Taxiing an airplane in the same direction as the wind, so the wind is blowing from behind the airplane onto its tail. Because the wind is pushing on the back of the airplane, the pilot must position the flight controls to keep the wind from getting under the tail or the trailing wing and lifting them. The standard control inputs for downwind taxiing are: elevator held forward (control wheel pushed forward) to keep the tail down, and ailerons positioned with the control wheel turned away from the wind so the upwind aileron is down and the downwind aileron is up.
Plain English
Moving the airplane on the ground in the same direction the wind is blowing. The wind is hitting the airplane from behind, which can try to lift the tail or a wing, so the pilot holds the controls in a specific way to keep the airplane planted on the ground.
Context Anchor
Seen during ground operations when choosing a taxi route or positioning the controls while taxiing in wind.
Derivation
Downwind' means moving with the wind, in the direction the wind is blowing toward. Combined with 'taxiing' (moving the airplane on the ground under its own power), the term describes ground movement in the same direction the wind is going.
Why Pilots Care
Wind from behind tends to push the tail, reducing directional control and increasing the chance of weathervaning or loss of steering authority.
Grounding Statement
If the wind is pushing on the back of the airplane while it taxis, the airplane is downwind taxiing.
Intuition Check
Do not read “downwind” as “downhill” or simply “away from the wind.” In this context, it means the wind is coming from behind the airplane or the airplane is moving with the wind.
Example Sentence 1
While taxiing downwind back to the ramp, the pilot held the yoke forward and turned slightly away from the wind to keep the tail and upwind wing pinned down.
Example Sentence 2
Strong downwind taxiing conditions on a narrow taxiway required the pilot to reduce speed and increase control deflection.