Definition
Step-by-step taxi instructions issued by ATC (ground control), given one segment at a time, used when the pilot is unfamiliar with the airport or when ground control deems it necessary.
Plain English
Instead of giving you the whole taxi route at once, the controller walks you through it piece by piece — turn here, then call me, then I'll tell you the next turn.
Context Anchor
Used during ground operations at an airport, especially after landing or before takeoff when a pilot is unsure how to get to the runway, ramp, hangar, or parking area.
Derivation
Progressive comes from the Latin progressus, meaning 'a going forward, an advance.' Here it means the instructions advance with you — each new step given as you reach it, rather than all at once up front.
Why Pilots Care
Reduces the risk of taking a wrong turn or entering a restricted area on complex airports.
Intuition Check
Progressive does not mean faster, more advanced, or optional here. It means the taxi directions are given step by step as you move.
Example Sentence 1
Unfamiliar with the airport, the pilot called ground and requested progressive taxi to Runway 27.
Example Sentence 2
Because the ramp layout was unfamiliar, the controller provided progressive taxi to the maintenance hangar.