Definition
A flight control input used during taxi in which the pilot holds the control wheel or stick forward to place the elevator in a down position, used when taxiing with a quartering tailwind to keep the wind from lifting the tail and to keep weight on the nosewheel for steering.
Plain English
Pushing the control wheel or stick forward while taxiing so the wind doesn't try to lift the tail of the airplane up.
Context Anchor
Used during taxiing, especially when setting the flight controls correctly for wind before or while moving the airplane on the ground.
Why Pilots Care
Correct stick positioning prevents loss of directional control, propeller strikes, and excessive stress on the landing gear during ground movement.
Grounding Statement
If wind is coming from behind during taxi, the pilot positions the controls so the wind has less chance to lift or disturb the tail.
Intuition Check
Stick-forward positioning does not mean pushing the airplane faster or using a flying attitude. In taxiing, it means holding the control forward on the ground so the tail surface is positioned correctly for the wind.
Example Sentence 1
With a quartering tailwind from the right rear, the instructor told her to use stick-forward positioning and aileron down on the right side while taxiing to the runway.
Example Sentence 2
After clearing the runway the pilot applied slight stick-forward positioning while turning to reduce the chance of the tail rising on uneven pavement.