Definition
Directional control of a tailwheel-equipped airplane on the ground achieved by linking the rudder pedals to the tailwheel, so that pedal inputs turn the tailwheel and steer the aircraft during taxi, takeoff roll, and landing rollout.
Plain English
On airplanes with a small wheel under the tail, pushing the rudder pedals turns that tail wheel left or right, which steers the airplane while it is rolling on the ground.
Context Anchor
Seen during taxi, takeoff roll, and landing roll in tailwheel airplanes, especially during a crosswind after landing when the airplane must be kept straight as it slows down.
Derivation
“Steer” comes from older words meaning to guide or direct a course, originally used for guiding a ship. That helps here because tailwheel steering is about guiding the airplane’s path on the ground, not just moving the rear wheel.
Why Pilots Care
Tailwheel airplanes are less stable on the ground than nosewheel airplanes. Active, correct use of tailwheel steering — combined with rudder and brakes — is what keeps the airplane tracking straight and prevents a ground loop, especially in a crosswind.
Intuition Check
Do not assume tailwheel steering behaves just like steering a car or a front-wheel airplane. Because the steering wheel is at the rear of the airplane, small direction errors need prompt, smooth correction.
Example Sentence 1
During the after-landing roll, the pilot kept the stick back to load the tailwheel and used tailwheel steering to track the centerline.
Example Sentence 2
During taxi, tailwheel steering allowed precise turns without relying solely on brakes.