Definition
An aircraft exterior light, typically mounted on the nose gear or wing, that illuminates the surface ahead of the airplane during ground movement. It produces a wider, less intense beam than the landing light and is intended for use while taxiing on taxiways and ramps at night or in low-visibility conditions.
Plain English
A light on the airplane that lets the pilot see where they are going while moving on the ground.
Context Anchor
Seen during starting, taxiing, and run-up procedures, especially before the airplane begins moving on the ground.
Derivation
Taxi comes from the older aviation use of taxiing, meaning an aircraft moving on the ground under its own power. Light means a lamp or source of illumination. Together, taxi light means the aircraft light used while taxiing, not a light that belongs to a taxicab.
Why Pilots Care
Provides essential forward visibility at night or in poor light, helping the pilot stay on the centerline, avoid other aircraft and obstacles, and maintain situational awareness on the ground.
Intuition Check
Do not read taxi light as an airport light on the taxiway. In this context, it is a light on the aircraft used while the aircraft is moving on the ground.
Example Sentence 1
Before beginning to taxi at night, the pilot turned on the taxi light to illuminate the centerline ahead.
Example Sentence 2
With the taxi light on, the crew could clearly identify the hold-short line and any nearby parked aircraft.