Definition
A pilot's pre-movement plan for taxiing the aircraft, covering the intended route between parking and the runway, expected hold short points, runway crossings, and any required clearances or instructions before the aircraft begins to move.
Plain English
Before you move the airplane on the ground, you work out how you are going to get from where you are to where you need to go, including which taxiways to use, where you must stop, and what the controller has told you to do.
Context Anchor
Used before and during taxi, especially when reviewing the airport diagram, listening to ground control, or preparing to move from parking to the runway.
Derivation
In aviation, “taxi” means to move an airplane on the ground under its own power. “Plan” comes from an older idea of laying something out clearly. Together, “taxi plan” means a clearly laid-out ground route for the airplane.
Why Pilots Care
A clear taxi plan prevents runway incursions, reduces confusion on busy airports, and keeps ground movement safe and efficient.
Analogy
Like mapping out your driving route through an unfamiliar city before you start the car so you do not make wrong turns.
Intuition Check
A taxi plan is not just a general idea like “go to the runway.” It is the specific ground route and stopping points you intend to use before and during taxi.
Example Sentence 1
Before calling for taxi, the pilot reviewed the airport diagram and built a taxi plan from the ramp to runway 27 via taxiways A and B, holding short of runway 33.
Example Sentence 2
After landing the crew followed their taxi plan to the ramp while yielding to an aircraft crossing ahead on taxiway Bravo.