Definition
The standardized practices a pilot uses to move an airplane safely on the ground under its own power, including pre-taxi planning, proper use of flight controls for wind, speed control with throttle and brakes, steering, scanning for traffic and obstacles, and complying with airport markings, signs, lighting, and ATC or ground instructions.
Plain English
The set of rules and habits for safely driving an airplane on the ground -- how to steer, how fast to go, how to handle the wind, and how to follow airport markings and instructions.
Context Anchor
Used during ground operations before takeoff and after landing, especially while moving between a parking area, taxiway, and runway.
Derivation
In aviation, “taxi” was borrowed from the idea of a taxicab moving along the ground from one place to another. That helps separate it from flying: when an airplane taxis, it is being moved on the ground, not flown through the air. “Procedure” comes from a Latin idea meaning “to go forward” or “to proceed,” which fits the idea of following an ordered set of steps.
Why Pilots Care
Following correct taxi procedures reduces the risk of collisions, runway incursions, and ensures safe compliance with air traffic control instructions.
Intuition Check
Do not think of taxiing as simply “driving the airplane.” An airplane has limited visibility, different steering and braking behavior, wind effects, propeller hazards, and airport movement rules that require specific procedures.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor reviewed taxi procedures with the student, emphasizing proper control positioning in a quartering tailwind.
Example Sentence 2
During training, the instructor emphasized taxi procedures to avoid drifting off the taxiway edge.