Plain English Meaning

The part of the trip where the airplane drives along the ground to the runway, then speeds up and lifts off. During this time the pilot watches the instruments to make sure everything is working properly before climbing away.

Full Definition

The phase of flight covering ground movement from the parking area to the runway and the subsequent acceleration and lift-off into the initial climb. In the context of instrument system inspection, it is the period during which the pilot verifies that flight instruments, navigation equipment, and engine indications respond correctly as the aircraft moves and accelerates, confirming systems are functioning before committing to .