Taxiing (moving) a plane on the ground usually involves various techniques and processes. Pilots must follow the lines on the runway at all times and keep the aircraft aligned in a specific way. This often entails turning on the track before taking off or after landing as it approaches the terminal. But how do pilots manage to keep the plane on the lines on the ground?
So, how do airplanes turn on the ground?
Airplanes turn on the ground/runway by turning the nose wheel in the front. Bigger airplanes usually use a tiller – a type of steering wheel – to turn the nose wheel, while smaller planes turn using the rudder pedals. Other steering techniques include differential braking and differential thrust.
Airplanes are complicated machines, and their steering mechanisms are no exception. To learn all about how airplanes use each of the above methods to steer on the ground, read on.
Table of Contents
Airplane steering methods
It is essential to understand the different techniques used to taxi an airplane on the ground. Pilots are often advised to maintain slow, steady movements to avoid damage on the nose wheel, which facilitates ground steering of a plane.
There are three methods involved in taxiing an aircraft:
Nose wheel steering
This is the popular airplane taxiing method used in virtually all aircraft. Nose wheel steering can be accomplished on either side using a rudder pedal or steering handle (tillers). Different sizes of planes implement nose wheel steering in different ways:
- Small planes usually use the rudder pedal, which is connected to the nose wheel via a mechanical linkage.
- Larger aircraft rely on the steering handle, which uses a hydraulic system to turn the nose wheel either direction.
Differential Braking
Differential braking is a popular steering technique in, among others, fighter aircraft. In this system, the nose wheel remains free, and turning is achieved by unequal braking of the left and right main wheels. It’s often used in small planes to make sharp turns and requires a special technique.
Differential Thrust
This isn’t a very popular method used for steering aircraft, but it is still available for pilots of twin-engine airplanes. In this technique, the thrust provided by the two engines is varied, causing the plane to shift right or left.
Making an airplane turn on the ground
Taxiing an airplane requires extreme caution and awareness at all times. There are various turns pilots can make. Some of the popular turns include:
Straight ahead turn
Straight ahead turns that involve a slight change in direction are often accomplished using the rudder pedals, which are operated by the pilot’s feet. The pilot steps on the rudder pedals, which are linked with the nose wheel, and can turn it in either direction.
To make a small turn to the left, the pilot presses the left pedal and the right pedal for slight shifts to the right. The top of the rudder pedals work as braking pedals, so you can push them whenever you need to slow down the plane’s speed or brake.
Making a sharp turn
While rudder pedals can make small changes in direction as needed, they aren’t designed to achieve the tighter turning radius required for making sharp turns.
For such shifts, pilots use the hand-grabbed steering handle, also known as a “tiller.” The tiller is located on a side panel by the window.
Like the rudder pedals, a tiller turns the nose wheel either direction. The pilot must have a tight grip on the tiller handle and move it to the direction they want.
Airport taxiways
Airport taxiways are designed to make takeoff, landing, and parking effortless. Virtually all runways include corners, and there are various navigation elements integrated to help pilots make turns.
A typical track will have yellow centerlines that identify where the nose wheel should remain at all times. However, each aircraft comes with unique requirements and the type of turn.
Caution is a priority when making any turns on the ground, whether during takeoff or landing. Widebody aircraft and sharp corners offer the biggest challenges for new pilots, who must be aware of the immediate surroundings, speed, and incoming communication from air traffic control. However, experienced pilots should find steering an airplane across a runway more exciting than challenging. The process often involves slowing down and using the rudder pedal, tillers, or differential braking to make different kinds of turns.
Private runways
Turning a plane on the ground in a private track requires more precaution than commercial airports. The pilot must be constantly aware of their surroundings before setting the aircraft in motion. By applying thrust (gas), you cause a blast behind the engine that is strong enough to injure people or damage any property in the way. The front area of the engine can also suck in anything that is too close during takeoff.
All airplane taxiways must have lines drawn to indicate the center alignment pilots use to keep the plane on track. If the runway is clear, turning an aircraft on a private or commercial runway involves the same techniques.
The size and plane model also play a significant role in determining the best way to make turns on the ground. Some planes require ground help to assist the pilot make safe turns.
Speed and safety
Taxiing an airplane across bent runways may seem like an effortless task for the outsider. However, the unique wheel system planes use presents various challenges that call for a combination of techniques. When turning an airplane on the ground, speed is one of the crucial elements. As a general standard, taxiing a plane should be kept under 30 KTS or 35 mph on straight runways. When approaching a turn, the plane shouldn’t exceed 12 KTS or 14 mph.
All airplanes come with a flying manual that specifies how fast a pilot should taxi the aircraft. Airport regulations and other governing bodies can also determine the maximum speed allowed for taxiing a plane or approaching a corner. Other than speed, there are several other safety elements and measures involved when turning an aircraft on the ground.
Unlike cars, where the driver is in full control of each turn they make, the responsibility of turning an airplane on the ground extends to several other people. The pilot’s taxiing mechanics play a significant role.
However, the process still relies on air traffic ground controllers, ground (ramp) personnel, vehicles on the ground, planes within the vicinity, and more. The extended responsibility reflects the complicated nature of taxiing an airplane and making turns on the ground.
Conclusion
To recap, planes can turn on the ground using three main methods, although only two are popular among commercial aircraft. Pilots have access to various navigation tools at the cockpit, including foot-operated rudder pedals, hand-gripped tillers, and yoke steering wheel. These accessories can control the nose wheel and also regulate the speed of the airplane to make safe turns. Pilots can also choose other braking and turning techniques depending on what the coroner calls for.
A smooth curving runway, for instance, will have different requirements form sharp 90% turns. On the other hand, aircraft that don’t feature twin engines cannot use differential thrusting to make turns. For a seasoned pilot, making a plane turn on the ground is an exciting experience and less daunting than you would think. However, much like everything surrounding airplane navigation and traffic control, making a plane turn on the ground requires incredible caution and awareness at all times.
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