✈️ Aviation Brief — Issue #29
Weekly insights for student pilots and the instructors who train them.
THIS WEEK'S TOPIC
PA.II.C — Taxiing (Private Pilot ACS)
### 1. ACS STANDARDS SUMMARY
For Private Pilot ACS Task PA.II.C (Taxiing), the applicant must demonstrate the ability to taxi the airplane while maintaining directional control using rudder pedals and brakes, keeping taxi speed no faster than a brisk walk (about 5-10 mph), positioning flight controls correctly for existing wind conditions (e.g., ailerons into the wind on the ground), using proper braking technique without skidding, complying with all taxi instructions or ATC clearances, and scanning for traffic and obstacles. The examiner expects smooth, positive control with minimal power, clear intersection clearances before crossing runways or taxiways, and no deviations from the assigned path.
### 2. THREE COMMON STUDENT MISTAKES
- **Taxiing too fast**: Students often let the airplane accelerate beyond a brisk walk speed, especially on downslopes or with a strong tailwind, leading to loss of control or runway incursions during checkrides.
- **Ignoring wind on flight controls**: Forgetting to hold ailerons into the wind (upwind aileron up, downwind aileron down) causes the airplane to weathervane into the wind or drift uncontrollably.
- **Over-relying on brakes instead of rudder**: Brakes are stabbed too hard for minor corrections instead of using rudder pedals first, resulting in fishtailing, skids, or flat spots on tires during training.
### 3. CFI PRO TIP
"Teach 'rudder before throttle' from day one: Before adding power to start moving, challenge students to track a straight line using only rudder pedals at idle, then gradually introduce throttle while emphasizing rudder input. This builds muscle memory for directional control and prevents brake-stabbing habits—I've seen students nail checkride taxiing after just a few sessions of this drill on the ramp."
### 4. SAFETY SPOTLIGHT
Taxiing collisions account for about 20% of all GA accidents, per NTSB data, with many involving runway incursions where pilots miss hold-short instructions or fail to spot other aircraft due to glare or distractions (e.g., NTSB report CEN20LA123, a Cessna 172 colliding with a jet on a taxiway at a busy airport). Always verbalize clearances aloud ("Hold short of runway 25L cleared") and do a 360-degree scan before crossing any runway—slow and vigilant beats fast and sorry.
### 5. DID YOU KNOW
The FAA requires taxi speeds slow enough for a "brisk walk" (typically under 10 knots) not just for control, but because studies show over 80% of taxi mishaps occur at speeds above that threshold, per ASRS reports—proving that slower is safer even on the ground.
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