Ground Operations
Familiarization
NOTE: Remember to obtain ATIS for current weather and runway information, and receive your clearance
prior to taxiing.
After you have completed the above checks and are ready to taxi, give the plane captain a thumbs-up to
indicate you are ready to taxi forward to the final checker. Again, keep your hands above the canopy rail
as the final checkers complete their walkaround. The final checker inspects the aircraft for leaks and
proper trim and flap/slat setting before giving you the THUMBS-UP and walking away from the aircraft.
Stopping for the final checker is where you’ll also test your brakes for proper operation.
TAXI PROCEDURES
When you are ready to taxi, give the remove chocks signal to the plane captain who will respond with the
brakes on signal and then signal the ground crew, below the waist, to remove chocks or remove them
himself. The plane captain then moves out in front of the aircraft and gives the move ahead signal. At this
point, hold the brakes, release the parking brake, and after ensuring that your rudder pedals are centered,
engage nose wheel steering, start your forward motion by releasing the pressure on the brakes and adding
a little power.
CAUTION: If the EMER GEAR handle is not fully stowed, nose wheel steering authority may be
diminished.
Use a maximum RPM of 70% to start movement. Once the aircraft begins moving, move ahead according
to the plane captain’s directions. Be sure to follow his directions, and be prepared to stop at any time.
Use the nose wheel steering to turn out of the chocks. Remember to reduce the power to IDLE and to
observe tail pipe courtesy prior to turning. Maintain enough momentum to complete the turn—an aircraft
allowed to stop midway in a turn will require excessive power to begin moving again. Adjust your turn to
position the aircraft on the center of the taxiway. Control your taxi speed by tapping the brakes lightly—
don’t ride them.
Once you are on the taxiway, the plane captain may pass control to a taxi director or give you a salute. If
the plane captain salutes, return the salute and taxi on your own.
SAFETY CONCERNS
Always adhere to the following guidelines in your efforts to prevent unsafe practices.
*
Do not blindly follow the taxi director. If in doubt, stop the aircraft and do not proceed until the
situation is clarified. Remember that you, not the taxi director, are responsible for the safety of the
aircraft.
*
Parking areas are congested, so your taxi speed should be very slow. Check wingtip clearances to
your own satisfaction.
*
At IDLE, the T-45’s exhaust danger area extends 40 ft behind the aircraft and increases to 100 ft at
military rated thrust (MRT). Exhaust blast must be directed so as not to injure personnel or damage
other aircraft or equipment. Also be sure to avoid the exhaust blast of other aircraft and to provide
sufficient lateral and longitudinal separation to preclude foreign object ingestion.
*
Be sure to monitor the appropriate radio frequencies in order to receive the taxi directions and clear-
ances issued by the control tower.
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