Why do they call it taxiing?
Why do they call it taxiing?
Around 1911, a “taxi” was slang for “airplane”. When a taxicab was looking for fares, it drove slower than normally; someone thought that the way aircraft move under power before they take off or after they land resembles that.
How much fuel does a 747 use taxiing?
In a 15-minute taxi between gate and runway, a Boeing 747 can burn about a tonne of fuel. At current prices that fuel costs around $680. While aircraft jet engines are very efficient in propelling an aircraft when airborne, performance suffers when pushing that mass around on the ground.
What is the difference between towing and taxiing?
Taxiing (rarely spelled taxying) is the movement of an aircraft on the ground, under its own power, in contrast to towing or pushback where the aircraft is moved by a tug. The aircraft usually moves on wheels, but the term also includes aircraft with skis or floats (for water-based travel).
How does a plane turn while taxiing?
While taxiing, an airplane is steered with a tool that pilots refer to as ‘the tiller’. When you turn the tiller, the wheels directly under the nose of the aircraft are turned, and the rest of the plane follows suit. This way, you can steer the plane comfortably and even navigate tight turns on taxiways.
What check is performed while taxiing the aircraft?
It may be necessary to have the airplane towed or physically moved by a ground crew. When taxiing, the pilot’s eyes should be looking outside the airplane scanning from side to side while looking both near and far to assess routing and potential conflicts. A safe taxiing speed must be maintained.
Why does taxiing take so long?
The creep in taxi times is attributed to a series of changes: massive runway construction projects at some of the nation’s busiest airports; schedule changes that increase the number of flights at peak hours; and new, distant runways that relieve congestion but require more time to reach.
What does taxiing down the runway mean?
To move slowly on the ground or on the surface of the water before takeoff or after landing: an airplane taxiing down the runway.
