Taxiing
Learn to maneuver the aircraft safely on the ground — including checks, procedures, rights of way, ATC procedures, signals, and emergency procedures for steering or brake failure.
Preflight Discussion
Aviator.NYC Lesson Plan
Briefing Topics
- METARs and TAFs
- Checklist usage: Before Start, Taxi, Run-up, Takeoff
- Airport taxiway diagrams and wind awareness
Simulator Session
- Cold Start at KMMU or KFRG with Before Start and Taxi checklists
- Weather-Informed Briefing — ATIS/METAR, runway selection
- Taxi with wind correction
- Takeoff at Vy, wind correction, climb to 4,000 ft
- Maneuvers — straight and level, shallow turns, climbs and descents
- Glide Exercise — power-off descent to aiming point
Debrief
Review maneuvers and checklist technique.
Pilot Preparation
- Read METARs daily on aviationweather.gov
- Chair-fly checklists with C172 G1000 poster
- 10 minutes LiveATC listening (KFRG or KMMU)
Skill Items
| Skill | D P 1 2 3 4 5 6 |
|---|---|
| Preflight Inspection | |
| Certificates And Documents | |
| Airworthiness Requirements | |
| Taxiing Crosswind & Taxi Checks | |
| Radio Communications | |
| Before Takeoff Check | |
| Takeoff, Departure, and Climb | |
| Revise Effects of Primary Controls | |
| Revise Attitude Selection & Maintenance | |
| Level Flight | |
| Straight Flight | |
| Use of trim | |
| Use & Effect of Throttle on Airspeed | |
| Use & Effect of Flaps, Mixture, Carb Heat | |
| Effect of Propeller Slipstream | |
| Normal Landing | |
| After Landing Parking and Securing |
Radio Communication Scenarios
Practice VFR radio calls for this lesson. Listen to the scenario, then formulate your response before revealing the full exchange.
You are in N106ST, inbound to Mansfield Lahm Municipal Airport. You need the current ATIS before contacting the tower. Tune in the ATIS frequency, listen, then contact the tower.
Check Transcript
Mansfield Lahm Municipal Airport information Kilo. 1800 Zulu weather. Wind 140 at 8. Visibility 10. Few clouds at 5,000. Temperature 22, dewpoint 14. Altimeter 2998. Visual approaches in use. Landing and departing runway 14. Read back all hold short instructions and runway assignments. Advise on initial contact you have information Kilo.
Contact the tower. Include your callsign, position, altitude, intentions, and the ATIS identifier.
- You (Pilot)"Mansfield Tower, november-one-zero-six-sierra-tango, one-five miles south at three thousand, inbound for landing with information Kilo."
- Mansfield Tower"november-one-zero-six-sierra-tango, Mansfield Tower, report left base runway one-four."
- You (Pilot)"Report left base one-four, six-sierra-tango."
You are in N106ST, arriving at Pittsburgh. You've already copied ATIS and have information Alpha. Contact the tower to check in.
Check in with the tower. Include: facility name, your callsign, and "with you" (since approach already handed you off).
- You (Pilot)"Pittsburgh Tower, november-one-zero-six-sierra-tango, one-zero miles east, four thousand five hundred, information Alpha."
- Pittsburgh Tower"november-one-zero-six-sierra-tango, Pittsburgh Tower, runway two-eight Left, cleared to land."
- You (Pilot)"Cleared to land runway two-eight Left, six-sierra-tango."
These lesson plans are provided as supplementary training guidance only. They do not supersede FAA publications, aircraft manufacturer documentation, or your instructor's direction. Always refer to the FAA Instrument Flying Handbook, Airplane Flying Handbook, AIM, and applicable POH/AFM as the official sources.