The three methods for steering the aircraft during ground operations are differential braking, nose wheel steering, control stick placement in direction of turn.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not applicable
• D. I don't know

Answer: (B)

Ground steering relies on two main mechanisms: nose-wheel steering (usually controlled by a tiller) and differential braking on the main landing gear to pivot the aircraft. The control stick, or yoke, controls the airplane’s attitude in flight and does not steer the aircraft on the ground. Moving the stick toward the direction of a turn would bank the airplane, which on the ground has little or no effect due to tire friction and the need to maintain direction with the wheels. Some aircraft may use rudder pedals to aid directional control while taxiing, but that is not a separate steering method like nose-wheel steering and differential braking. So, that third method isn’t a valid ground-steering technique.