Walters Gets His Wings: Taxi via Bravo

I'm writing this as I'm on a flight to Ottawa for some training with CBC.

What better place to be inspired to write about flying, than sitting at 25,000 feet?

Before you get the chance to takeoff, you have to taxi from the gate, or your parking spot, to the runway.

I have a very new appreciation for this skill. And yes, it is a skill.

• Learning to fly: Walters Gets His Wings
• Ready for takeoff: Walters Gets His Wings

What you would think would be similar to driving a car, is anything but. At first, getting from that point on Apron II (where my plane is parked) to the runway seems like miles and miles.

All the taxiways are given letters to identify them. For the most part, I end up taxiing on Taxiway Bravo (B).

My first instinct was to put my hand on the control column, and attempt to steer with my hands, just like a steering wheel. You quickly discover that no matter how much you move what you think is the steering wheel in your hands, you won't even budge on the ground. It's only useful, for the most part, in the air.

"You have to steer with your feet," said Blake, my flight instructor.

A plane turns by controlling the rudder pedals. To turn right, push the right rudder. The opposite for the left. It seems simple, until you have to try out a new type of coordination.

Then, there's the delay, from when you push the correct rudder pedal to the direction you want to go.

"Where are you going Jeff?" asked Blake.

"I'm trying to stay in the middle, just like you told me," I reply. The key word there is "try."

The plane doesn't react all that quickly to your foot commands. It takes a few seconds before the plane moves from one direction to another.

To make matters more complicated, you control your speed on the ground by the throttle. Push in, you move a bit faster, pull back and you slow down, but don't stop.

There's a delay in this as well, so you have to anticipate what the plane will do. If you get impatient, well, you pay for it a few seconds later when you have to slam on the brakes.

How do you stop this thing?

Speaking of brakes, you had better be sure where your feet are positioned. You make this mistake only once.

The brakes are connected to the rudder pedals. It's like two pedals in one. Toes on the top of the pedals mean you can touch the brakes, and slam on them if needed. If your foot is too far down, or your foot is not properly positioned, you hit the rudder pedals.

Make that mistake, and you end up turning, sometimes rather quickly.

You'd better also hit those brakes evenly, unless you want to do a very abrupt turn. Brakes on the plane are controlled by the individual pedals.

I'll admit that I'm slow at taxiing. You're supposed to keep it to a brisk walk when it comes to speed.

And, I did get a controller from the tower telling me I couldn't stop in the middle of the taxiway like I did, as Bearskin Airlines was right behind us. (Sorry about that my foot wasn't quite in the right spot).

To make matters more complicated, if it's windy, like it was before this flight, you have to consider what's called "wind inputs."

Small planes can get pushed around pretty easily, even if on the ground. So, you have to move your aileronsaround (the hinged portionon the wingof a plane), to ensure you don't get tossed around while taxiing from point A (alpha) to B (bravo).

There's lots to think about when keeping that plane on the thin yellow line, bringing you from the apron to the runway.

So, next time you're sitting at the airport in the departure lounge, and you see a little plane swerving a bit while heading to the runway cut them some slack. It's not like you're in a car with wings.