Question: I'm amazed at how the pilots steer their plane so effectively while taxiing and then stay centered on the runway's center line. How are these procedures done?
— Submitted by reader Kenneth S. Rothschild, Burbank, Calif.
Answer: Pilots keep the airplane centered on the runway using a combination of nose-wheel steering and rudder.
From very basic flight training, it is a skill that is taught and evaluated frequently. It is critical to keep the airplane aligned with the center line. Some airplanes are easier than others, but a pilot is expected to master it before being released to fly. Pilots watch for drift during takeoff roll and apply rudder with the rudder pedals. On some airplanes at lower speeds it may be necessary to add a bit of nose-wheel steering to achieve the desired track.
Q: I have noticed a yawing sensation on takeoff, and even more pronounced on landing. What causes that?
— Randy, Grand Rapids, Mich.
A: You may be feeling the pilots moving the rudder, which causes yawing, during the takeoff roll. On some airplanes it is more pronounced than others. If there is a gusty crosswind, the pilots will move the rudder to control the path of the airplane. You will feel it as a yaw.
Q: An old Navy pilot told me that the rudder only becomes effective after a certain minimum airspeed and that prior to lifting off, pilots will test the pedals to see if the rudder is having an effect. Is this true and something pilots normally do during takeoff?
— Nate, Indiana
A: Effectiveness of the rudder is dependent on the airflow passing across it. As the airplane accelerates, the rudder becomes more effective. Pilots adjust the track on the runway by using the rudder and nose-wheel steering. Some airplanes have an interconnection between the rudder pedals and the nose-wheel steering, allowing pilots to make all of the runway steering corrections via the rudder pedals. Other airplanes have a separate nose steering wheel (tiller) used in the early part of the takeoff roll (usually up to 80 knots), then the rudder is used.
If the Navy pilot’s airplane did not have the interconnection, then what he said is accurate. During the early part of the takeoff roll, the track is adjusted via the tiller until pilots transition to using the rudder at higher speeds.
Most airliners have the interconnection, making the transition to the rudder easier. Prior to every flight, all of the flight controls, including the rudder, are check to ensure they are functioning properly.
I would not say that the pilots “test” the rudder during takeoff roll, but certainly the faster the speed the more effective it is, and the pilots notice the increasing effectiveness.
Have a question about flying? Send it to travel@usatoday.com.
About the Author
