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Single-Pilot Procedures During Taxi Operations at Non-Towered Airports
Conduct Pre-Taxi Planning
- Study airport diagram BEFORE taxi
- Identify intersections and crossing runways
- Plan timing of checklists
- Listen to and copy ASOS/AWOS
Monitor Airport Activity
- Get an airport advisory if available
- Monitor the CTAF
- Watch for non-radio traffic
- Use GPS taxi map if available
Maintain Situational Awareness
- Know where you are and where you are going
- Monitor CTAF and watch taxiways, runways and the pattern for other aircraft
- Look TWICE in all directions before crossing intersections or entering the runway
- Hold short until ready to take off. Do not use “position and hold” at nontowered airports
- Use extra caution at night or in poor visibility
- Be extremely cautious taxiing on a runway
Manage Cockpit Communications
- Brief the “sterile cockpit rule” with your passengers or use intercom isolation switch
- Program GPS, tune radios and run checklists only when at a complete stop
Remain in the Communications Loop
- Maintain a “sterile cockpit” with eyes outside the airplane
- Use standard ATC phraseology and reports
- Use sight, not the radio, as your primary traffic detector
- Watch for pilots flying nonstandard patterns
- Remember YOU are pilot-in-command!
