Taxi
The aircraft moving on the ground under its own power between the stand and the runway — a sterile phase for cabin crew.
Definition
Taxi is the movement of the aircraft under its own engine power along taxiways between the parking stand and the runway, before take-off and after landing. During taxi the flight deck is in a critical phase of flight, so sterile-cockpit rules apply and cabin crew complete their final checks and take their seats for take-off. Taxi time is included in block time.
What it means for you
Taxi-out is your window for the safety demonstration, the last cabin walk and strapping into your jumpseat; taxi-in is when passengers stand up too early and you make the PA to sit down. Long taxi times at congested hubs are paid at hourly carriers because they are block time, which is one reason a 30-minute taxi queue at JFK is less painful than a 30-minute ground hold at the gate.
In practice
At Dubai an Emirates 777 can taxi for twenty minutes to the far runway, long enough for the crew to run the full manual safety demonstration and complete cabin checks before the "cabin crew, seats for take-off" call.
Related terms
4 terms- Push-backFlight operationsThe moment a tug pushes the aircraft off the stand — doors closed and armed, cabin secure, and the clock on block time starts.
- Sterile cockpitSafety & trainingThe rule that bans non-safety contact with the flight deck in critical phases of flight — taxi, take-off, landing and below 10,000 ft.
- Safety demonstrationSafety & trainingThe mandatory briefing before take-off on seatbelts, exits, life jackets, oxygen and the safety card — by video or crew demonstration.
- Block hoursRoster & schedulingTime from the aircraft first moving under its own power to the parking brake being set: the unit airlines pay by and regulators cap.