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-   -   TAXI ETIQUETTE (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=183831)

avi8tor50 06-20-2020 08:04 PM

TAXI ETIQUETTE
 
Hi all. Had a "first" today while taxiing and wanted some input.
I was taxiing at an uncontrolled airport, specifically, I WAS moving, not stopped, going at a normal slow taxi speed. A Cessna had landed and just turned off the runway onto the short taxiway that existed between the runway and the parallel taxiway that I was on. He had stopped either at or just beyond the hold short line (could not tell which) and was just a short distance ahead of me and TO MY RIGHT. He was stopped and I was moving. I assumed that he was waiting for me to pass and then he would turn onto the main taxiway behind me. Anytime I have exited a runway onto a short taxiway that connects me to the main taxiway AT AN UNCONTROLLED field I have ALWAYS held short for any aircraft that was already moving on that taxiway regardless as to whether they were on my right or my left unless they were far away from me. As I passed him he "scolded" me stating that since he was on my right I should have stopped my taxi and allowed him to enter the taxiway AHEAD OF ME. It did not seem logical that I should come to a dead stop on the taxiway when I WAS ALREADY MOVING AND HE WAS STOPPED. Seemed like the courteous action would have been for him to wait until I had passed which is what I would have done and then entered the taxiway behind me. My thought was that I had the right of way on the taxiway since I was already moving and he was stopped. BUT... I am "getting old" and perhaps I need to review taxiing protocol at uncontrolled airports.
What do u think?
Sorry for such a long post.

Peter K
RV9A 750 hrs

jcarne 06-20-2020 08:27 PM

You should of quipped back "did you skip your after landing checklist?" and got him really fired up. :D

On a more serious note I do believe he had the right of way but I also think he was being a royal prick. I have never understood people that don't yield the right of way when it makes sense to do so. Just the other day I was flying and spotted aircraft to my left converging. I may have had the right of way but I called him up and let him know I was giving him a turn to the south to avoid a situation. Sometimes it just makes sense...

Discus2b 06-20-2020 08:41 PM

You have the right away as you were established on a specific taxiway. Also he is transitioning from ?flight operations? to ?ground ops? and should give way to all traffic until he can merge in.
For continuity, control fields require stopping until communications is established with ground and taxi instructions received. Ground Control busy, we stop and wait. Uncontrolled..busy..we stop and wait.
I always assume though the other guy is not going to stop.

R

SPX 06-20-2020 08:52 PM

It is true that when two aircraft are converging, the aircraft to the other's right has the right-of-way. But that's in the air. Is there such a regulation that applies on the ground that states that the one to the other's right has the right-of-way?

Tandem46 06-20-2020 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Discus2b (Post 1440782)
You have the right away as you were established on a specific taxiway. Also he is transitioning from ?flight operations? to ?ground ops? and should give way to all traffic until he can merge in.

Uh... there is nothing in the FAR/AIM that supports this statement.

Gash 06-20-2020 09:00 PM

At an uncontrolled airport, there is no right of way for somebody who just exited a runway. Landing aircraft clear the runway, hold short of the taxiway, and then wait for any other aircraft that are already on the taxiway. Of course, there's really no professional and courteous way to reply to somebody who demands that you live in their imaginary world. But I've always wanted to say "if you can find it in the FAR/AIM, I'll buy you a steak dinner." That eats up too much comm time on the radio though, so best to just wave and move along. :rolleyes:

Ironflight 06-20-2020 09:22 PM

I honestly cant think of a written rule covering your case, and arguing on the radio is discouraged by the AIM, but people thee days just seem more prone to chew others out, assuming that they are always correct, and everyone else is wrong. Nothing you can do about that....

One interesting thing I have observed about those stub taxiways - at some airports, in order to get the required “clear zone” distance from the centerline, the hold short line is almost at the edge of the parallel taxiway (it is this way at Carson City, NV - KCXP). So in order for an aircraft to actually fully clear the runway, they pretty much have to Impinge on the taxiway - which means they might as well pull out ahead of anyone already on the taxiway, or they are technically blocking the runway. To me, its common courtesy to not block the runway, so I give exiting traffic the right of way.

Situation and airport layout dependent....

Paul

smt6 06-20-2020 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gash (Post 1440787)
At an uncontrolled airport, there is no right of way for somebody who just exited a runway. Landing aircraft clear the runway, hold short of the taxiway, and then wait for any other aircraft that are already on the taxiway.

This is the problem. What if you can?t clear the runway AND hold short of the taxiway. Most of the uncontrolled fields have small tie ins to the parallel taxiway. The aircraft on the taxiway should give way so the aircraft exiting can clear fully. A lot of guys think there clear even though the tail is hanging over the hold short line by 10 feet.

Imagine being the guy short final that has to go around because someone didn?t clear the runway because someone didn?t give way on taxiway. This is how it?s done at all the big boy airports

dothetime 06-20-2020 09:57 PM

Taxi
 
That?s probably the same jerk CFI at my airport that has his students do their run up at the hold short line at the runway instead of the run up area, and when you ask him what he?s doing, he tells you to be patient with a student! Meanwhile you are roasting in the hot Florida sun under the bubble canopy.

Plummit 06-20-2020 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smt6 (Post 1440797)
This is the problem.
Imagine being the guy short final that has to go around because someone didn’t clear the runway because someone didn’t give way on taxiway. This is how it’s done at all the big boy airports

Not really. If you are so close to the preceding traffic that they haven't cleared (they own the runway until they exit), you can expect to go around. Period. I've been told to "give way" to a taxiing aircraft when I was holding short of the taxi way after landing (KLGB controlled field). The controllers will usually merge you in when they can.

-Marc


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