How do they drive aircraft on a taxiway on the yellow lines? I mean how can the pilots see the yellow lines?

Question

I am wondering how the pilots see the yellow lines on the taxiway and on the runway? coz they can't see it through as they are so high in cockpit. and the plane always go on the yellow line middle of the road or runway. how is that. pls tell me
thanks

Answer 1

Hi, we see the yellow lines the same way you see the white lines in your car. Depending on the type of aircraft you fly there are certain type of signals in the cockpit that let you know when the nose gears are right in the centerline. For example.... I have been flying the Airbus Family aircraft for nearly 10 years now and the plastic separation that exists between the two main displays in the cockpit.... if you keep it aligned with the yellow centerline then it means you ARE in the centerline.... to better explain myself, let's suppose you are driving your car and if you keep your left radio button ( while seating in the driver's seat ) right on the white street line.. it means your car is exactly between it. Hope I could answer your question. If not feel free to contact me at [e-mail]
Bye!!

Answer 2

It's down to experience and practice with that particular aircraft model, together with the flight deck layout and your own particular height.

I know that if a certain point on the glareshield lines up with the taxiway markings, then the nosewheels are tracking the centreline. Much the same as driving a car, really, when you don't peer out of the side window to see where the white line is, just look ahead and judge!

The trick is in knowing when to start turning, as in many aircraft the nosewheels are a long way behind your seat and you can be sat over the grass on the far side before you turn. You pick this up as part of your introduction to a new model.

Answer 3

You might be surprised but the view out of an airliner cockpit is very good. Most people think all we can see is a big nose sticking out, but the slope of the nose gives good visibility.

I normally position the airplane with the yellow line just inside my inner knee - this equates to the airplane being right on the line adjusted for parallax (the slant view from sitting to one side).

When we park there is a gate guidance light which tells you when you are on the centreline and a red light tells you when to stop as you can't see the yellow stop line when it is under the airplane.

There is no "placard" to aid turns in big airplanes - that would be very dangerous as not all turns are the same radius, and not all taxiways are the same width.

First Officers always taxi the airplane when it's their sector. Only poor airlines can't afford to put a tiller wheel on both sides of the flight deck!

All quite simple really!

Answer 4

We are able to see the lines with no problem. As you are driving down the road, do you look at the line immediately in front of the car? No, you look out ahead a little ways. That is the same thing that we do as we drive the airplane on the ground. We will look out a little bit and line the yellow line up on a point on the glareshield (dash) that will keep us centered on the line. When we make a turn it is all about experience and knowing when to make the turn. When you first start out in the airplane, you are a first officer and don't drive the plane on the ground. However, you do pay attention to what the captain is doing and you can see when he makes the turn. Then when you upgrade to captain, you emulate what the previous captains had done. It really isn't as complicated as you might think.

Answer 5

There is a placard on the 'dash' of the cockpit towards the right hand side of the pilot, just beneath the forward window.

Despite the height, the pilot can see the yellow lines although the visual contact point is about 7 metres in front of the aircraft.

The pilot ensures that the placard and guiding (yellow) lines meet at all times and thus ensure the aircraft is travelling directly over it.

Answer 6

on Airbus Aircrafts the plane has a built-in external Video Cameras around the aircraft were the pilot can see where they are running if you want to see photos of this, search for the keyword at Airliners.net thew following field
on the aircraft box key or scroll in A340-600 then location: all airports etc... then you'll reach to a portion wherein there is a picture there a video screen showing their route./where they are presently...

Answer 7

the pilots can see the yellow lines and they use the rudder pedals and tiller wheel to steer the aircraft. Pilots learn to follow the yellow lines from day one of flight school. This maintans maximum separation from other aircraft.

Answer 8

Actually, the pilot can see the lines through the windows in the cockpit.

Answer 9

I´m no pilot but I´m sure like driving a car it´s something that you have to learn, I mean you can´t see the lines in a parking space as you´re about to park in it but hey you still manage it, spacial awareness and plenty of practice I guess, maybe there are some visual aids or points of reference that enable a pilot to ensure they are central.

Answer 10

Even in flight-sim you can see the yellow lines. I guess it depends on the aircraft.