FAA Ground School Practice Test

Which wind condition is most critical when taxiing a nose-wheel equipped high-wing airplane?

1. Headwind

2. Tailwind

3. Quartering wind

4. Quartering tailwind

The correct answer is: Quartering tailwind

When taxiing a nose-wheel equipped high-wing airplane, the most critical wind condition is a quartering tailwind. This is because a nose-wheel airplane, with its center of gravity positioned forward of the main gear, can be more susceptible to losing directional control with wind coming from the rear, especially at an angle. In a quartering tailwind situation, the airflow can push the rear of the aircraft sideways, while the front (nosed) end can be less responsive to steering inputs due to increased speed induced by the tailwind. As a result, the airplane may begin to weather vane into the wind, which could throw off the pilot’s ability to maintain control during taxi. The interaction between the wind and the aircraft’s configuration leads to increased difficulty in maintaining a straight path on the taxiway. In contrast, headwinds provide a stabilizing effect, as they tend to help keep the aircraft securely on its path during taxi. Tailwinds, although not ideal, don’t typically impact directional control as much as quartering tailwinds. Quartering winds also present challenges but are less severe than quartering tailwinds, as they at least provide some forward resistance against the airplane’s movement. Therefore, understanding wind dynamics and how they affect taxiing for high