TABLE OF CONTENTS Aircraft are steered by either differential braking or turning the nose gear. The former is satisfactory for tail wheel and light aircraft, although it is now common practice to equip even the light planes with a form of nose gear steering. Differential braking, as the name implies, involves applying the brakes to the left or right wheels as required to turn the aircraft, but it is unusual to use this as the primary system on transport aircraft.
Nose wheels may be turned by the rudder pedal or by a wheel or bar in the cockpit, or by a combination of both. On light aircraft, the rudder pedals may be connected to the nose wheel, but current practice usually involves a power-assist system. Fighter-type aircraft control the nose gear angle by rudder pedal action, with this action in turn controlling an electrical or hydraulic actuator to steer the gear. On larger aircraft, a wheel is usually provided in the cockpit for ground maneuver; cargo aircraft designed in accordance with MIL-STD-203 [*] are required to have hand-wheel steering. The latest techniques involve the use of both rudder pedal and hand-wheel steering for such aircraft. Rudder pedal steering is used to correct the heading during takeoff and the initial part of the landing. High-authority hand-wheel steering is used for smoother operation on taxiways and in the terminal area, resulting in a better ride for the passengers.
The general requirements will usually specify the runway width for a...
