There are a variety of ways that aircraft can steer on the ground. Let’s take a look at the main methods.
The Rudder
The rudder is a control surface located on the aircraft’s vertical stabilizer (tail fin) that enables an aircraft to rotate around its vertical axis, essentially like moving a car steering wheel to the left or right. Taildragger aircraft and those without brakes rely solely on the rudder to steer on the ground.
Differential Braking
Most tricycle wheeled aircraft feature brakes on their two main wheels, which can be independently operated by pressing the top of the rudder pedal. This form of braking helps an aircraft rotate around its normal axis to affect a tighter turn and will most often be used when the engine is at low or idle power to avoid placing excessive wear on the brakes.
Differential thrust
In theory, any aircraft with two wing-mounted engines can apply higher thrust on one engine to steer. This is dependent on the exact placement of the engines and the resulting ‘thrust line’. Differential thrust is most commonly used by multi engine piston and turboprop aircraft.
Nosewheel Steering
Many small general aviation aircraft such as single-engine propeller aircraft and smaller business jets utilize nose wheel steering. This involves directly connecting the nosewheel to the rudder pedals in the cockpit. In smaller aircraft, nosewheel steering is often accompanied by differential braking to effect control on the ground. Aircraft with a castoring nose wheel (which rotates but is not connected to the rudder pedals) rely on the differential braking method.
Tiller Steering
Many larger commercial aircraft employ a method known as tiller steering. In these aircraft, the pilot uses a small control wheel called the tiller which directly controls the angle of the nosewheel to enable smoother and precise steering, especially during tight turns on the taxiway. The tiller is essentially a taxiway tool, and many airlines’ standard operating procedures (SOPs) forbid the use of the tiller for steering above a specified speed, typically around 20 knots. Some aircraft only have one tiller, meaning only one pilot can operate it.
Thrust Vectoring
Military fighter jets and some advanced civilian aircraft employ thrust vectoring technology for ground maneuvering. Thrust vectoring allows the pilot to control the direction of the engine exhaust, providing enhanced maneuverability both in the air and on the ground. By manipulating the angle of the engine nozzles, the pilot can direct thrust to specific areas, effectively steering the aircraft. This capability is particularly useful for tight turns on narrow taxiways and rapid changes in direction.
Most aircraft use a combination of these methods to steer on the ground based on the circumstances and capabilities of the aircraft.
Cover photo: Bjorn Ter Beest, JetPhotos
![An example full flight summary response from the Flightradar24 API: { "data": [ { "fr24_id": "0987654321", "flight": "SK1415", "callsign": "SAS1415", "operated_as": "SAS", "painted_as": "SAS", "type": "A20N", "reg": "SE-DOY", "orig_icao": "ESSA", "orig_iata": "ARN", "datetime_takeoff": "2023-01-27T05:15:22", "runway_takeoff": "12R", "dest_icao": "EKCH", "dest_iata": "CPH", "dest_icao_actual": "EPWA", "dest_iata_actual": "WAW", "datetime_landed": "2023-01-27T06:15:10", "runway_landed": "27L", "flight_time": 3600, "actual_distance": 1007.74, "circle_distance": 6245, "category": "Passenger", "hex": "4A91F9", "first_seen": "2023-01-27T05:06:22", "last_seen": "2023-01-27T06:18:10", "flight_ended": "true" } ] }](https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Flight-summary-API-cover-300x148.jpg)
![An example full flight summary response from the Flightradar24 API: { "data": [ { "fr24_id": "0987654321", "flight": "SK1415", "callsign": "SAS1415", "operated_as": "SAS", "painted_as": "SAS", "type": "A20N", "reg": "SE-DOY", "orig_icao": "ESSA", "orig_iata": "ARN", "datetime_takeoff": "2023-01-27T05:15:22", "runway_takeoff": "12R", "dest_icao": "EKCH", "dest_iata": "CPH", "dest_icao_actual": "EPWA", "dest_iata_actual": "WAW", "datetime_landed": "2023-01-27T06:15:10", "runway_landed": "27L", "flight_time": 3600, "actual_distance": 1007.74, "circle_distance": 6245, "category": "Passenger", "hex": "4A91F9", "first_seen": "2023-01-27T05:06:22", "last_seen": "2023-01-27T06:18:10", "flight_ended": "true" } ] }](https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Flight-summary-API-cover-768x378.jpg)
