We all know what ailerons do and how to use them in flight. By changing the flow of air over the wing—either increasing or decreasing its lift and drag—we adjust the airplane’s attitude about its longitudinal axis, also referred to as its bank angle. Most of the time, we may not think about using the ailerons on the ground unless we’re flying on a windy day in a light airplane.
Your primary training probably included a diagram explaining where the elevator and aileron controls should be positioned based on where the wind is coming from while taxiing. When we have such wind conditions—and even when we don’t, if we want to be honest— we can and should use the ailerons to help control the airplane on the ground. Alas, we don’t always have that diagram available, and it’s easy to forget whether the upwind wing’s aileron should be down or up. (Hint: It depends.) Let’s try to come up with a one-size-fits-all understanding of when and how to use ailerons on the ground.
