Just out of interest,how many of you follow taxi Signs when landing and departing?or are like me and use the easy route "progressive taxi"

I only fly online, and when I request taxi to the gate I always have the ground chart infront of me so. When the controller reads my taxi route i visually follow it on the chart and then read it back, so yes, I always follow the signs

I never follow any taxi instructions as they are usually in-accurate. I prefer looking at the ground charts, and taxi using them.

Depends on how casual my flight is. If I am trying to do the whole flight by the book, then I will print a diagram of the airport and follow the taxi signs, but generally I dont use the FSX ATC that often, so I provide my own taxi instructions so that I can park at the gate I want that corresponds to the airlines livery I am using and the size of the a/c I am flying. If I am not that familiar with the airport,I will print out the airport diagram and use it so I dont get lost, but if its an airport that I fly into or out of often, like KDFW in my case, then I dont use a chart or an airport diagram since I already know my way around. Generally speaking though, I pretty much gave up using FSX or FS9 ATC years ago, but I will sometimes listen to it just to see what the AI are doing.

Just out of curiosity, do real-world pilots ever take wrong turnings taxiing at major airports? If so, how do they back up? This must lead to some interesting scenes in the cockpit - "I told you we should have taken that last turn off...". :)

Just out of curiosity, do real-world pilots ever take wrong turnings taxiing at major airports? If so, how do they back up? This must lead to some interesting scenes in the cockpit - "I told you we should have taken that last turn off...". :)

They press shift-p on the cdu and the plane's back light turn white and go BEEEP BEEEP BEEEP and the aircrafts goes in reverse! :(

Just like car drivers, there are two types. Those who know their left from their right, can reverse and park without hitting something and others who can't.The ones who can't tend to use the rear view mirror to put on their make up - know what I mean IAN

They do, but not that often I dont think.

This one wasnt quite as amusing

Just out of curiosity, do real-world pilots ever take wrong turnings taxiing at major airports? If so, how do they back up? This must lead to some interesting scenes in the cockpit - "I told you we should have taken that last turn off...". :)

Speaking from my own RW experiences, taxying at airports is one of the most stressful parts of the flight, especially when you are not familiar with the airports. Somewhat like FSX, progressive taxi instructions are available at towered airports ("N12345 requests taxi to Acme Aviation with progressives"), however to try and do this at a busy major airport would not be a good thing- while ATC can not penalize you for asking for progressives, they can direct you to a ground holding point (and you have to follow their instructions, of course) and forget about you for a while- these ground holding points are sometimes known as "the penalty box".Anyone who says that have never been lost on the ground (and in the air for that matter) is either extremely competent, never tries to extend themselves to learn, or is really lucky. FSX does allow you to edit the gate to add a unique airline (there is an article in this forum describing "VIP Airlines"), which will then have ATC give you a specific gate to taxi to and a route to et to that gate, rather than a generic "taxi to the gate", which is quite fun to try. If you really want to learn about the challenges of real flight, I would encourage you to either try and taxi unassisted with ATC instructions (no progressives) at large and somewhat complex airports, or try this- go to an online ATC site and get the ground control, then try following taxi instructions if you know where the aircraft might be taxiing from (not always easy).But making mistakes on the ground is one of the biggest ATC infraction areas that there are, and one that is likely to result in you getting a phone number to call when you get to where you are going, especially if any aircraft are endangered, or if you screw up at a major airport (you are expected to know everything possible about your flight, including any ground portion).Thanks, Bruce.

Going back to the top: I make sure that the taxi signs at the airports I visit are correct and if not I correct them along with the taxiway desingations. And then............... My trusty co pilot gives me the directions both on taxiing to take-off and to the desgnated stand!In real life at London Heathrow they have a fabulous system installed centuries ago. Each aircraft is told "Follow the Greens!" If the crew think they are lost then ATC checks their position and resets if necessary.vololiberista

I use Radar Contact and it doesnt hand out taxi instructions so I do look at the charts if I am being serious about doing it right. I have been known to cut thru the grass at times as well when lost. LOL! :(

Taxi errors are extremely dangerous. Look at the crash at Lexington KY a couple years ago, or even the Tenerife accident, especially when back-taxi on runway is involved.scott s..

I use Radar Contact and it doesnt hand out taxi instructions so I do look at the charts if I am being serious about doing it right. I have been known to cut thru the grass at times as well when lost. LOL! :(

I use RC too but get a little help with DBS Airport GPS, otherwise I'd be completely lost! I just pick a gate at random and go for it.

I use RC too but get a little help with DBS Airport GPS, otherwise I'd be completely lost! I just pick a gate at random and go for it.

Poverino te!!!I use PFE and not only do I receive directions to and from the runway, but also to the gate of my choice. :( vololiberista