North Country Heli FlightHELICOPTER GROUND SCHOOL · ACS-ALIGNED
Private (PPL-H) · Lesson 15
ACS Alignment
FAA-S-ACS-15 — Private Pilot, Rotorcraft–Helicopter · Area of Operation IV. Hovering Maneuvers · Task: Air Taxi / Surface Taxi
PA.IV.B.K1 — taxi types & when to use eachPA.IV.B.K2 — wind, wake & downwash awarenessPA.IV.B.R1 — risk: obstacles, people, debrisPA.IV.B.S1 — air/surface taxi to standards
Air Taxi & Surface Taxi
Three ways to move on the airport — and choosing the right one for the situation.
By the end of this lesson you can:
Distinguish hover taxi (in ground effect, IGE), air taxi (out of ground effect, OGE, ~40 ft AGL), and surface (ground) taxi, and state when each is appropriate.
Read and request the correct taxi type with ATC/CTAF phraseology.
Manage rotor-wash, obstacles, and people while repositioning.
Apply density-altitude and performance thinking to taxi decisions.
1 · Three ways to taxi
Type
Typical use
Notes
Hover taxi (IGE)
Short repositioning, slow groundspeed, flown in ground effect (IGE) — normally below ~25 ft AGL
High fuel burn; strong downwash; good control precision
Air taxi (OGE)
Greater distances within the airport/heliport boundary, flown out of ground effect (OGE) — typically around 40 ft AGL (AIM ceiling 100 ft AGL)
Faster (may exceed ~20 kt); avoid overflight of aircraft, vehicles, people; preferred for longer moves
Surface (ground) taxi
Moving on the surface on wheels/skids via taxiways
Lowest fuel burn and least downwash; mainly for wheel-equipped helicopters
How NCHF teaches it: a hover taxi is flown in ground effect (IGE) at slow speed; an air taxi is flown out of ground effect (OGE), typically around 40 ft AGL (and always below the 100 ft AIM ceiling). The R44 is skid-equipped, so you'll use hover taxi and air taxi — not surface/ground taxi.
2 · Choosing and requesting
Pick the taxi type that fits the distance, surface, traffic, and density altitude. Use clear phraseology — e.g., request or accept an air taxi when you need to cover distance and stay clear of others, or a hover taxi for short, precise moves. Always avoid overflying parked aircraft, vehicles, and people, and stay clear of areas where downwash could cause damage or injury.
3 · Watch: the air taxi maneuver
Curated reference clip — “How To Air Taxi a Helicopter. Helicopter Air Taxi Maneuver Explained,” Helicopter Training Videos (YouTube). Embedded with the creator's player; we don't host or alter it.
4 · Performance & density altitude
An air taxi is essentially low, slow flight, so it depends on power available. On a hot, high day the same maneuver that was easy at sea level may push you toward the edge of your hover/OGE capability. Plan the move, keep an escape path, and don't commit to an air taxi you can't safely fly if power demand rises (e.g., a downwind segment).
Your aircraft: for power available and hover performance that bound your taxi options, use your Robinson R44 POH, Section 5 (Performance). Confirm any aircraft-specific limits from the POH, not rules of thumb.
✍️ Fill in for the aircraft you fly (N-________)
Value / limit:
R44 POH section & page:
Leave blank until you look it up in your R44 POH (see the reference above) and confirm it with your CFI. Aircraft-specific numbers vary with weight & conditions — don’t guess.
✍️ Fill in for the aircraft you fly (N-________)
Value / limit:
R44 POH section & page:
Leave blank until you look it up in your R44 POH (see the reference above) and confirm it with your CFI. Aircraft-specific numbers vary with weight & conditions — don’t guess.
Risk management (the “Consider”): taxiing puts the rotor disc close to obstacles, people, and loose debris, and the downwash itself is a hazard to others. Before moving, clear the path and the area your rotor-wash will reach, keep a constant low height and modest speed, and never air-taxi over parked aircraft or crowds. When in doubt, slow down or set it down.