Flight Trainer

MSFS 2024

Home

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

🛞 MSFS 2024 Taxi Trainer

Driving the plane on the ground — step by step!

Taxiing means moving the plane slowly on the ground — from the gate to the runway, and back again. In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, you use different controls than when you fly.

⭐ On the ground: TWIST to steer. In the air: MOVE the stick. Slow is smooth!

🤔 Why Taxiing Feels Harder Than Flying

Different controls

In the air, the stick banks and climbs. On the ground, you steer with rudder (twist). That switch is tricky at first!

Super slow speed

Taxi speed is like a walk — not a race. Too much throttle and everything feels out of control.

Hard to see

You're close to the ground. Turns look bigger than they are. Look far ahead, not right under the nose.

Delayed response

You tap rudder, wait a second, then the plane turns. If you keep tapping, you overcorrect and swerve!

Flying feels easier

In the air, MSFS Assists help a lot — Autorudder, Takeoff Assist, smooth flight. On the ground, YOU do more of the work.

✅ That's normal! Almost every new pilot finds taxiing harder than flying. Practice on the Taxi Ribbon and you'll get it.

📋 MSFS 2024 Reminders Before You Taxi

Check your controller bindings

  1. 1.Open Options → Controls in MSFS 2024.
  2. 2.Select your sidestick. Move it and twist it — RUDDER rows should light up.
  3. 3.Select your throttle quadrant. Move the lever — THROTTLE should light up.
  4. 4.If twist doesn't move rudder, fix bindings before taxiing (see Parent Tip below).
  5. 5.Match what works in MSFS to this app's Parent Setup.
Full MSFS Setup guide →

Turn on these assists

  • Taxi RibbonOptions → Assistance → Taxi RibbonShows the path on the ground
  • AutorudderOptions → Assistance → AutorudderHelps you go straighter
  • Assistance RemindersOptions → Assistance → RemindersOn-screen tips while you taxi
Full Assists guide →

Five Skills to Practice

Ground Steering

Steer with rudder — twist the sidestick left or right. Not stick left/right!

  1. 1.Twist the stick a tiny bit left to go left.
  2. 2.Twist a tiny bit right to go right.
  3. 3.TAP — don't hold. Wait and see what happens.
  4. 4.Look far down the taxi path, not at the nose.

💡 Stick left/right tilts the wings — that's for flying, not taxiing!

Your controls

  • ▸ Steer Left on Ground (Twist stick left (or rudder pedal left))
  • ▸ Steer Right on Ground (Twist stick right (or rudder pedal right))

Throttle Control

Use the smallest bit of power. Taxi speed = walking speed.

  1. 1.Push the throttle lever just a little above idle.
  2. 2.If the plane isn't moving, add a tiny bit more.
  3. 3.If you're going too fast, pull back to idle right away.
  4. 4.Smooth moves — no snapping the lever!

💡 Slow is smooth. Smooth is good.

Your controls

  • ▸ Taxi Throttle (Slow!) (Left lever — just above idle)
  • ▸ Main Throttle (Left lever on quadrant)

Braking

Brakes stop you. Throttle moves you. Use brakes to slow, not to steer.

  1. 1.Tap brakes lightly when you need to slow down.
  2. 2.Pull throttle to idle BEFORE you brake.
  3. 3.Set parking brake when you stop at the gate.
  4. 4.Release parking brake before you taxi again.

Your controls

  • ▸ Wheel Brakes (Trigger or assigned button (check MSFS Controls))
  • ▸ Parking Brake (Ctrl + . (default — edit in MSFS Controls))
  • ▸ Brakes (Keyboard) (. (period) or assigned key)

Centerline Tracking

Stay in the middle of the yellow line or Taxi Ribbon.

  1. 1.Turn ON the Taxi Ribbon in MSFS Assists.
  2. 2.Follow the colored path like a road in a game.
  3. 3.If you drift left, tiny twist right. Then wait.
  4. 4.If you drift right, tiny twist left. Then wait.
  5. 5.Keep your eyes on the path far ahead.

💡 Look where you want to go!

Slow Before Turns

Always slow down before a corner on the taxiway.

  1. 1.See a turn coming? Pull throttle to idle first.
  2. 2.Wait until you're going really slow.
  3. 3.Then tap rudder to start the turn.
  4. 4.Make wide, gentle turns — not sharp ones.
  5. 5.Add a tiny bit of throttle only after you're lined up.

💡 Fast turns on the ground = swerves and zig-zags.

Your controls

  • ▸ Taxi Throttle (Slow!) (Left lever — just above idle)
  • ▸ Steer Left on Ground (Twist stick left (or rudder pedal left))
  • ▸ Steer Right on Ground (Twist stick right (or rudder pedal right))

Taxi Mission Checklist

Something Wrong? Try This

Plane swerves left and right

Why: You're overcorrecting — too many rudder taps or holding too long.

Fix: Look farther ahead. Make smaller taps. Wait between taps. Follow the Taxi Ribbon.

  • ▸ Steer Left on Ground (Twist stick left (or rudder pedal left))
  • ▸ Steer Right on Ground (Twist stick right (or rudder pedal right))

Turns too sharply

Why: You held rudder too long or turned while going too fast.

Fix: Slow down first — throttle to idle. Use short taps, not holds. Wide turns are OK!

  • ▸ Taxi Throttle (Slow!) (Left lever — just above idle)
  • ▸ Steer Left on Ground (Twist stick left (or rudder pedal left))
  • ▸ Steer Right on Ground (Twist stick right (or rudder pedal right))

Won't turn enough

Why: You're going too slow with zero throttle, or rudder isn't bound correctly.

Fix: Add a tiny bit of throttle. Try a slightly longer rudder tap. Check RUDDER bindings in MSFS Controls.

  • ▸ Taxi Throttle (Slow!) (Left lever — just above idle)
  • ▸ Steer Left on Ground (Twist stick left (or rudder pedal left))
  • ▸ Steer Right on Ground (Twist stick right (or rudder pedal right))

Moves too fast on the ground

Why: Too much throttle. Taxi is NOT takeoff power!

Fix: Pull throttle to idle. Tap brakes. Pause, breathe, try again slower.

  • ▸ Main Throttle (Left lever on quadrant)
  • ▸ Wheel Brakes (Trigger or assigned button (check MSFS Controls))

Hard to stop at the right place

Why: You waited too long to slow down, or brakes are too strong.

Fix: Start slowing down earlier. Throttle to idle first, then light brake taps. Practice makes this easier!

  • ▸ Taxi Throttle (Slow!) (Left lever — just above idle)
  • ▸ Wheel Brakes (Trigger or assigned button (check MSFS Controls))
  • ▸ Parking Brake (Ctrl + . (default — edit in MSFS Controls))
🟡 Taxi Ribbon Help🎮 Ground BindingsđŸŽ¯ Taxi Practice Mission