How close may an aircraft be taxied to obstructions?

• A. 25 feet
• B. 10 feet
• C. 5 feet
• D. 15 feet

Answer: (C)

Maintaining safe clearance from obstructions while taxiing is about giving the airplane room to move without risk of contact from the wing, propeller, or any part of the aircraft side to fixed objects. The standard minimum distance to keep from any obstruction is five feet. That five-foot margin covers small misalignments, steering inputs, and potential gusts or wobble in the gear that could bring a wingtip or propeller into contact with the obstruction. It also accounts for tire deflection and slight shifts in the aircraft’s position as you maneuver.

If you can’t maintain that five-foot gap, you should stop and reposition or request guidance to increase available space. The other distances are larger than the minimum required and are not the standard minimum for typical taxi operations.