What is the speed of an airplane as it taxis?

Answer 1

That depends. There are no "speed limits" per se for taxiing aircraft. However, most airlines have operational procedures that govern maximum taxi speeds. Many airlines, including the military, mandate that taxi speeds shall be no faster than a man can walk, but realistically, this is way too slow for most major airports these days. I would venture to guess that on long straight taxiways away from the gates and other congested areas, many aircraft taxi at speeds of around 20 to 25 knots...some faster. In congested areas or when approaching the gate, most aircraft slow way down to ensure arriving in one piece. While we all want to get home as fast as we can, it really slows things down when we have to stop and fill out reports and talk to the FAA about how and why we ran over that tug on our way into the gate.