1. Familiarized – Before you start taxiing study a taxi diagram. Get the lay of the land and know what to expect  

2. Heads-up – When taxiing keep your eyes off the checklist and outside the aircraft. When you taxi your aircraft you should be configured and ready. You should be able to give full attention to what is happening outside and not be distracted by things in the cockpit. 

3. Monitor Traffic – Monitor both ground and tower frequencies when possible. This will give you an idea what taxi and runways are being used and were you should use more caution. 

4. Transmit Clearly – Make sure your transmission are complete, concise, and to the point. This will make it easier for others to understand and know what you are doing. 

5. Listen Carefully – Listen to your clearance and make sure you are responding to the right one. There are a lot of call signs out there that are similar and if you respond to someone else’s call it can get you into some real trouble. 

6. Copy and Read Back all Clearances – Write down clearances so that you don’t forget them when you need them. Also Traffic Control can make mistakes or you could have misunderstood the clearance. When you read back you are verifying the instructions are correct. 

7. Never Assume – Do not take clearances for granted. Look both ways before entering or crossing taxiways and runways. Just because your cleared doesn’t mean its safe, you are ultimately responsible for the safe taxi of your aircraft. 

8. Admit When Lost – If you get lost on an airport ask ATC for help. They can provide step by step taxi instructions. Better to damage your pride than your airplane. 

9. Sterile Cockpit – This is the concept of keeping distractions to a minimum. Maintain a sterile cockpit until reaching cruising altitude. Explain to your passengers that talking should be kept to a minimum. 

10. Understand Signs, Lights, and Markings – Keep current with airport signs, lights and markings. Know what they mean and what action to take. 

11. Follow Procedures – Many airports have set operating procedures that need to be followed. If you are operating at an airport that does not have set procedures, then make your own safe procedures and follow them.