Flight Control Checks: Rudder

[Speedbird744]

I've seen pilots doing their flight control checks on the rudder once taxying in a straight line on the ground, but surely working the rudder on the ground will make the aircraft yaw left and right?
Can someone help me with this...

[Dan Winterland]

Depends on the type. On big Boeings (744 in my experience) you can steer with the tiller (70 degrees of nosewheel movement) or the rudder (7 degrees). Any rudder movement is overidden by the tiller as far as nosewheel steering goes, so to do the rudder checks on the ground, you slowly apply full rudder and counter it with appropriate use of the tiller to (hopefully - although I seldom manage it) keep straight.

[Sean Dell]

On the A320 we have a disconnect button in the middle of the tiller - pressing this allows you to have full movement on the rudder pedals whilst still being able to use the tiller for steering (if you are co-ordinated enough!)