An apparatus, comprising: a display system configured to display a graphical user interface (118; 300) comprising an input area that includes a character input section (134; 204) for receiving character input comprising taxiing route instructions, the character input being entered by a crew member of an aircraft by drawing characters within the character input section (134; 204) based on route instructions provided by a controller, the route instructions forming the taxiing route, and wherein the input area further includes a set of control objects (136; 206) for entering selection input by said crew member, wherein the set of control objects (136; 206) includes at least one of a "left turn" button or a "right turn" button; a route manager in communication with the graphical user interface (118; 300), wherein the route manager receives the character input entered through the character input section (134; 204) and the selection input entered through the set of control objects (136; 206), generates route information based on the character input using character recognition recognizing a character set from the character input, and builds a taxiing route for moving the aircraft within an on-ground environment based on the route information and based on the selection input; and a database in communication with at least one of the route manager or the graphical user interface (118; 300), the database storing information about the characters and combinations of characters that are available or possible with respect to the on-ground environment, wherein the route manager is configured to use said information from the database to match an appropriate character set to the character input, and wherein the character set comprises one or more characters. a display system configured to display a graphical user interface (118; 300) comprising an input area that includes a character input section (134; 204) for receiving character input comprising taxiing route instructions, the character input being entered by a crew member of an aircraft by drawing characters within the character input section (134; 204) based on route instructions provided by a controller, the route instructions forming the taxiing route, and wherein the input area further includes a set of control objects (136; 206) for entering selection input by said crew member, wherein the set of control objects (136; 206) includes at least one of a "left turn" button or a "right turn" button; a route manager in communication with the graphical user interface (118; 300), wherein the route manager receives the character input entered through the character input section (134; 204) and the selection input entered through the set of control objects (136; 206), generates route information based on the character input using character recognition recognizing a character set from the character input, and builds a taxiing route for moving the aircraft within an on-ground environment based on the route information and based on the selection input; and a database in communication with at least one of the route manager or the graphical user interface (118; 300), the database storing information about the characters and combinations of characters that are available or possible with respect to the on-ground environment, wherein the route manager is configured to use said information from the database to match an appropriate character set to the character input, and wherein the character set comprises one or more characters.