Cross Wind Landings

There are many complex manoeuvres in flying - crosswind landings is one of them. Shifts in wind will challenge your ability to bring the plane to a smooth and centered touch down, something that is a matter of safety.

- Remember the cross wind limitation of the aircraft 1/4th of plane stall speed (13 KIAS for a Cessna 152 which has a stall speed of 52 KIAS)
- Remember rules of thumb for how much cross-wind to expect:
20 degrees off the runway – 25%
40 degrees off the runway – 50%
60 degrees off the runway – 75%
90 degrees off the runway – 100%
i.e. if it is 250/20 off runway 27, the wind is 20 degrees to the left of the runway, so the cross wind is 5 KTS.
- If the winds are gusting, approach at an increased speed of ½ the gust factor. i.e. if it is 20 gusting 30, and you would normally approach at 65 KTS, you would approach at 70 KTS (i.e. 30-20 / 2 + 65 KTS)

- Landing with flaps is more prone to being affected due to x-wind
- Crab into wind while approaching runway (the wing that is in the path of wind should be dropped slightly so that it doesn't behave as a sail)
- Correct longitudinal alignment with runway using rudder
- Crosswind correction should be done only when close to runway
- Do whatever it takes to align runway using rudder (floor rudder if required) and aileron
- Always maintain landing speed: 65 KIAS (flap), 70 KIAS (flapless)
- The wheel that is in the path of the wind should touch the runway first
- GO AROUND if REQUIRED