crosswind ?

[antlouis63]

Can someone describe what crosswind landings are like? Scary or easy obviously I haven't encountered them, yet. Haven't entered flight school yet. I have very little text book knowledge I am trying to study as much as possible before showing up to ATP!!! I believe you all will give me enough verbal knowledge b/c it is a ton of it on here as it appears

thank you

[greaper007]

It depends. Simple cross wind landings aren't bad, as long as they are within your aircrafts ability. They're pretty fun actually, it feels like you're doing a trick when you land on one wheel. However, throw in a big gust factor (when the wind blows then dies down or changes direction) and they can get pretty hairy. Again, just make sure it's within you and the planes ability and it really isn't a big deal. The airplane I fly (Beechcraft Duchess) is pretty heavy compared to a single and has a low wing. Therefore I almost never get to have a real crosswind landing. However, I was flying a 172 one day in a crosswind, right when I touched down the wind shifted and I almost put the plane's wing into the runway. That was pretty scary.

[antlouis63]

Oh, ok so wind corrections are made regarding crosswinds, so are there equations or just fly somewhat into that wind direction? I apologize everyone just intrigued by everyone's ability to defy gravity. I will also be one of you, I am not doing it for the money, well I understand after spending your whole life in aviation, that is when the money kicks in. This is solely my desires and I believe it is my purpose to fly aircraft, I had just always been misguided, now I have found people like me.lol

[greaper007]

You can do an equation to figure out just how much crosswind there is. After that you use a couple different techniques to actually land the plane. One is to put ur wing down into the wind, and use ur rudder to line up the fuselage of the plane with the runway. A little confusing but you'll get it. How old are you?

[antlouis63]

28 yrs old man, getting started late, military had me bogged down, now in search of monetary resources to attend a great flight school, I have heard yes to some and not to the same ones, it can get really overwhelming.

[MidlifeFlyer]

This is my FAQ on crosswinds. It starts off with mentioning a small argument about two types of technique, but ends up describing how I teach it. May give you some ideas.

http://www.midlifeflight.com/faq/faq.php?s=3#7

One bottom line is that you don't use equations for the flying itself because the wind is almost never steady, so you'd need to be Data fro Star Trek to keep up that way.

The other bottom line is that you don't fly "somewhat" into the wind either. It's much more targeted. You use the flight controls to keep your airplane on and aligned with centerline. You use the ailerons to keep you on the centerline and to keep drifting back and forth sideways; you use your rudder to keep your alignment so you land straight, not crooked.

[TFaudree_ERAU]

The best crosswind landings are when you wheelbarrow on one of the mains and the nosewheel, go skidding laterally across the runway, take out 3 or 4 runway edge lights and then taxi to the FBO and stand back and laugh at the airport guys driving their truck down the side of the runway to survey the damage. Its even better when you do it at a big airport with Doug watching from his MD-80. .

Its really only scary the first few times your student does it and you're a brand new CFI.

[TXaviator]

if you want to bone up on some reading as far as the practical aspects of flying an airplane, I reccommend the Airplane Flying Handbook...published by our lovely FAA.

I read that and the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical knowledge over xmas break prior to my private pilot course and it really helped having an idea of what's going on.

other than that, theres only so far that reading and talking will get you...as Nike says..."just do it"


(and crosswind/gusty wind landings are fun, so long as you always remember that going around is a good option)

[tonyw]

A steady crosswind isn't too bad as long as it's within the limitations for your airplane.

On the other hand, as my experience last week is a perfect example of, when they're swirling and gusting and completely unpredictable, you need to be on your toes. Well, stay off your toes because you don't want to hit the brakes by accident when you finally do get on the ground safely.

I consider myself to have at least average piloting skills and it took me three tries to get the plane down safely with a gusting, swirling crosswind.

[MidlifeFlyer]

Originally Posted by tonyw

you need to be on your toes. Well, stay off your toes because you don't want to hit the brakes by accident when you finally do get on the ground safely.

Actually, I would stick with your original advice to stay on your toes, although make sure that they are on the rudder not the brakes. Your toes are probably more sensitive than your heels when feeling and making the small, quick adjustments that are usually needed in gusty crosswinds. Not sure why your toes woul dbe on the brakes at this point anyway.

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by MidlifeFlyer

Not sure why your toes woul dbe on the brakes at this point anyway.

The new super-duper short field landing with a 5 ft ground roll?

[zmiller4]

Midlifeflyer makes a good point on his site--you'll hear a lot of people talk about the "two different methods" of crosswind landings, but they're really the same thing in the long run.

The only requirement for an acceptable crosswind landing is for the airplane to be on centerline with both its longitudinal axis and direction of motion parallel to the runway. This requires use of ailerons into the direction of the wind (to stop the lateral drift) and rudder away from the wind (to align the long axis with the aircraft's direction of motion). Exactly when you start using the aileron/rudder to straighten out the airplane depends on 1)the type of aircraft, and 2)personal preference. In reality, though, you're going to end up in this cross-controlled conditionno matter what (i.e. left aileron, right rudder) just prior to touchdown or your landing is going to suck.

In light singles I'd often start this slip early simply because that's how I was taught, but when I started teaching I realized it made pitch and power control trickier for my students, so I told them to kick in the slip at a hundred feet or so. It seemed to work OK, but each found their own personal preference. In the ATR--a big-ass high wing turboprop with a huge rudder--you'd see a lot of guys start putting in the slip well before the flare because they could; there was almost no danger of catching a wingtip. In the CRJ, though, it's more of a timing maneuver where you have to put in the rudder right before touchdown or you'll either drift or catch a wingtip.

You'll figure it out, though--it's a lot easier to visualize once you've done them.