In my book, all landings are crosswind landings, it’s just a matter of degree.
In fact, it’s safe to say that the vast majority of my landings are crosswind landings because I rarely land in dead calm winds or winds headed straight down the runway, so I get a lot of practice.
What makes landings so enjoyable for me is that I am confident in my ability to land under most circumstances. I fly for fun, so I pick and choose days that are reasonable for my plane. I do not practice landings on calm days. I use calm days to practice other maneuvers.
Because I practice crosswind landings regularly, I have little concern about crosswinds until they approach the limits of my plane.
Keep in mind that high crosswinds are typically associated with gusting winds, which can add significant risk to the landing. So what happens if I am returning to my base airport only to learn that the crosswinds are at or exceed my plane’s maximum crosswind component?
Here is a trick I have learned to deal with this situation: My base airport’s runway is oriented east west. About 10 miles away is my alternate airport, where the runway is oriented north south. When I deviate to my alternate, it does cost me cab fare from the alternate back to my base airport, but I avoid having sweaty hands on the yoke. This trick works every time I have tried it.
I am trying to become an old pilot and this helps.
I applaud you for your judgment on landing at another airport with more favorable wind conditions. However, good airmanship. IMO, is being able to “FLY” the airplane, not just “drive it” around. When I first got my PPL, I knew I was a little weak in crosswind landings. Then I bought a 7KCAB Citabria. Talk about x-wind fears! Well, after about 1,400 landings ( and a couple sets of tires) at multiple airports , with varying X-wind conditions, I feel pretty confident that I can land my airplane in conditions up to what the POH indicates. They may or not be pretty, but they are safe. Again, I do not write this to belittle anyone, just to explain how I approached my “dilemma”.
Great article. A lot of common sense here.
Loran, you are an excellent pilot. If only good judgement and common sense could be taught. Never mind controlling ones ego.
One of the things I have learned over the years is to find your line of flying ability. We all have it, find your line to improve as a pilot but don’t cross it!! I have found instead of just punching holes in the sky is to go do exercises that you had to do in your ppl checkride. All of them. If you are weak in a area, work on it till you aren’t!!
If you have to – no alternates and low on fuel…land at an angel and stop in the grass or just land in the grass …
In the end, we all hope to land at an angel.
So you fly on a windy day and get stuck in the air because condition deteriorate by the time you return to your home airfield. You land somewhere else, tie your plane down on a ramp, get in a cab and go home. Then sometime later take another cab back to the distant airport to get your plane, presumably on a calmer wind day. Wouldn’t it be cheaper, safer and less hassle to just fly on a calmer wind day each time, instead?
You’re assuming that someone might never fly cross country. That they only fly locally.
What if I want to fly several hundred miles to see the grand kids and it’s calm when I take off but windy in the other end?
What if the wind kicks up while you’re out on a hamburger run? Or shifts just a little away from straight down the runway?
We need to be prepared. Sitting at home and only flying when winds are calm is pretty limiting. Don’t be afraid of the wind. Embrace it! (Up to a point!)
I have, more than once, landed with a 20 knot direct crosswind. WITH NO RUDDER PEDALS! (Ercoupe) It just naturally crabs into the wind all the way down and straightens itself out when the mains touch. Incredible engineering.
I fly strictly for fun and won’t go on days that have very high, gusty winds when it’s likely to be bumpy. But you can also have winds that are fairly strong yet produce few to no bumps. I like those days. I once caught a tailwind on a long trip that gave me 155 mph with my little 85 horsepower plane. That was AWESOME!
I respect, not fear, the wind.
No. I went with the articles scenario. He is talking about a regular local flight.
Flying cross country requires careful weather planning and being ready to REMAIN ON THE GROUND when conditions deteriorate. Fuel planning is paramount with primary and secondary airports pre-designated in the course of flight. If the alternate is required due to low ceilings, wind or airport problem then the alternate must be used. One does not then leave their aircraft at the alternate and drive back home. Waiting out the weather is required. Then continuing on once conditions allow.
This article is NOT about that kind of flying. This is about regularly leaving a plane at some nearby airport when the wind conditions do not suit at the home airport returning from a local flight. A strange, costly and avoidable idea IMHO.
Wise counsel that goes beyond x-wind landings. As the imaginary Dirty Harry (Clint Eastwood) said in his famous movie line, and I paraphrase, “a person must know their limit.”
I think It’s more like “A man’s got to know his limitations”