How to Land an Airplane in a Crosswind

When flying light general aviation airplanes wind plays a big role in the landing and taking off of aircraft. Ideally the wind would always be a light breeze directly down the runway. Generally airports are created with the main runway in line with the wind. However, as weather patterns change, winds shift and may make it necessary to land in a crosswind. Read on to learn how to land an airplane in a crosswind.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Determine the wind direction. If at a towered airport, the controller can tell you. If not, look for a wind sock somewhere on the airport.

2. Choose the runway that is best aligned with the wind. You want to land with as much of a headwind as possible.

3. Fly a normal visual pattern. You may need to adjust your spacing--if the wind is pushing you on your base leg, fly a wider of a pattern than normal.

4. Fly the final portion of the pattern with a small angle into the wind. This compensates for the wind trying to push the airplane sideways. Vary that angle to keep the airplane flying a ground track in line with the runway. This technique is called crabbing.

5. Straighten out the airplane by pushing on the appropriate rudder pedal to get the nose pointing down the runway centerline. At the same time, put an aileron in the opposite direction to keep the airplane from drifting away from the runway. Keep these inputs in all the way down to the runway. This technique is called slipping.

6. Land the airplane on the upwind main landing gear first and then the downwind main landing gear. If your airplane has nose wheel steering, make sure to take out the rudder controls before the nose wheel touches down to prevent the airplane from swerving.

[pilotoutlook]

on 3/18/2008 An entire section of Aircraft Flying Handbook dedicated to crosswind landing -
http://www.pilotoutlook.com/airplane_flying/crosswind_approach_and_landing