I have a confession...

johnxreid

johnxreid

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JR
As a 100-hr still green PPL, I've never really been as proficient or comfortable with crosswind landings as I should be. So I found a nasty bumpy windy day, grabbed an instructor, and took a few laps around the pattern. So glad I did and I can't wait to do it again.

Some advice for students and green pilots like myself, don't avoid crosswind days. Purposely seek them out and make landing in them second nature.

Some highlights from mine...
 
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Absolutely. When students have called to cancel on a nasty day I have encouraged them to come fly anyway...I've even called a couple to suggest a crosswind session. Best way to learn crosswinds is with a CFI in the right seat.

I used to get my students to the point where they could land on the upwind wheel and balance it there for a couple of hundred yards.

Bob Gardner
 
Shoot, I used to have students cancel due to rain... airplane don't know it's raining.

I've always found crosswinds fun, just make sure you have enough gas you can play around or divert and they really no big deal.
 
Indeed cross wind flying is an essential skill and we get them on the coasts here in California. I learned with both crab and slip method.
 
You have to master the art of crosswind flying,if you hope to do cross countries. If your not comfortable ,spend some time with a CFI to get proficient.
 
Right on! Keep flying on those days, and work on keeping on the center line. I am constantly working my cross wind limits. I just set a new personal record last weekend with RWY 09 - Winds 160@24G36. I have been flying in such windy conditions the past couple months it feels pretty normal, I actually feel nervous on a calm day. I get that "its too good to be true" feeling..
 
Spend more time on the ground grasping the concept, physics, and flight control movements behind the crosswind landing. How can you plan for something you don't completely understand? It'd be most useful to review it right before you go flying so as to not waste precious time in the air.
 
I'm only 120 hour or so pilot. I don't care for crosswind landings much but I don't avoid them... I just hope I don't crash doing them. Going to an airshow today landed on that field with about an 7-8 knot direct crosswind, did it full flaps and it was a bit rough.

Flying back home had 3 var, gusting 13 going between direct, to a bit north/south. Did it with 20 degree's flaps and it was fairly smooth but a little strange with the wind.
 
One tip I will throw out there. I'm no professional, but I am nearing 400 hours and most of my flying in is the mountains(hills for you west coast guys) with crosswinds.

I don't try to plan on what to expect based on what the ATIS/AWOS etc.. or wind sock is telling me, other than that I am on the correct runway for the winds. I just do what ever it takes to keep myself on the center line. I used to put too much emphasis on what the data was and try to "setup" for the situation. I have found it easier to just ignore all that and just fly the airplane. Just be ready to go around as always.
 
good stuff! reminds me I need to get out there and practice them!
 
Thanks for posting. I also went out last weekend with a CFI just to practice crosswind landings - flight school said I only had 1 hour, so I figured I'd try to make the most of it. Seemed like everyone was out on a rare sunny day lately so tower had his hands full separating all the traffic - we waited at the runway hold short line for 20+ minutes while he sent others off on extended downwinds that resulted in 8+ mile finals, and had one poor bastard doing left 360s for 20 minutes. Luckily when I finally got in the air, traffic was all but gone - managed to do about 5 landings, went around on the first one as I was way too high and knew I'd float way long and with the gusts, did not want to try salvaging that landing.
 
HouTxPilot82 said:
Thanks for posting. I also went out last weekend with a CFI just to practice crosswind landings - flight school said I only had 1 hour, so I figured I'd try to make the most of it. Seemed like everyone was out on a rare sunny day lately so tower had his hands full separating all the traffic - we waited at the runway hold short line for 20+ minutes while he sent others off on extended downwinds that resulted in 8+ mile finals, and had one poor bastard doing left 360s for 20 minutes. Luckily when I finally got in the air, traffic was all but gone - managed to do about 5 landings, went around on the first one as I was way too high and knew I'd float way long and with the gusts, did not want to try salvaging that landing.
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That is one key thing to any form of flying, especially cross wind landings...

You have to know when to say WHEN...:yes:;)
 
JasonM said:
One tip I will throw out there. I'm no professional, but I am nearing 400 hours and most of my flying in is the mountains(hills for you west coast guys) with crosswinds.

I don't try to plan on what to expect based on what the ATIS/AWOS etc.. or wind sock is telling me, other than that I am on the correct runway for the winds. I just do what ever it takes to keep myself on the center line. I used to put too much emphasis on what the data was and try to "setup" for the situation. I have found it easier to just ignore all that and just fly the airplane. Just be ready to go around as always.
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You have it exactly right but it's incredible the amount of people who don't understand that. Just fly the airplane.
 
Honestly the atis is great for figuring the runway out and how much flaps you need. When your on final it should be second nature just point the nose straight and keep your centerline, just fly the plane don't over think it.
 
Steven8385 said:
Honestly the atis is great for figuring the runway out and how much flaps you need. When your on final it should be second nature just point the nose straight and keep your centerline, just fly the plane don't over think it.
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Exactly. In fact, a few weeks ago tower called out a nice easy 2 - 3 crosswind as I was on base. Had that stuck in my head rather than understanding the sight picture that was right in front of me. Landed in what was just a little bit of a crab and had the plane darted off to the left on me. Easily recovered but definitely got my attention and humbled me on what was otherwise a near perfect cross country flight. Feel the crosswind. Be the ball--sha na na.
 
JasonM said:
One tip I will throw out there. I'm no professional, but I am nearing 400 hours and most of my flying in is the mountains(hills for you west coast guys) with crosswinds.

I don't try to plan on what to expect based on what the ATIS/AWOS etc.. or wind sock is telling me, other than that I am on the correct runway for the winds. I just do what ever it takes to keep myself on the center line. I used to put too much emphasis on what the data was and try to "setup" for the situation. I have found it easier to just ignore all that and just fly the airplane. Just be ready to go around as always.
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During PPL training, I had a huge problem with this and was getting in way of my landings--worrying about nailing altitudes, airspeed, etc. My instructor finally slapped the chart across the steam gauges right after I rolled out on final and said now just land the G'd plane. Ended up being my first landing without assistance.... and greased it. Just fly the damn plane.
 
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I have 12 hrs. I did 14 landings in an 80 degree crosswind of 16g22 today. They weren't pretty but I got us down. CFI said I was building character.
 
Just know the limits of your plane. I love that my Tampico's limit is based on a 25 knot demonstrated component during the certification process. It has a huge rudder and handles the cross winds very well.
 
I fly out of an airport with intersecting runways. Many times during my PPL training my CFI would ask the tower for the crosswind runway when the pattern was slow. I live in central Texas and during many parts of the year 10G18 and up is pretty normal...so if you can't fly on an otherwise nice VFR day because the winds are off you won't get to fly much. :)

Good video - thanks for sharing.
 
My crosswind landings stopped sucking and improved when I stopped being afraid of full flaps in gusty crosswind days.
 
During my PPL training, my buddy ex-CFI would go up with me on windy days and we would practice crosswind landings. Sometimes I would ask stupid questions (I was a greenhorn, mind you) such as "how much aileron should I put in to keep it on the centerline?". He would just give me a dumba** look (I deserved it) and say "whatever inputs are necessary". He told me "don't think about it, just fly it".
Don't worry, one day it will become second nature and you will stop thinking about it.
 
johnxreid said:
During PPL training, I had a huge problem with this and was getting in way of my landings--worrying about nailing altitudes, airspeed, etc. My instructor finally slapped the chart across the steam gauges right after I rolled out on final and said now just land the G'd plane. Ended up being my first landing without assistance.... and greased it. Just fly the damn plane.
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Pull power abeam the numbers to 1700 RPM and don't look down again. Should be able to land by site picture. When you lose your ASI this will come in handy. You can "glance" to confirm speed, but try to do it occasionally only if practicing TNGs.

Also, hold centerline. I land a little left of centerline from being in the habit of exiting the runway to the left on roll out at our field.

mkosmo said:
My crosswind landings stopped sucking and improved when I stopped being afraid of full flaps in gusty crosswind days.
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I fly huge crosswinds in my area. Most landing are good. My worst occur when my gust factor is huge and I get a nice large wind drop at the back of the power curve in the flare. Then the plane wants to drop out right there and it takes full power to arrest the descent.
 
There have been windy days where I landed and debated if it was smarter to tie the thing down or open a big bifold hangar door and try to sneak an airplane under it. :yikes:

Its creepy taxing perpendicular rows of hangars when its like going from one wind tunnel to the next. :hairraise:
 
mkosmo said:
My crosswind landings stopped sucking and improved when I stopped being afraid of full flaps in gusty crosswind days.
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I really hate feeling like a kite or sail boat, but it certainly does help
 
bnt83 said:
There have been windy days where I landed and debated if it was smarter to tie the thing down or open a big bifold hangar door and try to sneak an airplane under it. :yikes:

Its creepy taxing perpendicular rows of hangars when its like going from one wind tunnel to the next. :hairraise:
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I feel your pain....:redface:
 
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