Crosswind Landings Lesson

INTRODUCTION: When the passengers disembark after landing, those meeting them will often ask, "How was the flight?" It may have been a beautiful 16 hour flight with restful sleep, interesting movies or other entertainment, tasty meals, and great service. But if the passengers thought the landing was not up to their expectations, the answer will be a simple, "The landing was terrible!"
     Of course, as pilots our goal is to make the landing safely. That means being stabilized on final approach, using good control to compensate for a crosswind, landing on the centerline, where we want it, and smoothly controlling the rollout and deceleration.

LESSON TASK: This lesson addresses techniques to accomplish a crosswind landing. We will be practicing these various techniques in the simulator with varying amounts of cross winds.

STANDARD:  The FAA Practical Test Standards (PTS) for seeking an airplane type rating or for proficiency evaluations.
Click here to view the entire FAA Practical Test Standards for ATP or Aircraft Type Ratings

PREPARATION: 

• Review the Flight Crew Training Manual, Chapter 6 for information about crosswind landing techniques.
•  Review the attached Power Point presentation. Several slides have additional NOTES below the slide to expand on the highlights.

 Click here to view Power Point presentation of crosswind landings highlights           

What the Power Point highlight only mentions is the importance of conducting a stabilized approach. Seven elements are typically considered to determine an approach's stability.

1. On the correct flight path -- not steep or shallow.
2. Only small changes in heading or pitch necessary to maintain path.
3. At approach speed +10 or -5 knots.
4. Airplane in landing configuration.
5. No greater than 1,000 fpm sink rate.
6. Thrust setting appropriate for configuration.
7. All briefings and checklists complete.

Remember, all of these are critical. You should be stabilized no later than 1,000' in IMC or 500' in VMC. Becoming unstable or a bounce should dictate a go-around! Remember, a rejected landing is any landing rejected below 50' AGL -- that includes on the runway. (However, once reversers are deployed, the landing is committed).

• You might also find some of the attached YouTube videos to be motivating. They can be found in the Cool Places to "Visit" widget on the right border.

GRADING: The grading rubric for the crosswind landing lesson is below. It is based on fulfilling the Practical Test Standard for this event.
Click here to view grading rubric for this lesson.

CONCLUSION: NO landing is routine. There are many variables in this dynamic and critical phase of flight. Crosswinds are a large element in this matrix of possibilities. I'll make sure you are ready to address crosswinds correctly in the real world.

 See you on April 3rd!