Wind limits - small single engine aircraft

wrote in message
oups.com...
Clearly this is a personal decision, based on your perceptions of your
own skills, the aircraft you are flying, the specific conditions on the
day (E.g. how gusty, reports of LLWS & turbulence), your risk
tolerance, etc.


The title of this thread may be a little misleading to a newbie. Wind down
the runway is a GOOD thing that actually makes landings and takeoffs easier and
safer. Ground speed is less on landing, ground roll is less on takeoff and the
takeoff angle over the runway is far improved. In the pattern, winds can make
the downwind portion go so fast that a new pilot might get behind the airplane,
but if you are flying a slow plane and doing a crab for a proper base leg track,
you have a wonderful view of the runway while on your base leg, and your turn
onto final can actually be far less than 90 degrees. Short field landings into
a headwind are far easier, and can actually fool you into believing you have
skills that you don't.

Crosswinds and gusty conditions are a 'nuther whole matter. If you go out
to the airport and find those conditions, rather than canceling, it might be a
good time to seek an idle CFI and use the opportunity to work on skills and
self-confidence.

Vaughn CFIG

Even a steady 25 knot wind directly down the runway _can_ catch the
unwary off guard (windshear).

I'll never forget that lesson... OAK was calling a 15 knot wind, no
gusts, coming right down the nines... I had my instructor with me at
the time. I noticed during the crosswind that my correction seemed
rather extreme (over 30 degrees) to stay on course, turned final, and
maintained a book 75mph IAS down final.

All of a sudden I hit the windshear layer, 35 knot wind above, 15 knot
wind below- and suddenly I had no where NEAR the kinetic energy I was
expecting, still 100 feet above the ground and well short of the
threshold.

My instructor saved that one, and Iearned a valuable lesson. One of
two times in my flying life I've made the 'Your Plane!' call.





On Jan 20, 9:01 am, "Vaughn Simon"
wrote:
wrote in ooglegroups.com...

Clearly this is a personal decision, based on your perceptions of your
own skills, the aircraft you are flying, the specific conditions on the
day (E.g. how gusty, reports of LLWS & turbulence), your risk
tolerance, etc. The title of this thread may be a little misleading to a newbie. Wind down
the runway is a GOOD thing that actually makes landings and takeoffs easier and
safer. Ground speed is less on landing, ground roll is less on takeoff and the
takeoff angle over the runway is far improved. In the pattern, winds can make
the downwind portion go so fast that a new pilot might get behind the airplane,
but if you are flying a slow plane and doing a crab for a proper base leg track,
you have a wonderful view of the runway while on your base leg, and your turn
onto final can actually be far less than 90 degrees. Short field landings into
a headwind are far easier, and can actually fool you into believing you have
skills that you don't.

Crosswinds and gusty conditions are a 'nuther whole matter. If you go out
to the airport and find those conditions, rather than canceling, it might be a
good time to seek an idle CFI and use the opportunity to work on skills and
self-confidence.

Vaughn CFIG

EridanMan wrote:

Even a steady 25 knot wind directly down the runway _can_ catch the
unwary off guard (windshear).

I'll never forget that lesson... OAK was calling a 15 knot wind, no
gusts, coming right down the nines... I had my instructor with me at
the time. I noticed during the crosswind that my correction seemed
rather extreme (over 30 degrees) to stay on course, turned final, and
maintained a book 75mph IAS down final.

All of a sudden I hit the windshear layer, 35 knot wind above, 15 knot
wind below- and suddenly I had no where NEAR the kinetic energy I was
expecting, still 100 feet above the ground and well short of the
threshold.

My instructor saved that one, and Iearned a valuable lesson. One of
two times in my flying life I've made the 'Your Plane!' call.

Were you a new student at the time?

Matt