CFI Central Pilot Proficiency

Practice Crosswind Landings Whenever You Can

Since most airports are designed with runways aligned into prevailing winds, many pilots don’t get much work with crosswind takeoffs and landings.

Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 08:38 PM ET

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A red and white windsock. [Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

Crosswind landings pose a significant challenge in aviation, frequently leading to accidents due to reduced control effectiveness at lower speeds and pilots' limited practice, despite most airport runways being aligned with prevailing winds.
Pilots must accurately determine the crosswind component (using POH charts or E6B) and understand their aircraft's demonstrated crosswind limits, recognizing that pilot skill and proficiency are paramount, and a go-around is prudent if conditions exceed capabilities.
Effective crosswind landing techniques include the "crab method" (maintaining ground track and de-crabbing just before touchdown) and the "sideslip method" (using rudder for alignment and banking into the wind), both requiring precise control to counteract drift, avoid side-loading, and prevent weathervaning.

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“How are your crosswind landings?”

“We’re about to find out.”

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.