There’s an Art to Making Crosswind Landings

So many schools of thought exist, but personal choice leans toward the slip.

Martha Lunken

Wednesday, July 30, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

If you want to start a lively discussion with a group of pilots, ask for their opinions on the safest, most effective, and workable way to handle a crosswind landing. [Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

The article details two main crosswind landing techniques: the slip (preferred by the author for smaller aircraft, involving lowering the upwind wing and using opposite rudder) and the crab (often used by larger aircraft, requiring a transition to a slip just before touchdown).
It emphasizes the critical need for practice, adherence to crosswind limits, and the option to divert to a different airport or runway if conditions are too challenging.
An anecdote highlights the pilot-in-command's ultimate responsibility for safety, demonstrating the authority to deviate from rules when absolutely necessary during an emergency.

See a mistake? Contact us.

I’m jumping into one of the most dissected and debated issues in the aviation world.

If you want to start a lively discussion with a group of pilots, ask for their opinions on the safest, most effective, and workable way to handle a crosswind landing…particularly a strong one with rain, turbulence, or gusty winds. Hopefully, include some “big airplane” guys and some taildragger pilots to spice things up.