[wp_eMember_compact_login]

Crosswind Circuits

Welcome back to the circuit. Chances are, this lesson will come as a surprise to you, as it’s usually conducted on one of the few days where the wind conditions at Redcliffe aerodrome are suitable for crosswind circuit training.

You’ll probably arrive ready to do another lesson, but end up capitalising on the wind conditions, so it pays to be prepared. Make sure you read up on crosswind circuits even if you’re not expecting to do them in your next booking.

During your Brief, you’ll learn the following and more:

  • Introduction to crosswind circuit procedures and techniques
  • Introduction to crosswind landing techniques

Lesson Techniques

The crosswind circuit requires a great deal of technique and ability to fly ‘to the conditions’. You’ll initially conduct dual training with an Instructor before being checked to practice solo crosswind circuits. This usually happens over the course of one to two lessons depending on the wind conditions and student ability.

Your goal is essentially to fly the same path that you would if there were no wind present. This requires an understanding of how the wind will affect our flight path and how we can manipulate the aircraft’s heading to compensate for it.

During your pre-flight brief, you will discuss techniques for the following stages of flight:

– taxiing on the ground
– takeoff roll
– takeoff and after takeoff
– circuit pattern
– turns in the circuit
– approach and landing

The following diagram demonstrates the accepted technique for final approach and landing. You should still read about it in your text books, but here’s the summary:

Image Part 1 – The aircraft is approaching on final using the ‘crab’ technique. The crosswind today is from the right, which would normally drift our aircraft off the centreline to the left. Crabbing the aircraft means to angle the nose into the wind just enough to offset the drift and maintain the centreline. We’re flying sideways to an extent, just like a crab walks.

Image Part 2 – The problem with the crab technique is that the wheels aren’t aligned with the runway for touchdown, which causes a sideways jerk upon contact with the ground ~ not good.

We have a new trick up our sleeve for landing however. If we use the rudder pedals to now align the aircraft down the runway, the wheels will touch down in line with our movement and smoothly begin to roll.

But this creates the problem we had in the first Part of the Image. If we aren’t crabbing anymore, the wind will cause us to drift to the left off the runway! The only thing left for us to do is start using ailerons to stop the drift: By lowering the into-wind wing just enough, we can maintain the centreline AND keep the wheels aligned down the runway with rudder pedals.

Too much aileron and we’ll drift right, too little and we’ll drift left. Touchdown should be one wheel at a time. First, the into-wind main wheel, then the other main wheel, then the nose wheel.

Image Part 3 – Once we’re on the ground, we need to immediately apply into-wind aileron to prevent the wind picking the aircraft up or dragging it off the runway. This is absolutely critical, and failing to do so can mean a loss of control and a roll off the side of the runway.

crosswind_landing

Resources

Readings

Before attending your Briefing and Lesson, you should have read the following:

  • The Flying Training Manual – Chapter 17, Crosswind section
  • Basic Aeronautical Knowledge (BAK) – Chapter 7, Atmospheric effects on Flight

bak_text_bookflying_text_book

Useful Links & Files

Icon

Cessna 172 Circuit Diagram

Download 726.63 KB

Icon

Airbus Crosswind Landing Article

Download 856.92 KB

Instructor’s Tips

  • The correct crosswind landing requires a symphony of pilot inputs to achieve the desired outcome: rudder, ailerons, power, elevator all working together.
  • A successful crosswind landing should see the into-wind main wheel touch first, then the other main wheel, then the nose wheel. *chirp, chirp, chirp* one after the other.
  • Remember, when taxiing: “Climb towards and Dive away” from the wind with your control column. Ask your Instructor if you need clarification with this important point.

Questions

This section gives you an opportunity to search for information, which is a skill that will come in handy during your training. Use resources such as your text books or the Internet to answer the following questions.

  • What is crabbing?
  • Which wheel should touch the ground first during a landing with a crosswind from the left?
  • What is the maximum crosswind component for your aircraft?
    Define the terms heading and track. How are they different in a crosswind?

Learning Objectives

By the end of this Briefing and Flight, you will be expected to be able to:

  • Describe the correct crosswind landing technique
  • Determine the approximate crosswind component, given runway and wind directions
  • Recall the correct taxi technique for crosswind operations
  • Recall the correct crosswind takeoff technique