Crosswind
Crosswind is a wind component that is perpendicular (or at an angle) to the runway centreline. Crosswind affects aircraft lateral control during take-off and landing and requires the pilot to use a wind correction (crab or sideslip) technique to maintain runway centreline tracking.
Crosswind Component
The crosswind component is calculated as: wind speed × sin(angle between wind direction and runway). For a 20-knot wind at 30° to the runway, the crosswind component is 20 × sin(30°) = 10 knots. Aircraft POHs publish a maximum demonstrated crosswind component — this is not a structural limit but the maximum tested by the manufacturer.
Crosswind Take-off and Landing
- Crab method (take-off): Track the centreline with a crab angle; align with runway heading just before rotation
- Crab method (landing): Crab into wind on approach; straighten to runway heading on flare
- Wing-low (sideslip) method: Bank into wind, apply opposite rudder to track centreline; hold throughout the flare and touchdown
On the TC Written Exam
Know how to calculate the crosswind component from a given wind, and understand the landing techniques. The crab method is comfortable in cruise but requires a last-second alignment; the wing-low method is preferred for precision but requires more rudder authority.
Related Terms
See also: Runway Heading, RVR.