High winds in Bilbao

[Garry Russell]

How can this be?

I thought there were limits , if exceeded you don't try

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17863501

[DaveB]

SHEESH!!

ATB
DaveB

[TobyV]

"Tower, going around for a fresh change of underwear"

[Chris Trott]

Garry, you've just hit the head of the most controversial topic in all of aviation - Crosswinds.

Technically, no aircraft has a crosswind limit. It has a "Maximum Demonstrated Crosswind Capability". In essence, this is simply he maximum crosswind in which the airplane was tested by the FAR/JAR to provide sufficient control authority to maintain directional control on the runway. As such, it's really up to the pilot to determine if he can safely land the aircraft with the wind conditions presented knowing that if he exceeds the maximum demonstrated crosswind component for the aircraft he is essentially becoming a Test Pilot in the process. Many airlines in their operating rules and procedures for each aircraft type state what the company's maximum allowed crosswind is (i.e. above that you're not to attempt the landing) but many times the wind may say it's within limits when it's actually gusting past it but not showing up on the airport weather report at the time.

As it is, looking at the MD-80 and A320 landing, I don't think the wind was beyond their maximum demonstrated crosswind component. I think it was for the CRJ's however as being smaller aircraft, they can't handle the same wind conditions. The bigger problem was poor landing technique by the MD-80 and A320 with the pilots over correcting and inducing PIO on the runway due to attempting to land while still "in the crab" instead of properly removing the crab and transitioning to a forward slip as they made the roundout and flare as is proper technique.

[DaveB]

I love it when you talk dirty Chris

There may well be some of that gusting 'not registering on the airports weather equipment' there mate to be honest. I've not looked at the videos more than once (that was enough!) but I doubt either of the pilots who landed would have intentionally landed still crabbing down the runway. Certainly a challenge for even the most experienced pilot. I reckon the CRJ pilot had the right idea

ATB
DaveB

[cstorey]

I could see absolutely nothing wrong with the A 320 landing . The drift angle was kicked off just before the wheels touched. The so-called PIO looks more to me as though there was insufficient rudder authority to keep straight and the tiller was having to be used as well to cope with an obviously gusty situation . It was an unenviable position to be in , and rather them than me. Oh, and by the way, I have landed with a 40 knot crosswind component and the fun started on the ground . I remember it well because it was in the days of Surveillance Radar Approaches and the ATCO could not believe the drift angle we had which was of the order of 30 degrees