PERSONAL MINIMUMS FOR WIND
A
The GAJSC has determined that
a significant number of general aviation accidents could be avoided if pilots
were to establish personal minimums for flight in windy conditions. Identifying
and adhering to personal wind limitations can significantly reduce the number
of wind-related aircraft accidents.
Wind socks must withstand wind
speeds of up to 75 knots. They must be fully extended in 15 knot winds and must
rotate to indicate wind direction in winds of 3 knots or greater.
But the big question is, how
much wind can you handle? There
are at least two factors to consider before answering that ques on and neither
one is straight forward.
·
How much wind can the airplane handle?
The pilot
handbook for airplanes manufactured from 1975 to the present will contain a
Maximum Cross Wind Component or Velocity in the Normal Operations section. This
is not a limitation but rather the maximum cross wind experienced in the course
of flight testing for certification. Could the airplane be controllable in more
wind? Possibly. But you won’t know without conducting some tests of your own.
What we do know
is that the airplane will be controllable with less cross wind. FAA Type Certification
Rules require that airplanes must handle safely on the ground in a 90-degree
cross wind of 0.2 Vso (e.g., an airplane which stalls at 49 knots will be
controllable on the ground with just under 10 knots of wind). Will it handle
more? Possibly. But for sure it will be controllable with less.
·
How much wind can the pilot handle?
Pilot
performance varies considerably from day to day and even hour to hour. Some of
the factors include:
·
Total pilot experience
·
Experience in aircraft type
·
Mission imperative
·
Stress, hunger and fatigue.
Establish a Baseline
We need to establish a pilot
performance baseline - your personal, documented, demonstration of performance -
in order to establish personal minimums. We suggest you document your wind
performance at least once a year with a CFI.
Try to pick a day when you can
experience actual cross-wind conditions in the airplane you usually fly, loaded
to your typical mission weight.
Select an airfield that’s
typical for the missions you fly.
Prepare a log of the flight to
record aircraft used, gross actual weight, departure & destination location,
elevation, density altitude, wind direction & speed, cross-wind
computation, take-off flap setting, rotation speed, rotation speed x 70%, distance
to rotation, distance to 50 feet, available landing distance.
Once you’ve completed the log
you’ll have a performance baseline to work with. You can then adjust your performance
expectations on the day to compensate for any of the human factors mentioned
earlier, and you can
thereafter adjust your baseline as you gain experience and skill; and with
a CFI on board you can get an objective assessment of your capabilities. A flight
instructor may offer suggestions and instruction for improving your baseline
performance.
Devote some time and money to
practice your piloting skills in actual windy conditions. Concentrate on flying
as precisely as you can, compensating for wind and predicting your performance.Work
toward flying a base to final turn that aligns you perfectly with the runway
and maintain that alignment all the way through the approach, landing and roll
out.
Be aware that many airports
are subject to local wind challenges including wind shear and turbulence.
Mountain airports in particular require careful planning and prior knowledge to
ensure safe operations. Consult a local CFI or experienced pilot before flying
to unfamiliar mountain or back country fields.
You should consider adjusting
your personal minimums to compensate for fields with wind shear potential.
Local knowledge is key to avoiding nasty surprises. If you’re flying to desert
des nations, planning for arrivals before noon will definitely make for a
smoother flight with less turbulence and fewer thunderstorms to deal with.
FLY
SAFE!