CROSSWIND APPROACHES

When there’s strong wind blowing straight across a runway and your base leg is into that wind, base leg is where the problem of wind gradient will be greatest. A wide pattern might consume too much height too soon, leaving less than enough for final approach. In this situation move your base leg (and maybe your downwind leg as well) closer to the threshold. Then, if it still looks questionable angle the base leg in even further and change the aim point to a spot you know you can reach in normal landing configuration. As you roll out of this turn to final, the greater wind under your upper (windward) wing can make lowering that wing and lining up with the runway difficult and time-consuming. This is serious. Many pilots instinctively fly a curved base-to-final leg in this situation, but that only delays leveling and lining up until the last, lowest moment – or prevents it completely. Whatever you do, retain enough height to make a square, comfortable final turn, allowing ample time to line up a straight approach with the windward wing low, as it always should be. Otherwise, good luck.When the crosswind is from behind on base leg it will take only a fraction of the normal time to reach your final turn, and an unwary pilot could turn too late and too high. This would mean having to face the wind (and wind gradient) on a long, curved, final approach with that same troublesome turn away from the wind coming just before touchdown.