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Ouch: Etihad Criticizes A380 Pilots For Viral Crosswind Landing
Almost across the board you see praise for these pilots for the landing. Well, Etihad seems to disagree… (onemileatatime.com) Mais...
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I agree with you except as a PIC I am going to make the safest decisions, and cost isn't going to enter my mind. If I feel a go-around is the safest option, I don't care about the cost, and I am not going to be thinking about aircraft limits and building my case for a go-around at that point. I am only going to be thinking about the safest options to land. I am a part 91 pilot, but if my boss ever encourages me to put cost ahead of safety, I'm out.
As per FAR 91.3 you, as the PIC, make the call.
91.3 Responsibility and authority of the pilot in command.
(a) The pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to, the operation of that aircraft.
In my years of flying I've only made a few go arounds and most of those were in Alaska flying a C-130 (L-382 in the civilian world.) Nasty winds in Alaska.
J Buck
FAA Aviation Safety Inspector (Ret,)
ATP DC-9 B757/767/777
91.3 Responsibility and authority of the pilot in command.
(a) The pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to, the operation of that aircraft.
In my years of flying I've only made a few go arounds and most of those were in Alaska flying a C-130 (L-382 in the civilian world.) Nasty winds in Alaska.
J Buck
FAA Aviation Safety Inspector (Ret,)
ATP DC-9 B757/767/777
You are correct. All Part 25 Transport Category aircraft have a max demonstrated crosswind component. Small aircraft, e.g. Part 23 airplanes, have similar limitations.)
Here's the rule.
14 CFR 25.237 Wind velocities.
(a) For land planes and amphibians, the following applies:
(1) A 90-degree cross component of wind velocity, demonstrated to be safe for takeoff and landing, must be established for dry runways and must be at least 20 knots or 0.2 VSR0*, whichever is greater, except that it need not exceed 25 knots.
(2) The crosswind component for takeoff established without ice accretions is valid in icing conditions.
(3) The landing crosswind component must be established for:
(i) Non-icing conditions, and
(ii) Icing conditions with the most critical of the landing ice accretion(s) defined in Appendices C and O of this part, as applicable, in accordance with §25.21(g).
(b) For seaplanes and amphibians, the following applies:
(1) A 90-degree cross component of wind velocity, up to which takeoff and landing is safe under all water conditions that may reasonably be expected in normal operation, must be established and must be at least 20 knots or 0.2 VSR0, whichever is greater, except that it need not exceed 25 knots.
(2) A wind velocity, for which taxiing is safe in any direction under all water conditions that may reasonably be expected in normal operation, must be established and must be at least 20 knots or 0.2 VSR0, whichever is greater, except that it need not exceed 25 knots.
*From FAR 1.1 Definitions
VSRO means reference stall speed in the landing configuration.
Note that the limitatons are in the AFM, not the TCDS. So, for example, if the Vsro speed is 140 the max 90 degree crosswind would be 28.
Best
J Buck
FAA Aviation Safety Inspector (Ret,)
ATP DC-9 B757/767/777
Here's the rule.
14 CFR 25.237 Wind velocities.
(a) For land planes and amphibians, the following applies:
(1) A 90-degree cross component of wind velocity, demonstrated to be safe for takeoff and landing, must be established for dry runways and must be at least 20 knots or 0.2 VSR0*, whichever is greater, except that it need not exceed 25 knots.
(2) The crosswind component for takeoff established without ice accretions is valid in icing conditions.
(3) The landing crosswind component must be established for:
(i) Non-icing conditions, and
(ii) Icing conditions with the most critical of the landing ice accretion(s) defined in Appendices C and O of this part, as applicable, in accordance with §25.21(g).
(b) For seaplanes and amphibians, the following applies:
(1) A 90-degree cross component of wind velocity, up to which takeoff and landing is safe under all water conditions that may reasonably be expected in normal operation, must be established and must be at least 20 knots or 0.2 VSR0, whichever is greater, except that it need not exceed 25 knots.
(2) A wind velocity, for which taxiing is safe in any direction under all water conditions that may reasonably be expected in normal operation, must be established and must be at least 20 knots or 0.2 VSR0, whichever is greater, except that it need not exceed 25 knots.
*From FAR 1.1 Definitions
VSRO means reference stall speed in the landing configuration.
Note that the limitatons are in the AFM, not the TCDS. So, for example, if the Vsro speed is 140 the max 90 degree crosswind would be 28.
Best
J Buck
FAA Aviation Safety Inspector (Ret,)
ATP DC-9 B757/767/777
"Demonstrated" is not a limitation.
Is it possible that the distance from which the video was shot accentuated the apparent angle? Telephoto lenses compress distances and that be part of the issue here. I have seen past videos that looked like the plane was closer to being out of control than this one.
This issue is that the video looks extreme. The press, lay people, and the uninformed will get their knickers in a twist and the airline will have to respond. If it wasn't on the internet, nothing would have happened to the crew. On the other hand, it would have cost thousands of $ to go around in fuel alone. If the pilots had done a go-around I'll bet the airline would have been all over them for wasting money by aborting a landing within the capabilities of the aircraft.