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5 Answers

cross wind landing at non-tower airport

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FAA Regulations

When landing at a non-tower airport with non-intersecting N-S and E-W runways, with wind from 200 degrees, and runway 18 in use by other traffic, is it acceptable to land on runway 27 if not interfering with other traffic?  

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5 Answers



  1. Kris Kortokrax on May 21, 2019

    There is no regulation that would prohibit it.

    See Advisory Circular 90-66B – Non-Towered Airport Flight Operations.

    The following excerpt addresses your situation:

    “Runway Preference. Landing and takeoff should be accomplished on the operating runway most nearly aligned into the wind. However, if a secondary runway is used (e.g., for length limitations), pilots using the secondary runway should avoid the flow of traffic to the runway most nearly aligned into the wind.”

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  2. Russ MacDonald on May 21, 2019

    I agree with Kris, but I would like to expand it a bit to add that in the case of uncontrolled airports the FARs leave the choice of runway exclusively to the pilot. There is no ‘active runway’ at an uncontrolled field. The term ‘active runway’ is defined by the FAA to be a runway that is specified by an official controller. At an uncontrolled field, the unicom operator is not a controller and cannot assign an active runway. He can only tell you the winds and which runway is ‘in use’, but that doesn’t mean you must use that runway. The pilot must choose which runway he will land on, and then observe right of way rules and coordinate with any pilot who has chosen a different runway.

    I often take my students to a field with multiple runways to practice crosswind landings on the runway that is the most non-aligned with the wind.

    I also demonstrate to my students the the extremely long landings and take-offs that result by using the downwind direction on the runway. This can happen by making a mistake and choosing the exactly wrong runway based on the winds.

    And, I always coordinate with all other pilots using the field and give right of way to any pilot landing on the best runway based on the winds.

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  3. KDS on May 21, 2019

    I’ve seen that done, and while it’s commendable that an instructor wants to give crosswind training, it also can make for unpleasant or even unsafe situations no matter how careful everyone is. It’s best if the opportunity for crosswind training is found in a different situation.

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  4. Warren Webb Jr on May 21, 2019

    You said to land on runway 27. What if you have to go around? Will that be a conflict? Just saying maintain situational awareness and carefully plan for all possible circumstances.

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  5. Mark Kolber on May 22, 2019

    Of course it is acceptable “if not interfering with other traffic.”

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