Ask Captain Lim

Dear Captain Lim,

First of all THANK YOU for your site! It is the only one I know of that is so comprehensive and informative and lets you write in with questions. You always answer with thoughtful and easily understood responses. It really helps me to be a more confident flyer.
 
My question to you today is what wind speed is too high to take off/cruise/land safely?
 
I have a flight tomorrow morning from EDI to LHR and right now the wind is South Southwest at 28 mph with gusts up to 43 mph! Tomorrow morning is supposed to be about the same and I am getting nervous about my flight.
 
I would rather them just cancel it than chance a dangerous situation. But what wind speed is too fast to fly? 
 
Many, many thanks!

Kathleen

Dear Kathleen,

The safety of a flight is of a greater concern to the captain of the plane than to anyone else. There are limitations imposed on a pilot that he should not take off or land in winds that are beyond the capability of the plane. The wind strength varies with the condition of the runway. If the runway were slippery or wet, the limitation would have to be reduced. For instance, if on a dry runway, the cross wind allowed on a Boeing 777 during landing is 45 knots (52 mph), then the captain must remember that his limit is no longer 45 knots but 25 knots (28 mph) when he has to land on a runway covered with snow.

On a Boeing 777, there is however a tailwind limitation of 15 knots for take off and landing. Hence a runway change becomes necessary at times - so that the plane always takes off into wind and not with the wind!

Different airplanes have slightly different limitations for take off or landing. However, once the plane is at cruise, there are no limitations imposed. A very strong headwind means that you take a longer time to reach your destination whereas a strong tailwind will see you arriving at your destination well in advance of your schedule!

Here is an example of some cross wind limitations for a Boeing 777 :

See the video below on what happens when a pilot tries to land in winds nearing the maximum crosswind limitation! (This incident was recorded on 1st March 2008 - about 2 weeks ago!)