When PA28 met Mr xwind
Today I cancelled a flight to Zeeland despite the weather being good all the way there and back. The only problem was this TAF:
EGGW 030425Z 031206 22010KT 9999 SCT025 BECMG 1619 20017G30KT ...
Essentially I would have been happy with it, apart from the winds towards the end and it set me thinking. This is not exclusively for the PA28 but I'll use it as an example. With a crosswind limitation of 17kts would you actually land it with that windspeed, if anyone's done it what was it like?
If it's not just a pure crosswind but say a 30kt wind with a 15kt xwind component would you fly? and if so at what sort of overall windspeed would you not?
Finally, the gusts, if your actual wind speed is within limits but your gusts put you just above crosswind limits (say 1 - 2kt) should that automatically send the alarm bells ringing?
I am not looking for some hard and fast figures just some general advise so that I can start building up my personal crosswind limitations so I won't have to worry if push comes to shove one day.