Originally Posted by
Kiwiguy
Whilst Wellington airport only sees 733s land in 50-60 knot crosswinds a few days per year, I can say I have had a ringside seat on the Ramp to many hairy landings and these appear de riguer at WLG. I suspect there is a lot of commercial pressure on these guys that if the airport company does not close the airport due to high winds (which it rarely does) then the onus is on pilots to defy their employer.
As a lowly B737 kiwi pilot with 14 years experience into and out of Wellington ON the B737 alone. I have never seen a 50 to 60 knot cross wind in Wellington. Though it is common to have 50 to 60 knots, once over 45 knots it is usually straight up and down the track.
Our company limit IS: 29 Knots Dry runway B737-200 31 Knots Dry B737-300. 60 Knots from any direction is our company limit, but mainly due to ground handling issues; i.e. the airbridges cannot drive against the wind and move too much against the aircraft.
Boeing do not have a max cross wind limit, they have demonstrated each type to a high component and the the operator can decide. "Boeing Airliner" magazine had a table of the max cross wind they has demostrated for each type some years ago. The B737 figure was 45 knots.
The video you see of the B777 and B747SP comes from a Boeing Symposium in I think 2001. They do test the aircraft in a "no correction" cross wind landing. The B733 FCTM recomends 20 Knots max in the DRY for a "no correction" landing.
Now back to the thread; On the non FBW boeings I have flown if you dont hold the controls to stop the wing from rising it WILL roll quite spectaularly once airborne, espically the B732