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Old 21st Dec 2009, 16:03
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jonathon68
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
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I'm with dontdoit.

The "clock code" calculation of crosswinds has served me well for decades. I discussed it with my grandfather recently (an RAF WW2 night-fighter ace and QFI) and he could even recall the principle.

15 degrees off = 15 out of 60 minutes is a quarter so 25% of the wind velocity
20 degrees off = 20 out of 60 minutes is a third so 33% of the wind
30 degrees off = 30 out of 60 minutes is half, so 50% of the wind
45 45 75%
60 60 100%

This is slightly conservative, but who cares on short finals. Crosswind limits are maximum demonstrated.

This makes life very easy where your F/O maximums are concerned, since you are primed to take over earlier than the more complicated calculations.

For the actual landing, you can go into the decision more conservatively minded
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