Cross-wind testing
 

Hello All,

Another "where" question from Leo....

If you had to perform cross-wind testing in Europe in next few weeks (days...) on a mid-size biz-jet, where would you go ?
I am taking into account general weather (hopefully good), runway length and width, runway condition (hopefully dry), support infrastructure, etc...

Thanks a lot for your inputs !
:ok:

Boscombe Down probably.

Strong winds forecast over Britain for the next week, plenty of runway options, and wind vanes and anemometers on every runway threshold.

G

Sorry I know this is a serious question but it does remind me of the Irish pilot landing cross wind: 'To be sure this is a short runway but the widest I have ever seen'. :O

Boscombe or Prestwick.

Regards

Stornaway, Gibraltar (with care), Isle of Man, St Mawgan (is it still there?), Belfast.
Basically, be prepared to test whenever the conditions arise.

Edit: on reflection, Gibraltar may be too gusty. We flew at IOM in gusty conditions and it was a good test of inappropriate windshear warnings.
Use Prestwick as a base and have the flexibility to cover the west of the UK; add Liverpool, Warton (PPO?), Leeds.

X-wind testing.
 

IF:
You believe Iceland to be in Europe (they are Schengen)
The volcanoes will permit
60 metre wide runways are of benefit
The weather is "Quattro Stagione" as in the pizzas, viz 4 seasons in 1 day!
Mr Boeing isn't there already playing with their latest for this very purpose
2 runways at right angles to each other, 3,000m long helps you to "manufacture" your own x-wind
Very co-operative ATC who allow the regular visitors and based aircrew to choose the runway best suited, if swept of snow and ash
Then Keflavik is perfect, swot up on MNPS procedures so you can find it properly, though it's mostly radar to radar over the wet bits.
P S The beer is expensive!!!???:cool:

Airbus has used KEF as well for 340-600 and A380. On some occasions as when Boeing brought the 747-8F, they got more than they bargained for, nearly 100 kts of gusts.

Birr in Ireland, a north south runway in a country of westerly winds. I fouind the the real crosswind limits of my aircraft as opposed to the book limit.

But Ronaldsway is a good spot. Quite tricky at times. If you want to find the limits go to Ronaldsway.

KEF sounds good, and theres a lot of space in the ac for beer....

Well it depends what crosswind component you are looking for and how much runway you need. If we are talking >20 kts and >7500ft, then forget it "in the next few weeks". If you want >20kts then try Keflavik about two weeks after the equinox (early April or October). Its fairly windy and has perpendicular 10,000 ft runways. Its been used by both Boeing and Airbus in recent times, so they know the ropes. Nowhere else in Europe can really offer that. If 6500 ft is good enough for you, then you could consider Prestwick as they have a second perpendicular runway of that length, and its fairly breezy.