The "Demonstrated Cross Wind Component" is that which the Company Test Pilot (in this case Pipers Test Pilot) finds acceptable during the Certification process.

If you feel you are more capable than him, then you may find yourself having to prove this to the Insurance Company...we all know how they can wriggle given half a chance!

Interestingly, my old companys Ops Manual states a cross wind "limit" (slightly larger aircraft) and that was never exceeded. Gusts counted too.

This also seems to be the practice in Airlines...cannot have one company landing, one not, one pilot landing, one not..etc..etc.

So why not the same with puddle jumpers??

UV

PS Bose-x: A 33kts "headwind" and 20 kts "crosswind" requires a steady windspeed of at least 40kts! (CRP 5 not to hand) In a C 152?!

yeah at was very breezy at Kemble! the trip home had a ground speed of 142kts!!!:p

The demonstrated crosswind component is purely a matter of how strong your landing gear is.

The factory test pilot demonstrated he could land the aircraft in crosswind of X knots WITHOUT any crosswind compensation and that the landing gear did not bend.

This is NOT an aerodynamic limit.

This aerodynamic limit is to be found elsewhere in the FAR and it requires that the aircraft is controllable with a crosswind of 20% of the stalling speed (from memory, may be slightly different).

I agree with dirk. The given limit is without any technique.
As everyone says it's down to what you feel comfortable with, and if it feels bad on final, just chuck it away and try again.
Have a practice and see how you go.

Insurance companies do pay out if demonstrated x wind component it exceeded.

FYI i have landed an FR150 (Demonstrated X-wind of 24kts) in a wind that 100 at 30G40 ( on Runway 03). The wind veered as we were turning base to final. We cleared to land and told we could reposition for an into wind runway if required. However I carried on and had no problem landing. Crabbed over the numbers, swtched to wing down and got onto the runway, with plenty of aileron and rudder to spare.

However, I wouldn't plan to a destination knowing that wind was like that. I was ready to go around all the way down the approach. There's also the possibility that the windspeed dropped significantly for my last 1/2 mile final!