Which way is the wind blowing ?
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Cyberspace
Which way is the wind blowing ?
Sounds like a daft question, but as a non-pilot who flies regularly I am forever puzzled by the use of the term "Westerly" (or any other -ly). When I was at school Westerly meant from the West as in the UK has prevailing westerlies. Yet whenever I hear over the flightdeck pa we're taking off on a Westerly runway it means the exact opposite. In a dictionary it gives both diametrically opposite definitions (bit like flammable & inflammable).
What am I missing here as this seems to be a bizarre safety risk in aviation
What am I missing here as this seems to be a bizarre safety risk in aviation
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,032
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From: OS SX2063
At the risk of over simplifying things a wind from the West is a Westerly. If you take off into wind you would face West, and if available use a Westerly Runway if in an aeroplane (its a bit easier for us helicopter pilots because we can usually find a way to take into the wind no matter which way it is coming from).
Once you know that these things work like this I don't thinks its exactly a safety issue if some tells you the wind is Southerly (from 180 degrees or south) and you then know you need to aim to land into wind facing approximately south when you do so.
HTH
Gary
Once you know that these things work like this I don't thinks its exactly a safety issue if some tells you the wind is Southerly (from 180 degrees or south) and you then know you need to aim to land into wind facing approximately south when you do so.
HTH
Gary
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,300
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From: Canberra Australia
Damn those early sailors - they got it all arse about.
Now we have to live with it.
Didn't know it applies to ocean currents also! Are there any others?
Then there are those terrible twins - Port and Starboard. They never did come instintively to me and when I called a "Break Port" to avoid enemy fire my finger four section went in two directions. Soon after was able to ban their use in the RAAF at the same time we went decimal with flying hours.
Now we have to live with it.
Didn't know it applies to ocean currents also! Are there any others?
Then there are those terrible twins - Port and Starboard. They never did come instintively to me and when I called a "Break Port" to avoid enemy fire my finger four section went in two directions. Soon after was able to ban their use in the RAAF at the same time we went decimal with flying hours.
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: UK
Non Driver, you're right to be confused. The use of the expression "Westerly runway" is a nonsense and is only used by the (far too many) people who don't think about making comprehensible PAs. The only way a runway can be the westerly one is if two are more are arranged north/south. It cannot, and does not mean pointing in a westerly direction in non-aviation English.
It is an expression that I guarantee not one pax in 100 will understand.
Don't use it!
(What's wrong with landing in a westerly direction, or from the east, as if it matters. Come to think of it, how many pax even know where west is?)
Think before you make PAs with technical or aviation jargon!
It is an expression that I guarantee not one pax in 100 will understand.
Don't use it!
(What's wrong with landing in a westerly direction, or from the east, as if it matters. Come to think of it, how many pax even know where west is?)
Think before you make PAs with technical or aviation jargon!
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: USA
Back in the Navy, we were always toldTIDE IS TO and WIND IS FROM.I agree the old sailors made it tough on themselves and others.Way back in the Ancient Mariner days when they said "hard a port" they really meant stern to port instead of the stem(head/nose to the land lubbers).Hence the apparent error in the Titanic movie.Yes, go watch it again and see which way the helmsman throws the wheel when the OOW (Officer Of the Watch to the land lubbers------sigh!!) orders hard a starboard.
Sorry, got off the subject a bit but could'nt resist a little bit of trivia.
.Yes, go watch it again and see which way the helmsman throws the wheel when the OOW (Officer Of the Watch to the land lubbers------sigh!!) orders hard a starboard.Sorry, got off the subject a bit but could'nt resist a little bit of trivia.
Joined: Jul 1999
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From: Warrington, UK
Way back in the Ancient Mariner days when they said "hard a port"
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: USA
Mighty Gem:
You are absolutely correct.But ,unfortunately, it carried over into the big ships and liners right until the twenties.They finally got it right,and today(thankfully!) you turn the wheel in the dierction you want the "boat " to go.
You are absolutely correct.But ,unfortunately, it carried over into the big ships and liners right until the twenties.They finally got it right,and today(thankfully!) you turn the wheel in the dierction you want the "boat " to go.
