Hi IFC!
I have been experiencing some problems on my approaches. Here is the scenario:
I am approaching an airport. I check the METAR, it’s indicating 9 knots surface winds, and I am planning to fly a CAT III ILS as winds should not be too bad.
Time passes, the winds on the METAR stay the same. I am now established and and engaging APPR. However, I see a problem. I am experiencing 28 knots of crosswinds at 3000, but i say to myself “It will die away, continue with your ILS” I’m getting closer, 5nm out, I deploy gear. Winds don’t change, and I am getting concerned. At ~4nm out, I take over. I am a bit late and my approach is unstable as a lot of rudder movements are needed. I get closer, but the winds don’t change.
100: 28knts
50: 28knts
40: 28knts
30: 28knts
20: 28knts
10: 28knts
I am both confused and also having an unstable approach, so I slide off centerline. I go around.
I come back in for a Visual Approach and add rudder from 7-8 nm and everything is fine.
My question is: Is there any way I can know wind speed at 5-10 feet above the ground so I can plan accordingly? How can there be a 18 knots wind difference between surface winds and winds that are 5-10 feet above?
There’s no specific way with such precise measurements, to be honest. I’d suggest practicing in winds, such as the 28 knots you mentioned. In the real world, winds do go higher, so training to adapt to these winds is crucial.
Practice makes perfect, and don’t forget, you can always go around.
That’s what happens with weather, lol. It varies, and it can change at any moment, and sometimes, quite drastically. Just like Thunderbolt said, create scenarios in solo that you can practice in!
By ‘surface winds’ do you mean the METAR. Note that that is only a report and could have been up to half an hour ago. On most aircraft with live cockpits, there will be a winf indicator on the ND (Navigation Display)
Like others have said, practice for these winds. Then, even if you aren’t expecting it, you’ll be anle to factor it in and make inputs to adjust for it. For context, the maximum crosswind component* of a 737 is 33kts.
*a crosswind component is different to the wind velocity. You can google/look up what it is in further detail if you so eish, but basically it is how much of the wind is a crosswind. So, I would practice in about 35kts to be able to adapt to it when you need to.
Yes, as people have said the winds can change. But also, I’ve experienced a few times, the weather system stops due to an internet error or server error (something like that) and the winds you were experiencing stay the same throughout the duration of the flight until the winds reconnect, an example was i had to land in 71 knots of direct headwind when the winds were red in the top right, and the airport said 12 knots of direct crosswind.
@InfiniteFlightDeck Yes I do mean the METAR, and also, the winds were indicating 9 when I was at my gate. However, it was at 28 on very shortfinal. Thanks for your advice, I will be practicing for sure.
@Khainto I agree, and also I have to mention, and landing with 71 knots headwind. Lol.
Yeah lol, i did have the replay but i deleted. Was also in an E-190 so i was really only going about 60 knots, took forever to get to the runway when lined up with the localiser
I use windy.com to see the current wind conditions during all phases of flight. It has options to change altitude so it’s pretty useful. It would proboly help in your situation.
This sounds like a possible bug actually. The way weather works in game makes it transition from wind aloft to metar when you ar on final. Shouldn’t stay at 28kts. What airport was this?
As @Thunderbolt said, there is no specific and precise measurement to look upon this. However, there are many 3rd party apps that can help you get the surface winds.
Just an advice - METAR changes every 30 minutes. So in case you ETA is 20 min and current time is 0028Z, check the METAR after 0030Z :)
The best thing to do is not touch rudder at all during approach …I know how bad winds can hurl you sideways buy keep a good control on yoke …
Well this is where u can do onething as u r so focused on keeping centreline and runway let Autothrust deal speed plus don’t forget to add wind correction if u don’t know u can find in by searching landing weights for different aircrafts on Google. .
Use rudder once blow 30 ft as yoke controls be less effective at surface…
That’s more bwtter…
Fly into the wind ur aircarft being slightly to offset from runway course …
I can suggest watching crosswinds landings especially paying attention to yeh crab angle and use of rudser