Windspeed (max) for takeoff

[juice]

We have forecast 50Kt winds here for Saturday, unfortunately I'm supposed to be flying to New York that day on a 737...Is that wind over the threshold for a safe takeoff ?

If it is, there's a chance I can get out today so any info would be REALLY appreciated !

Thanks

[DHA]

Which way is the wind coming from in relation to the runway, and is the runway dry or wet?

[Scooby_snax]

No idea about these things but would guess if it is a headwind then technically the plane doesnt need the same ground speed to take off

[BOH]

I doubt you'll be on a 737 if you're bound for New York.

Never the less, here are the take off limits from our ops manual (737-300):

Dry runway = 35 knots crosswind (times by 1.15 to get MPH)

Wet runway = 25 knots

Tailwind = 10 knots

We have no overall limit for wind speed, i.e. as long as the crosswind/tailwind component doesn't exceed the above, the aircraft can usually take off.

Interestingly the maximum windspeed for operating the doors (opening or closing them) is 40 knots - this is often the limiting issue with operating in very windy conditions.

In reality, if the wind is over limits, we just wait for it to dip below the limits and go, so it's very unusual for a flight to be cancelled purely because of the windspeed.

Edited by BOH on Friday 18th December 17:14

[Simpo Two]

juice said:

We have forecast 50Kt winds here for Saturday, unfortunately I'm supposed to be flying to New York that day on a 737...Is that wind over the threshold for a safe takeoff ?

If it is, there's a chance I can get out today so any info would be REALLY appreciated !

Thanks

Could it be possible, given a headwind equivalent to the takeoff speed, for a plane to lift off vertically (ie zero groundspeed)?

[magpie215]

Simpo Two said:

juice said:

We have forecast 50Kt winds here for Saturday, unfortunately I'm supposed to be flying to New York that day on a 737...Is that wind over the threshold for a safe takeoff ?

If it is, there's a chance I can get out today so any info would be REALLY appreciated !

Thanks

Could it be possible, given a headwind equivalent to the takeoff speed, for a plane to lift off vertically (ie zero groundspeed)?

very possible

[BOH]

magpie215 said:

Simpo Two said:

juice said:

We have forecast 50Kt winds here for Saturday, unfortunately I'm supposed to be flying to New York that day on a 737...Is that wind over the threshold for a safe takeoff ?

If it is, there's a chance I can get out today so any info would be REALLY appreciated !

Thanks

Could it be possible, given a headwind equivalent to the takeoff speed, for a plane to lift off vertically (ie zero groundspeed)?

very possible

Err...in practical terms no, not possible. However once airborne it's perfectly possible to 'hover' a light aircraft over a ground feature or even reverse over it. Possible and good fun too.

[dcw@pr]

It is also, apparently, quite possible to land a microlight going backwards

[SlipStream77]

Who needs a runway?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWTcCtYl5Cs

[cheddar]

^^^^^^^^^^^^
HOW THE FECK DO THEY DO THAT????

[magpie215]

BOH said:

magpie215 said:

Simpo Two said:

juice said:

We have forecast 50Kt winds here for Saturday, unfortunately I'm supposed to be flying to New York that day on a 737...Is that wind over the threshold for a safe takeoff ?

If it is, there's a chance I can get out today so any info would be REALLY appreciated !

Thanks

Could it be possible, given a headwind equivalent to the takeoff speed, for a plane to lift off vertically (ie zero groundspeed)?

very possible

Err...in practical terms no, not possible. However once airborne it's perfectly possible to 'hover' a light aircraft over a ground feature or even reverse over it. Possible and good fun too.

he asked if it was possible ...not practical

I have seen lots of aircraft that have achieved flight from stationary .... most turn out to be write offs afterwards :-)

[BOH]

You wouldn't catch me trying it.

[magpie215]

BOH said:

You wouldn't catch me trying it.

Quite right too lol caught parked out in stormy weather and not tied down properly usually results in a mess.

[juice]

Just an update - got the flight out on day of posting...Today's flight got cancelled, more so (I think) because of the snow in New York than the winds..

Continental Flight 1660
Status: Cancelled

So glad I bit the bullet an JFDI'd it. Thanks for the replies, its chuffing freezing here but I'm glad to be here !

[mattdaniels]

cheddar said:

^^^^^^^^^^^^
HOW THE FECK DO THEY DO THAT????

A nice head wind and a great deal of skill helps.

[Incredible Sulk]

mattdaniels said:

cheddar said:

^^^^^^^^^^^^
HOW THE FECK DO THEY DO THAT????

A nice head wind and a great deal of skill helps.

I must admit I enjoyed the aeroplane equivalent of a 'stoppie' on landing.

[mattdaniels]

Ding. Very cool but dangerous with a very real possibility of it going extremely badly wrong. I've never flown a tail wheel type but I know how tricky it is compared to tricycle types. Hats off to these guys skill.