This week, images of aircraft that managed to land at Leeds airport despite the strong winds were shared on social media. Airplanes at Schiphol also suffered from the stormy weather this week. For example, the airport canceled 130 flights this week as a precaution due to storm Isha.
The BBC shared footage of a tricky landing in Leeds:
You see videos of planes having great difficulty landing after every storm. Things often seem to go just fine. How do you land a plane safely? First of all, it is important to explain that one gust of wind is not the same as another, says pilot Stegers. He has been flying for KLM for 22 years and is vice president of the Dutch Airline Pilots Association (VNV).
“There are several reasons why there can be wind, for example a large thundercloud can hang over an airport. In such a case we are absolutely not allowed to land, because if the wind goes down under such a cloud, it rises first the nose of the plane and then on the tail. Accidents have happened with this in the past,” he tells RTL News.
Wind rentals
In the case of a storm, in which the wind blows strongly over a large area, it is easy to measure which direction the wind is coming from and how strong it is. “Of course you still have to deal with gusts of wind, which you also notice on the highway, for example. That is why every aircraft is certified for certain wind limits. If the maximum wind force is higher than the set limit, take-off or landing is not allowed.”
In addition to the fact that the wind limits must be correct, unforeseen circumstances are also taken into account during a storm. “The weather forecasts are extremely good, so it never actually happens that the weather upon arrival is different than expected. Yet we take that into account,” says Stegers.
Extra fuel
“If I have to fly to Schiphol on a stormy day, I take extra fuel with me. The crosswind may be too strong to land on the Polderbaan runway, for example. This may mean that you have to fly extra laps until you reach you can use another runway. In really bad weather you also have the option to move to another airport.”
If the wind comes from straight ahead, an airplane can land easily. This is different with a strong crosswind. Then the pilot does not fly with the nose of the aircraft towards the runway, but against the wind. “That technique is called crabben. It then seems as if you are flying at an angle, but the crosswind blows the aircraft back to the runway. Just before landing, when you are almost on the ground, you have to make sure you straighten the nose again.”
Make a fresh start
It is a technique that pilots train a lot on, says Stegers. Also because the pilot sometimes has to decide at the last minute not to land. “Then you have to make a go-around and try again – possibly on a different runway. It’s not like you’re going through the eye of the needle, a go-around is also a normal procedure.”
The pilot has experienced it several times in the two decades he has been flying. “A few years ago there was a very strong storm at Schiphol, and we were only able to land on the third attempt. You then have to apply what you have learned to make the right decisions.”
This video shows a crosswind landing:
According to Stegers, it is precisely those moments that make flying fun. “What a shame you can’t fly today,” his wife says when it storms and he has no flight. “I really feel that way, because at such moments your professionalism is called upon extra. Although I also understand that it is less pleasant for the passengers, because you are still shaken up.”
Speaking of those passengers: the pilot wants to emphasize that they do not have to worry if they board a plane in stormy weather. “If it is not responsible to fly, then we will not do it. We do not hope that it will turn out well, we know that it will turn out well.”
