Crosswind

Do you know what crosswind is? Quite intuitive, right? A wind blowing across your direction of travel. But have you ever experienced it? You know that time when you were riding your bicycle and the wind was so strong that you had to put all your effort and tend your muscles to the maximum in order to move forward? Or when you were crossing a bridge on a motorcycle and the wind seemed to move your vehicle sideways giving you the impression of being out of control?  Or maybe you felt in in a car on a highway when a truck passed by very fast and the mere size of it moved the air, therefor your car.

FedEx MD10 fighting crosswind

Well it also happens in the airplanes at the most critical stage of the flight which is take off or landing. Pilots are well trained for it, but you do need to be a good pilot to play with the wind (just saying). It is beautiful to see from outside, this elegant romantic dance between the nature and the huge metal tube with wings. Maybe not so fun to be in it during the dance, but for the Cabin Crew: we have all experienced it countless times. You do get used to it, no panic. It's part of the job. But the power of the wind...it is incredible how strong it is. These tones heavy machines seem a mere fly at the mercy of the wind, even the Big Mama (Airbus 380).

So during the landing approach when you see that the airplane is not so straight in the runway direction, but it looks like you are going to land sideways, no worries: it's a technique against the crosswind! Just keep that seatbelt tightly fastened and follow the Crew instructions, it is going to be fine!

photo credit: pdx.rollingthunder FedEx MD10 fighting crosswind via photopin (license)