Pilots, is a 35 knot wind considered too high for a cessna 172 to fly in?

Question

Pilots, is a 35 knot wind considered too high for a cessna 172 to fly in?

Answer 1

A 172 can easily handle a 35kt wind on the ground, even a direct cross wind. A pilot may not be able to handle the wind though.

I have personally landed in a 45kt wind, with about a 36kt crosswind component. I am not going to say it was easy, it took me a few tries to get on the ground, but as long as the wind isn't gusting much, the high winds aren't a huge issue if you have experience with them.

Like anything, there is no way a new pilot, or even someone with lots of hours but not many recent crosswind landing are going to be able to land in those conditions, it takes practice and you have to build up to the high winds. I know I wouldn't be able to handle winds that high now, I haven't had enough recent experience.

I have been told a 172 can land with as much as 40kts direct crosswind, but it must be a steady wind.

Answer 2

I would not take off in any light plane with surface winds of that speed.

Answer 3

The only problem with a 35 knot wind would be if you tried to land downwind with less than a mile of runway or if it is at a 90 degree angle with your landing path. The demonstrated crosswind component listed in the POH is not a limitation, but what was demonstrated during certification. Many aircraft, including the 172 can be landed in a much greater crosswind. However, before you try it, get as good at flying as the certification pilots.

Answer 4

To fly in - no - winds at altitude are higher than that most of the time.

To take off and land in - that is another story.  So I guess it depends what are you really asking.

If you are asking "If the winds are 35 kts, would you go flying in your C172".  I would personally answer 'no' - I would not.

Can it be done?  Sure.

Can it be done safely?  It depends - on several factors:

1. Headwind vs crosswind component (crosswind limit for most light aircraft is 15-20 knots)

2. Is the wind steady or gusting

3. Turbulence level

4. Is wind shear present

5. Skill and experience levels of the pilot

If you go flying in a light aircraft in such weather and you do have an accident or an incident, the investigators will certainly question your judgment and will ask you to explain why did you go flying and why did you think you could do it safely.  There is a good chance "pilot error" will be assigned as a main or at least contributing cause of the accident.

I personally don't like to take off or land in a B747 in a 35 kts wind, but I do it when I have to - fortunately it does not happen often.

Answer 5

Yes, for takeoff and landing, unless it's pretty straight down the runway. I've done it before but I would try to avoid it if possible.

Answer 6

All wind limitations depend on where they're from.  The 172 crosswind limit is 15 knots.  I wouldn't be trying it with an angle between wind direction and runway heading of more than about 20 degrees, to give a small margin.