Crosswind check

Watch the video: Safety checks before you fly

When your airline has the Crosswind check on, your booking page shows a Crosswind at card for your arrival airport. It tells you before you leave whether the wind there is more than your aircraft type is shown to handle, so you don't find out on final.

It is advice only. It never stops you booking or flying, and it changes no score.

How to use it

Book your flight and open the booking page.
The card fills in a moment after the page shows, so the page never waits for it.
Read the two lines: the crosswind now (from the latest weather report, METAR) and the forecast for your expected arrival time (from the TAF).
Each line says Within or Over your type's limit, for example "Over the A320's 38 kt".
When a line is over, plan for it: brief a go-around, check the suggested alternates the card lists, and think about a later departure.

How it works it out

It takes the runway at your arrival with the least crosswind, as you would pick it, leaving out runways with more than 10 kt of tailwind.
Gusts count: the larger of the steady and the gust crosswind is compared.
The forecast line uses the TAF group in force at your arrival time. When a temporary or possible change (TEMPO, PROB) brings a stronger wind, it shows that one and says so.
The limit is your type's maximum demonstrated crosswind: a figure your airline set for the type, or Vaeroly's built-in round figure for common types (for example A320 family 38 kt, Boeing 737 33 kt). These are for dry runways; check your aircraft's own manual. A type with no figure gets no check, and the card says so.

A forecast can change. Look again shortly before you leave the gate.

For staff

Switch it on in Staff → Airline settings → Optional features → Crosswind check. It is in the recommended set, so new airlines have it on.

To change a type's limit, open Staff → Operations → Fleet, then the type settings, and fill in crosswind for the type in knots (10 to 60). Leave it empty to use the built-in figure shown in grey.