So tomorrow there's gonna be yet another Nor'easter and there are High Wind Warnings in effect for many airports, including DCA from where I have a flight tomorrow. Forecast calls for sustained winds of up to 40mph with gusts between 60-70mph.
What is the maximum windspeed for airports to operate before they begin delaying/closing operations?
BTW, the flight I have is on an E175 so the bigger question is: do I have a chance to fly out or will my flight be delayed/canceled?
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- einsteinboricua
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Max windspeed for airport
"You haven't seen a tree until you've seen its shadow from the sky."
Re: Max windspeed for airport
It depends mainly on wind direction and runway layout. When winds start to exceed 35-40 kts, (40-45 mph) full cross, which means 90 degrees off the runway heading, that's when it starts to get out of limits for most commercial aircraft. The more the wind is in the nose, the less this is limiting.
On the A320, max wind speed for operating the passenger doors is 65kts, and for the cargo doors it is 40kts or 50kts if the nose of the a/c is into wind or the doors are on the leeward side. Cargo doors are also required to be closed before the wind exceeds 65kts.
Sorry I have no specific info about the E175, but my guess it will be quite similar.
Winds at DCA are showing max 54 kts, direction 320 degrees, which should suit rwy 33 quite well. Never been there myself, so I don't know if it's used for departures.
On the A320, max wind speed for operating the passenger doors is 65kts, and for the cargo doors it is 40kts or 50kts if the nose of the a/c is into wind or the doors are on the leeward side. Cargo doors are also required to be closed before the wind exceeds 65kts.
Sorry I have no specific info about the E175, but my guess it will be quite similar.
Winds at DCA are showing max 54 kts, direction 320 degrees, which should suit rwy 33 quite well. Never been there myself, so I don't know if it's used for departures.
I wanna go back upstairs!
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- RetiredWeasel
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Re: Max windspeed for airport
Can't remember what airport/airbase it was, but the ATC guys had to evacuate the tower before the winds reached some high limit like 50kts. I'm sure that restriction was airport specific and probably applies only to some older structures. Ground crews may have wind restrictions also, like driving around airstairs and using cherry pickers for de-icing.
Re: Max windspeed for airport
Also Passenger Loading Bridges have wind limits as well, that may vary by manufacturer or installation. I think sustained winds of 65kts rings a bell. Beyond that they would have to be parked and chocked, if not tied down.
Also each airline operator will have their own limit in the ops-specs or other operating manual. My airline considers and airport “closed” when the mean surface wind exceeds 60 knots.
Also each airline operator will have their own limit in the ops-specs or other operating manual. My airline considers and airport “closed” when the mean surface wind exceeds 60 knots.
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- stratosphere
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Re: Max windspeed for airport
RetiredWeasel wrote:Can't remember what airport/airbase it was, but the ATC guys had to evacuate the tower before the winds reached some high limit like 50kts. I'm sure that restriction was airport specific and probably applies only to some older structures. Ground crews may have wind restrictions also, like driving around airstairs and using cherry pickers for de-icing.
I heard IAD had to evacuate their tower today due to the WX
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- SamTheGeek
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Re: Max windspeed for airport
TOGA10 wrote:Winds at DCA are showing max 54 kts, direction 320 degrees, which should suit rwy 33 quite well. Never been there myself, so I don't know if it's used for departures.
RWY 33 (effectively) isn't used for takeoffs anymore because the Pentagon (and its restricted airspace) is immediately beyond the threshold. It's occasionally used for landing, but Runway 1/19 is preferred because its longer. Runway 4 had been closed for years, but I think they're reopening it since they've installed EMAS.
Re: Max windspeed for airport
Quoting SamTheGeek (Reply # 6), "RWY 33 (effectively) isn't used for takeoffs anymore . . ."
Sam, that's not exactly true. I have seen Runway 33 used quite a bit, especially during peak times, because it helps relieve traffic congestion at the departure end of Runway 01 and balance runway utilization.
Take a look at the RNAV departure procedures at Washington National Airport (KDCA); almost all of them have a provision for a departure from Runway 33, "fly heading 332 degrees to 515 feet, the direct to ADAXE intersection." Even the National 7 departure, which is not an RNAV departure, simply states to "climb on the DCA VOR/DME R328 to 5000 feet . . ."
Of course because of the length of Runway 33--5,204 feet--it is typically used by regional jets. I do not believe I have ever seen a "mainline" type aircraft use Runway 33 for takeoff. Also, I am not aware of restricted airspace over the Pentagon. Does the airspace over the Pentagon have an "R" classification?
By the way, einsteinboricua (thread starter), was your flight delayed/cancelled, or did it operate as scheduled?
e38
Sam, that's not exactly true. I have seen Runway 33 used quite a bit, especially during peak times, because it helps relieve traffic congestion at the departure end of Runway 01 and balance runway utilization.
Take a look at the RNAV departure procedures at Washington National Airport (KDCA); almost all of them have a provision for a departure from Runway 33, "fly heading 332 degrees to 515 feet, the direct to ADAXE intersection." Even the National 7 departure, which is not an RNAV departure, simply states to "climb on the DCA VOR/DME R328 to 5000 feet . . ."
Of course because of the length of Runway 33--5,204 feet--it is typically used by regional jets. I do not believe I have ever seen a "mainline" type aircraft use Runway 33 for takeoff. Also, I am not aware of restricted airspace over the Pentagon. Does the airspace over the Pentagon have an "R" classification?
By the way, einsteinboricua (thread starter), was your flight delayed/cancelled, or did it operate as scheduled?
e38
Re: Max windspeed for airport
SamTheGeek wrote:TOGA10 wrote:Winds at DCA are showing max 54 kts, direction 320 degrees, which should suit rwy 33 quite well. Never been there myself, so I don't know if it's used for departures.
RWY 33 (effectively) isn't used for takeoffs anymore because the Pentagon (and its restricted airspace) is immediately beyond the threshold. It's occasionally used for landing, but Runway 1/19 is preferred because its longer. Runway 4 had been closed for years, but I think they're reopening it since they've installed EMAS.
RWY 15/33 Is used for takeoffs all the time (the Pentagon is not restricted airspace by the way). On calm wind days, mostly RJs take off on 15/33, but you do get an A319 once in a while.
15/33 is typically used as a backup runway for landing. During busy times of day, the tower will typically ask aircraft if they can accept 15/33 for landing if they get too tight on the spacing between arrivals and departures.
4/22 is open and has been for a while now. It is typically not used due to its runway length but once in a blue moon, you may see an E175 heading up towards the NE cut the departure line and takeoff RWY 4. (Example here: https://youtu.be/xXDKK_8hEFE)
Re: Max windspeed for airport
It's usually not the ability to land that's a problem, at least at airports with a 'cross-wind' runway, rather it's ground handling and door limitations. On a freighter, which I'm mainly acquainted with, the limit for main-deck cargo operations is around 40-50 knots. There are, however, lower limits which apply to usage of belt- and high-loaders. Some operators does not allow usage of belt-loaders in wind speeds above 25 knots, due to the risk of baggage and/or cargo blowing off the belt and spreading the contents over the ramp. There are also limitations for airbridge and stair usage, which varies between 35 and 60 knots, and there are also wind speed limits for fuelling.
In short, you may very well be able to land and taxi to a stand, but that's where the show may very well end. In those cases, it's better to divert to an airport where you can not only land, but where you can also get people and their possessions on and off the aircraft.
In short, you may very well be able to land and taxi to a stand, but that's where the show may very well end. In those cases, it's better to divert to an airport where you can not only land, but where you can also get people and their possessions on and off the aircraft.
Signature. You just read one.
Re: Max windspeed for airport
I got stuck in DCA because of the weather. the METAR said 33031G50 on Friday, and up the coast it was worse, so that messed up the entire network. I spent an extra day dinking around DC as a result.