An amazing video of an Etihad A380 landing in severe crosswinds demonstrates how tough the Airbus superjumbo is, not to mention the skill of the Etihad pilots.
The video was taken this week at Heathrow which was battered by severe weather.
Typically aircraft land and take-off into the wind to decrease the landing or take-off distance.
In some cases aircraft land with a slight downwind component – typically associated with noise-sensitive airports where one runway is preferred over another.
Where a pilot faces a crosswind landing they need to point the aircraft in the direction of the wind while maintaining a straight course toward the runway.
This is called crabbing or yawing.
In strong crosswinds, the pilot may also dip the wing – sideslip – into the direction of the wind.
Just before touchdown pilots apply rudder to bring the plane – and its undercarriage – back so it is aligned straight down the centerline of the runway.
This takes great skill and the results – if not done properly – are often quite spectacular as shown in this video of the Etihad A380.
