Quartering Tailwind
Quartering Tailwind in aviation refers to a wind blowing from the side (crosswind) but also from behind (tailwind), creating a complex situation for aircraft handling, especially during taxiing and landing.
Direction[edit | edit source]
A quartering tailwind is a wind that is blowing at an angle, neither directly from the front (headwind) nor directly from the side (crosswind), but rather at a 45-degree angle or more from behind the aircraft.
Taxiing[edit | edit source]
During taxiing, a quartering tailwind can cause the aircraft to be pushed sideways and potentially lift the tail or wing, requiring pilots to use specific control inputs to maintain directional control.
Control Inputs[edit | edit source]
To counteract a quartering tailwind during taxi, pilots should:
- Elevator: Hold the elevator down to prevent the tail from lifting, especially if the wind is strong enough to cause a prop strike.
- Ailerons: Turn the aileron away from the wind, meaning if the tailwind is coming from the left, turn the aileron to the right, and vice versa.
Landing[edit | edit source]
Similarly, a quartering tailwind can complicate landings by increasing the ground speed and making it harder to maintain directional control during the flare and touchdown.
Wake Turbulence[edit | edit source]
Quartering tailwinds can also push the wake turbulence (vortices) of preceding aircraft into the landing path, requiring pilots to be extra cautious.