Which wind condition is preferred for landing into, and which is not preferred?

• A. Preferred: Crosswind; Not preferred: Headwind
• B. Preferred: Tailwind; Not preferred: Headwind
• C. Preferred: Headwind; Not preferred: Tailwind
• D. Preferred: Headwind; Not preferred: Crosswind

Answer: (C)

Wind direction relative to the runway greatly affects landing performance. Landing into a headwind slows the airplane relative to the ground, which gives you more lift at the same airspeed, better control during the flare, and a shorter rollout. In contrast, a tailwind increases your ground speed at touchdown, requiring a longer landing distance and making it harder to control you on the runway.

Crosswinds add lateral challenge, but they’re not as favorable as a headwind for a straight-in landing, so they’re not the preferred condition when talking about “landing into” the runway.

So, the best pairing is that landing into the wind is preferred, and landing with the wind at your back is not preferred.