Taking Off and Landing in Rain and Wind

Rain and Wind Are Everyday Weather

Planes take off and land in rain and wind every day, all over the world. For pilots, it's ordinary weather. They plan for it carefully, and planes are built and tested for it.

Runways Built to Drain

Many runways have tiny grooves cut across them. These give rainwater an escape path from under the tyres. The grooves keep the water layer thin and help the brakes grip.

Extra Stopping Distance Planned

Before every flight, the pilots work out exactly how much runway they need. On a wet runway, they plan extra distance. In the US, airline rules require at least 15% more runway when the destination is expected to be wet.

If the runway isn't long enough for the conditions, the plane doesn't go. Read why runway length matters.

Engines That Love the Rain

Jet engines are tested by spraying enormous amounts of water into them while they run. It's part of the official checks before an engine can carry passengers. Heavy rain is no problem.

Built for Strong Wind

Before a plane can carry passengers, it's tested landing in strong crosswinds — wind blowing across the runway. Pilots practise windy landings in the simulator again and again.

On a windy day, the plane may approach slightly sideways, pointing a little into the wind. This is called crabbing. It's a normal technique. Just before landing, the pilots straighten the plane up.

You may feel more movement on the way down. That's the plane riding the wind, not struggling with it.

Wind Helps at Take-Off

Planes like to take off and land into the wind. A headwind means more air flows over the wings. That helps the plane lift off sooner and stop more quickly.

Warnings Near the Airport

Many large airports have special weather radar that spots sudden wind changes nearby. Air traffic control passes warnings straight to the pilots. Read how pilots navigate weather.

If It's Too Strong, They Wait

Every plane has wind limits, and every airline has rules. If the weather is outside them, the pilots:

• wait for it to ease,
• go around and try again. Read go-arounds explained.
• or land at another airport nearby.

A delay or a go-around isn't a sign of danger. It's the system working exactly as it should.

The Takeaway

Rain and wind are part of everyday flying. Runways, engines, planes and pilots are all prepared for them — and nobody takes off or lands unless it's well within safe limits.

Sources

• Transport Canada, Advisory Circular 300-008 — Runway Grooving — grooves reduce the water film and give water an escape channel from under tyres: https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/reference-centre/advisory-circulars/advisory-circular-ac-no-300-008
• eCFR, 14 CFR 121.195 — Landing limitations: destination airports — 115% runway length when the runway may be wet: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/section-121.195
• eCFR, 14 CFR 33.78 — Rain and hail ingestion (engine certification): https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/section-33.78
• FAA, 14 CFR 25.237 — Wind velocities (crosswind demonstration for certification): https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/section-25.237
• FAA, Terminal Doppler Weather Radar: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/weather/tdwr