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ATC Wind Information

As airliners now tend to have instruments giving wind speed and direction, I was wondering what the ATC wind information is used for when it is given with take off and landing clearance. Is it simply to check and verify the aircrafts wind instrument, or is the instrument on the aircraft deemed to be unaccurate?

Thanks,
Luke

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By: wysiwyg - 30th March 2005 at 22:20

On board instrumentation gives us the wind strength direction in our current position. ATC given wind is that at the threshold of the active runway. Go into places like Tenerife and they will frequently differ by 180 degrees.

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By: wysiwyg - 30th March 2005 at 22:20

On board instrumentation gives us the wind strength direction in our current position. ATC given wind is that at the threshold of the active runway. Go into places like Tenerife and they will frequently differ by 180 degrees.

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By: DashQ - 30th March 2005 at 18:50

Thanks for the replies.

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By: DashQ - 30th March 2005 at 18:50

Thanks for the replies.

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By: tenthije - 30th March 2005 at 16:46

The wind is different at different altitudes. So on the ground the wind may be completely different. Knowing that makes the landing safer and more comfortable.

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By: Whiskey Delta - 30th March 2005 at 04:58

…I was wondering what the ATC wind information is used for when it is given with take off and landing clearance.

Because it’s more important to know the wind direction and speed for where you are going to then knowing what they are were you are currently at.

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By: Skymonster - 29th March 2005 at 23:13

As airliners now tend to have instruments giving wind speed and direction…

They do??? :confused: News to me! 😮

Most modern airliner’s FMCs are very capable of determining the winds aloft and factoring that into the speed and track needed to make good a particular flight plan, but not of determining wind on ground whilst the aircraft is stationary or taxiing which can of course be critical to take off and landing.

Andy

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