AAAE Certified Member (CM) Module 4 Practice Test

Designating a preferential runway relies on wind alignment and manageable wind speed. If the wind direction is within 90 degrees of the runway heading, there is a usable headwind component for at least one runway and crosswinds stay within a safe range for standard operations. Keeping the wind speed at or below 15 knots on clear, dry runways ensures the crosswind remains within a comfortable handling margin for most pilots. Higher wind speeds or a stricter angular limit would make it harder to justify a single runway as preferential, increasing safety risks during takeoff and landing.