As someone who actively seeks out challenging weather for training, I learned everything about building student confidence through controlled exposure. Probably should have led with this: wind was 15 gusting 25, and it turned out to be one of our best training sessions.
Some students want to cancel when they see gusty conditions. I push back, within reason. Today was one of those valuable teaching days where Mother Nature provides the best curriculum.
Managing Expectations
Before we even walked to the airplane, I explained the plan. We would stay in the pattern, keep the workload manageable, and focus specifically on crosswind technique. If it got too sporty, we would land and debrief.
The windsock was dancing between 30 and 45 degrees off the runway heading – solid crosswind practice conditions. Not dangerous, but definitely demanding. That has gotten complicated with all the variables at play, but staying within our comfort zone while pushing the boundary slightly is how skills develop.
Building Skills Through Repetition
First approach was rough. My student was chasing the airspeed, overcontrolling in the gusts, and landing flat. Classic beginner mistakes amplified by challenging conditions.
We talked through it on the taxi back. “Lead the gust with your corrections. When you feel the lift, aileron into the wind immediately. Do not wait for the airplane to drift.”
Second approach: better. Third approach: solid. By the fifth landing, she was anticipating the gusts and correcting smoothly.
Why This Matters
Gusty days separate proficient pilots from fair-weather flyers. The skills you build when conditions are challenging are the skills that keep you safe when conditions surprise you. That is what makes these training opportunities so valuable – they cannot be replicated on calm days.
My student was exhausted after an hour, but her grin said everything. That is the look of someone who just leveled up.
