I was contemplating the best way to answer this question, and I kept getting hung up on the words 'problem' and 'dangerous'. I think the best way to answer a question on winds, would be to address strong crosswinds, which I would describe as 'challenging'.
Wind direction obviously impacts the work level on landing. Picture yourself trying to push a feather through a room and down onto a table......with a bit of wind, that task becomes a bit more challenging.
With a headwind, our relative speed over the ground is reduced, and our landing rollout will likewise be reduced.
With a tailwind, our speed over the ground is increased and our landing distance increased. We've got to analyze our landing weight (heavy/light?), runway condition (wet/dry/snow/ice?), runway length (construction?), and any other factors which will impact our ability to stop (reverser inop, etc.).
A strong crosswind (with gusts) is probably the most challenging. The aircraft is 'crabbed' into the wind to maintain a track down the extended centerline of the runway. The crab is maintained until just prior to touchdown, and the aircraft is aligned by the pilot with the runway centerline. This is accomplished by what what we call a 'wing down, top rudder' maneuver. As the aircraft is flared we lower the 'upwind' wing, and apply opposite rudder. If done correctly, this will bring the nose around to the centerline and keep the wings relatively level. The big challenge on all of that is touching down at the exact moment that both of the mains are perfectly aligned with the runway. If you are off at all....wheels not level, or not tracking down the centerline......you'll all feel it in the back. Picture yourself trying to pull into your garage with your nose not quite pointed where you want it, and your tires not pointed in that direction either.
On touchdown, we'll use the rudder to get over to that centerline, raise the control stick into the wind (which raises the aileron/spoiler and kills lift on that side - - keeping that wing from wanting to fly) and open the reversers.
Sounds rather busy, but after you do it one or two (hundred) times it becomes almost second nature. Still more of a challenge though than a 'calm' wind day.
Different planes have different characteristics.....
An interesting video to watch is the one on YouTube that shows the 777 crosswind landing flight testing. Type 'Crosswind landing testing' into the search and it should take you there.
DRW
