Originally Posted by
cblaisd
Every airplane in the United States has been certified for a maximum crosswind component (which is a calculation involving the direction of the wind and speed -- e.g., a 50 knot headwind 5 degrees off the nose will be less of a crosswind component that a 90 degree crosswind at 20 knots).
For a pilot to attempt a takeoff (or landing) when the crosswind component is known to be higher than the certificated maximum means the pilot is in violation of the plane's airworthiness certificate, would be subject to FAA action, has become a "test pilot," and is really stupid.
Each airline may well have its own procedures, though, that mandate no takeoffs or landings at crosswind components less than the certificated maximums.
At our airline, operations are suspended when winds are above 50kts. Also, like you said above, we can never exceed the max crosswind component.
We have a maximum crosswind component of 30kts listed in the limitations section of our manual. We can never exceed that since it is a limitation.
Some airplanes, however, have a maximum
demonstrated crosswind component. That is NOT a limitation since it is the maximum amount of xwind they experienced during certfication. I've never seen a "max demonstrated xwind" in a transport category aircraft, it's usually in light aircraft