What should you do if you detect drift from the runway centerline during landing or takeoff?

What should you do if you detect drift from the runway centerline during landing or takeoff?

• A. Reduce power and fly a shallow angle to correct drift.
• B. Correct with appropriate rudder and aileron, maintain control, and if unsafe, execute a go-around.
• C. Ignore drift and continue the approach.
• D. Ask for a straight-in approach from ATC.

Answer: (B)

Crosswinds can push an aircraft off the runway centerline, so the immediate corrective action is to use coordinated rudder and aileron to reestablish and maintain the runway alignment while keeping the aircraft under control. Apply aileron into the wind to counter the drift and use the rudder to bring the nose back toward the runway, keeping the wings coordinated with the airflow and maintaining appropriate airspeed and attitude. If the drift cannot be corrected or the situation feels unsafe, execute a go-around to regain a stable, controllable approach or takeoff path. Reducing power and flying a shallow angle won’t correct the drift, ignoring it is unsafe, and requesting a straight-in approach doesn’t address the immediate control issue.

Crosswinds can push an aircraft off the runway centerline, so the immediate corrective action is to use coordinated rudder and aileron to reestablish and maintain the runway alignment while keeping the aircraft under control. Apply aileron into the wind to counter the drift and use the rudder to bring the nose back toward the runway, keeping the wings coordinated with the airflow and maintaining appropriate airspeed and attitude. If the drift cannot be corrected or the situation feels unsafe, execute a go-around to regain a stable, controllable approach or takeoff path. Reducing power and flying a shallow angle won’t correct the drift, ignoring it is unsafe, and requesting a straight-in approach doesn’t address the immediate control issue.