What is the Crosswind Leg in relation to a landing runway?

What is the Crosswind Leg in relation to a landing runway?

• A. A flight path parallel to the landing runway
• B. A flight path at right angles to the landing runway off its departure end
• C. A flight path along the runway centerline
• D. A circular path around the runway

Answer: (B)

In the landing pattern, the crosswind leg is the segment flown at a right angle to the runway, offset from the departure end. After takeoff, you turn onto this leg to gain altitude and establish spacing away from the runway before turning onto the downwind leg, which then runs parallel to the runway in the opposite direction of landing. For example, if the runway is oriented north-south and you take off to the north, the crosswind leg would run east or west, perpendicular to the runway, to set up the next turns toward final. This isn't parallel to the runway (that would be the downwind leg), nor is it along the runway centerline (that would be final or a straight-in path), and it's certainly not a circular path around the runway.

In the landing pattern, the crosswind leg is the segment flown at a right angle to the runway, offset from the departure end. After takeoff, you turn onto this leg to gain altitude and establish spacing away from the runway before turning onto the downwind leg, which then runs parallel to the runway in the opposite direction of landing. For example, if the runway is oriented north-south and you take off to the north, the crosswind leg would run east or west, perpendicular to the runway, to set up the next turns toward final.

This isn't parallel to the runway (that would be the downwind leg), nor is it along the runway centerline (that would be final or a straight-in path), and it's certainly not a circular path around the runway.