Me again 😉 could someone please clarify what a quartering tailwind is? I get it’s a wind from behind.. but what is meant by the quartering bit.? Im thinking it’s say a wind coming from the south east when I’m landing toward the east? Have I got that correct?...
Sorry that is I’m landing from the east toward the west .... I should proof read before I post
In this sense, "quarter" or "quartering" derives from traditional nautical practice, such as in http://www.seatalk.info/cgi-bin/nautical-marine-sailing-dictionary/db.cgi?db=db&view_records=1&uid=default&Term=quarter.
That is, if you are pointing north, say, a quartering wind is coming from either the SE or SW or, more appropriately, the SE or SW quarter.
Strictly, an expression such as. "a quartering tailwind" is a tautology as quartering relates to the stern or tail. The appropriate expression is, simply, "a quartering wind".
Having said that, you will see references to quartering winds from the forward quadrants - the joys of English as a living and changing language, I guess. If you choose to say "a quartering headwind (or tailwind)" we all are going to know what you mean.
Engineering specialist in aircraft performance and weight control.
Also remember that quartering has nothing to do with NORTH, SOUTH, EAST or WEST. This description relates the wind direction to the aircraft no matter what the heading might be. So a quartering tailwind would be coming from somewhere within a sector between the tail of the aircraft and the left wing or from the tail of the aircraft and the right wing. A quartering headwind would be coming from somewhere within a sector between the nose of the aircraft and the left wing or the nose of the aircraft and the right wing.
