Why A Boeing 747 Captain Thinks About Crosswind Landings Differently Than An Airbus A380 Captain

The Boeing 747 and Airbus A380 are both large, heavy, four-engine aircraft that operate into the same airports and land on the same runways. However, in a crosswind, the techniques their captains use to get them on the ground safely are not the same. The 747 captain has three crosswind landing methods available and the flexibility to choose between them based on conditions. The A380 captain works within a narrower set of options defined by a wingspan that is 50 feet (15 meters) wider and a flight control system that limits bank angle to 5 degrees during landing.