Which statement correctly describes the effect of wind and runway slope on landing distance for the A320?

• A. Headwinds reduce landing distance; tailwinds increase it; runway slope can increase or decrease required distance; crosswinds influence approach technique.
• B. Tailwinds reduce landing distance; headwinds increase it; runway slope has no effect; crosswinds do not influence approach technique.
• C. Headwinds have no effect on landing distance.
• D. Runway slope always decreases landing distance.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how wind and runway slope change the distance you must travel to stop after touchdown. A headwind reduces the ground speed you have once you touch down, so you cover less runway before coming to a stop, shortening the landing distance. A tailwind does the opposite: it raises your ground speed at touchdown, increasing the distance needed to stop. Runway slope adds another factor that can go either way: if the runway slopes uphill in the direction of landing, gravity helps slow the aircraft, reducing the required distance; if it slopes downhill, gravity assists forward motion, increasing the distance you must travel to stop. Crosswinds mainly affect how you approach and touch down, i.e., the technique used to manage the wind, rather than directly changing the basic landing distance.