Why Madeira is different
The airport publishes its own wind limits
Madeira is the only airport in the world that publishes landing wind limits in its aeronautical information publication. They are not a single "too windy" threshold — the limit changes with the direction the wind comes from, and in one sector with which runway is in use.
The published limits
| Wind from | Runway | Max mean | Max gust | Measured at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300°–010° MAG | Either | 15 kt | 25 kt | Touchdown anemometer |
| 020°–040° MAG | Either | 20 kt | 30 kt | Touchdown anemometer |
| 120°–190° MAG | 05 | 20 kt | 30 kt | Touchdown anemometer |
| 120°–190° MAG | 23 | 15 kt | 25 kt | Touchdown and MID anemometers |
| 200°–230° MAG | Either | — | — | MID or Rosário anemometer |
Why the direction matters more than the speed
The runway sits on a shelf above the sea with mountains behind it. Wind from the north-west comes over high ground and arrives turbulent, so the limit is tighter — 15 knots mean, 25 in gusts. The same strength from the north-east arrives cleaner and is allowed 20 and 30. This is why a general forecast saying "windy" tells you very little here, and why a single threshold is wrong more often than it is right.
What actually happens when the limit is exceeded
A crew may hold and wait for the wind to ease, attempt an approach and go around, or divert. Diversions from Madeira usually go to Porto Santo, Tenerife, Las Palmas or Lisbon. A go-around is routine and not a sign anything has gone wrong — it is the procedure working.
If you were diverted or delayed
The airline owes you care regardless of the cause: food, accommodation if you are kept overnight, and the cost of getting to Funchal from wherever you landed. Cash compensation is a separate question and usually does not apply when the cause was weather.
What to do after a diversionFilmed and published by Approach and Departure Videos.
Filmed and published by DutchPilotGirl.
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