What is the maximum headwind allowed for landing from a Cat II approach?

• A. 12 knots
• B. 16 knots
• C. 20 knots
• D. 8 knots

Answer: (B)

A Cat II landing is done with careful regard to how wind conditions affect stability and the performance of precision guidance in low visibility. There’s a published limit on how strong a headwind you can have during the approach, because too much headwind can complicate the landing by making gusts and wind variation harder to manage during the critical flare and rollout phase. Sixteen knots is the value commonly written as that operational limit, providing a balance where the headwind aids the approach without pushing the conditions beyond what the instrument guidance and aircraft systems are certified to handle. The other numbers are outside that standard envelope or represent more restrictive limits than what Cat II procedures typically specify, which is why sixteen knots is the best answer.