To designate a preferential runway in use, the wind direction must be within ____ degrees of runway heading and must not exceed ____ knots on runways that are clear and dry.

• A. 60 degrees; 25 knots
• B. 90 degrees; 15 knots
• C. 30 degrees; 20 knots
• D. 45 degrees; 10 knots

Answer: (B)

Designating a preferential runway relies on wind alignment and manageable wind speed. If the wind direction is within 90 degrees of the runway heading, there is a usable headwind component for at least one runway and crosswinds stay within a safe range for standard operations. Keeping the wind speed at or below 15 knots on clear, dry runways ensures the crosswind remains within a comfortable handling margin for most pilots. Higher wind speeds or a stricter angular limit would make it harder to justify a single runway as preferential, increasing safety risks during takeoff and landing.