Operate in accordance with Manufacturer's Limitations: Aircraft manufacturers publish a tailwind component limit for both takeoff and landing in the AFM. In most cases, it is in the order of 10 knots but may be as high as 15 knots.
Aircraft manufacturers publish tailwind limitations in the Aircraft Flying Manual and are, in most cases of modern airline aircraft, in the order of 10 to 15 kts. The actual wind is a random phenomenon and varies in time and location.
Tailwind: Varies between 0 and 15kts depending upon field elevation and flap setting. Maximum and minimum glideslope angles are 3.25 degrees and 2.5 degrees respectively. Autoland capability may only be used with flaps 30 or 40 and both engines operative.
During take off and landing, tailwinds ireduce the airflow. Consequently, the necessary lift is achieved later and at higher speeds (the wind speed is added to the aircraft speed). Therefore, longer runways are required to perform a safe take off or landing.
Because headwind increases the lift, pilots prefer to land and take off in headwind. Tailwind is wind blowing from behind the aircraft. It reduces the lift and aircraft generally avoid taking off or landing in tailwind.
That flight set a record for the fastest subsonic transatlantic commercial airline flight — 5 hours and 13 minutes, thanks to a 202 mph tailwind. For reference, the speed of sound is 760 mph; but the plane did not break the sound barrier.
Because headwind increases the lift, pilots prefer to land and take off in headwind. Tailwind is wind blowing from behind the aircraft. It reduces the lift and aircraft generally avoid taking off or landing in tailwind.
On take-off and landing, headwinds are good because they allow you to use a shorter runway. In flight, headwinds are bad because they slow you down and require that you use more fuel to get to your destination. Conversely, tailwinds are bad on take-off and landing, but are good in flight.
# Maximum allowable wind speeds, when conducting a dual channel Cat II or CAT III landing predicating on autoland operations, are: Headwind 25 knots. Crosswind 20 knots. Tailwind 10 knots.
The Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet reached a top speed of 825 miles per hour which was boosted by a strong jet-stream and tailwind of over 200 miles per hour. Aircraft that cross the Atlantic between North America and Europe flying eastbound are usually boosted by a tailwind that can shave several hours off their flight time.
Take-off LimitationsOn a dry runway, a Boeing 737-800 has a maximum allowable crosswind component of approximately 33kts. For taking off on a wet runway it's about 27kts. The actual figure might be slightly above or below this because the airline can choose to set its own more restrictive value if it wishes.