Definition
The combined use of flight controls during takeoff, landing, or taxi to counteract the effects of a wind blowing across the runway, keeping the airplane tracking straight along the runway centerline and preventing the upwind wing from lifting.
Plain English
When wind is blowing across the runway, the pilot uses the controls to stop the airplane from drifting sideways or having a wing pushed up by the wind.
Context Anchor
Used during crosswind takeoffs, landings, taxiing, and any time wind is pushing the airplane sideways from its intended path.
Derivation
‘Crosswind’ literally means a wind blowing across your path. ‘Correction’ here means an adjustment made to fix or counter something. Together: the control inputs that fix the effect of a wind blowing across the runway.
Why Pilots Care
Maintains directional control and prevents runway excursions when wind pushes the aircraft sideways.
Grounding Statement
A crosswind correction keeps the airplane moving where you want it to go even though the wind is trying to push it sideways.
Intuition Check
Crosswind correction does not mean removing the crosswind. It means using the controls to compensate for it while the wind is still acting on the airplane.
Example Sentence 1
With a strong wind from the left, the pilot applied crosswind correction by holding the aileron into the wind and using rudder to keep the nose aligned with the runway.
Example Sentence 2
On short final the pilot increases the crosswind correction by lowering the upwind wing further to maintain alignment with the numbers.