Definition
A wind blowing at a 90-degree angle to the runway centerline or aircraft's direction of travel, with no headwind or tailwind component. The full strength of the wind acts perpendicular to the aircraft's path.
Plain English
Wind hitting the airplane straight from the side, exactly across the runway rather than from any forward or rearward angle.
Context Anchor
Encountered during taxi, takeoff, landing, and weathervaning discussions, especially when deciding how much side-wind correction is needed.
Derivation
Direct' comes from Latin directus, meaning 'straight' or 'in a straight line.' Here it signals that the wind is straight across the runway, not angled.
Why Pilots Care
Determines the maximum demonstrated crosswind limit and required control inputs to maintain runway alignment.
Intuition Check
Direct does not mean head-on here. It means the wind is lined up straight across your path, about 90 degrees from the nose or runway.
Example Sentence 1
With a direct crosswind of 12 knots, the student applied full aileron into the wind during the taxi back to the ramp.
Example Sentence 2
During taxi in a direct crosswind the airplane weathervaned noticeably toward the wind.