[MetroMPG]

Having spent some time on jets a week or so ago, here's a question (which I suspect may be heresy to the pilots here)...

But is it strictly necessary to take off & land into the wind? Is there a threshold wind speed below which it's not necessary?

I did notice that heading on an easterly journey with the prevailing breeze from the west, the takeoff and landing consumed extra time & fuel due to having to head the "wrong" way at take-off for some time and then turn around toward the destination.

Similarly on arrival, we had to overshoot the destination by some distance in order to turn & approach the landing into the wind.