Wind Components

Calculator

Wind relative to the runway

Runway heading deg Use the full heading: 240° for RWY 24. Wind from deg Wind speed kt Gust optional kt Crosswind reference optional kt Use the applicable aircraft or operator value. Gust crosswind is compared when entered.

North remains at the top. Wind direction is where the wind comes from; the diagram uses steady wind.

Relative angle 40° Right of centreline

Crosswind 12 kt Gust: 16 kt · from right

Headwind 14 kt Gust: 19 kt

Crosswind reference Not set Optional comparison

Method

Split the wind into two components

Find the relative angle

Take the smallest angle between the runway heading and the direction the wind comes from.

|280° − 240°| = 40°

Find the crosswind

Sine gives the part of the wind acting across the runway.

Crosswind = wind × sin(angle) 18 × sin 40° = 11.6 kt

Find headwind or tailwind

Cosine gives the part acting along the runway. An angle above 90° produces a tailwind.

Runway component = wind × cos(angle) 18 × cos 40° = 13.8 kt headwind

Mental calculation

Rule of thirds

0–30°3/3 HW1/3 CW

30–60°2/3 HW2/3 CW

60–90°1/3 HW3/3 CW

40°: use 2/3 HW and 2/3 CW 18 kt → about 12 kt HW and 12 kt CW

HW = headwind · TW = tailwind · CW = crosswind. For a tailwind, use the same proportions with TW instead of HW.

Practice · Wind components

Calculate both components

Runway heading 240°. Wind from 280° at 18 kt.

Crosswind kt Headwind kt

A demonstrated crosswind value is not automatically an operating limitation. Always use the applicable aircraft documentation and operational requirements.