Crosswind Calculator
Split the wind into crosswind and head/tailwind components for any runway.
Inputs
Result
Crosswind component
10kt
From the right
Headwind component
17kt
Wind angle to runway
off the right
30°
10 kt crosswind from the right, 17 kt headwind
Formula
Ref- θ = wind direction − runway heading
- Crosswind = wind speed × sin(θ)
- Headwind = wind speed × cos(θ)
Worked example
RefLanding runway 09 (090°), wind reported 120° at 20 kt.
- 1.Wind angle θ = 120° − 090° = 30° (from the right).
- 2.Crosswind = 20 × sin(30°) = 20 × 0.5 = 10 kt.
- 3.Headwind = 20 × cos(30°) = 20 × 0.866 = 17.3 kt.
10 kt crosswind from the right, 17 kt headwind.
How it works
RefWind rarely blows straight down the runway. Resolving it into a crosswind component (across the runway) and a headwind/tailwind component (along it) tells you how much drift you must correct on approach and whether the crosswind is within your aircraft's — and your own — demonstrated limit.
DGCA student tip
ExamFor quick mental maths use the clock code: wind 15° off ≈ ¼, 30° ≈ ½, 45° ≈ ⅔, 60°+ ≈ full. A 30° wind gives roughly half its speed as crosswind — exactly what this tool confirms.
Common mistakes
Watch- Using the wind's 'to' direction instead of the meteorological 'from' direction.
- Mixing magnetic and true when the runway is magnetic but the wind (ATIS) is also magnetic — keep both in the same reference.
- Forgetting that a wind more than 90° off the nose becomes a tailwind.