How to Use Crosswind Calculator
The Crosswind Calculator decomposes a wind vector into the components parallel and perpendicular to a runway centerline — the most common pre-flight check before a crosswind landing.
- Enter runway heading in degrees (e.g., 360 for runway 36).
- Enter wind direction (from) — Standard METAR convention.
- Enter wind speed — Pick any common unit.
- Read the result panel — Crosswind component (and side), headwind/tailwind component, relative angle, and a metric breakdown.
Formula & Theory - Crosswind Calculator
The Crosswind Calculator uses trigonometry:
Δθ = wind_dir − runway_heading (normalized to ±180°)
Crosswind = |wind_speed × sin(Δθ)|
Head/Tail = wind_speed × cos(Δθ) (positive = headwind)| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Δθ | Angle between wind and runway |
| wind_speed | Reported steady wind speed |
| Crosswind | Component perpendicular to the centerline |
| Head/Tail | Component along the centerline |
Assumptions and Limits
The Crosswind Calculator uses reported (mean) wind. Gust factors and shifting wind aloft are not modeled. Always plan for the gust speed, not just the steady wind.
Use Cases for Crosswind Calculator
- Pre-flight briefing — Choose the most favorable runway.
- Personal-minimums check — Compare crosswind to your trained limit.
- Sailing & UAV ops — Quick wind-component decomposition.
- Flight training — Demonstrate sine/cosine in practical terms.
- Dispatch & TAF planning — Spot trends across forecast hours.
The Crosswind Calculator turns a METAR/TAF line into a clean go/no-go reference.