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Crosswind component calculator
The tower reports “wind 240 at 15.” How much of that is fighting your runway 27 landing sideways? Enter the numbers, then learn the estimate — you won't have a calculator in the flare.
- Crosswind:
- 7.5 kt from the left
- Headwind:
- 13 kt
Wind is 30° off the runway. Rule of thumb: 30° off ≈ half the wind is crosswind; 60°+ ≈ treat it all as crosswind. Compare with your aircraft's demonstrated crosswind component and your personal minimums.
How it works
Crosswind = wind speed × sin(angle between wind and runway); headwind = wind speed × cos(angle). The rules of thumb pilots actually use: at 30° off the runway, about half the wind is crosswind; at 45°, about three-quarters; at 60° or more, treat all of it as crosswind.
The wind triangle behind this lives in the free lesson Wind, Groundspeed, Time and Distance, and the practice bank grades you on it.