Crosswind Component Calculator
Crosswind and headwind components for a wind at an angle to the runway, with the margin to a stated limit.
Results
Crosswind component
12.8558
kt
Headwind component
15.3209
kt
Crosswind component
23.809
km/h
Margin
12.1442
kt
Wind speed
38.893
kt
What this tool does
The angle is between the wind and the runway heading. Two useful rules of thumb fall straight out of the sine: at 30 degrees the crosswind is half the wind speed, and at 60 degrees it is about ninety percent of it — so most of the wind is already across by the time it feels like a quartering breeze. A negative headwind means a tailwind, which lengthens the landing roll.
Formula
crosswind component = V sin θ ; headwind component = V cos θ
Variables
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit |
|---|---|---|
vw | Wind speed | kt |
an | Angle between wind and runway | ° |
lm | Crosswind limit | kt |
CW | Crosswind component | kt |
HW | Headwind component | kt |
CK | Crosswind component | km/h |
MG | Margin | kt |
VM | Wind speed | kt |
Worked example
- Wind speed20 kt
- Angle between wind and runway40 °
- Crosswind limit25 kt
- Crosswind component12.8558 kt
- Headwind component15.3209 kt
- Crosswind component23.809 km/h
- Margin12.1442 kt
- Wind speed38.893 kt
Limitations
- For work that must comply with a standard or be signed off, check the result against the applicable code and have it reviewed by a qualified engineer.
- The result is an estimate based only on the values you type. Real situations often include factors this calculator does not know about.
- The formula assumes ideal conditions: no friction losses, no air resistance and no efficiency losses unless you enter them.