Crosswind Calculator

1. Enter runway heading in degrees magnetic. Runway 27 = heading 270°. Runway 09 = heading 90°. Runway 36 = 360°.
2. Enter wind direction in degrees the wind is blowing FROM (as reported in ATIS or METAR). Wind 240° means wind is blowing from the southwest.
3. Enter wind speed in knots. Use the steady wind speed, not gust value. For gust planning, run the calculator twice — once with steady, once with gust.
4. Read the crosswind component — the perpendicular wind force on your aircraft during takeoff or landing. Compare to your aircraft's max demonstrated crosswind component.
5. Headwind/tailwind appears below. A negative headwind value indicates a tailwind, which is generally to be avoided for landing.

The crosswind component breaks total wind into two perpendicular vectors relative to the runway centerline:

Wind Angle = |Runway Heading − Wind Direction|
Crosswind = Wind Speed × sin(Wind Angle)
Headwind  = Wind Speed × cos(Wind Angle)

Example: Landing on Runway 27 (heading 270°) with wind from 240° at 18 knots.

• Wind angle = |270 − 240| = 30°
• Crosswind = 18 × sin(30°) = 18 × 0.5 = 9 knots
• Headwind = 18 × cos(30°) = 18 × 0.866 = 15.6 knots

Every pilot uses one of two techniques for crosswind landings. Both work, and most pilots blend them depending on conditions.

Three rules every pilot should know about crosswinds:

• "Max demonstrated crosswind" is not a limit. The manufacturer demonstrated the aircraft could handle it. Many pilots fly well above this in practice, but most CFIs use it as a soft limit during training.
• Gust factor matters more than steady wind. A 12kt steady wind gusting to 25kt is harder to land than a 20kt steady direct crosswind. Plan for the gust, not the average.
• Surface conditions amplify risk. A wet, snowy, or icy runway can effectively double your perceived crosswind difficulty by reducing tire side-friction. Reduce your personal limit by 30-50% in poor conditions.

For commercial operations, ICAO and FAA regulations require that crosswind not exceed the aircraft's certified limit. Many Part 121 carriers also have company crosswind limits 5-10 knots below manufacturer maximum for additional safety margin.