WIND & RUNWAY

Crosswind component calculator

Explore how wind angle changes the crosswind component.

Instant resultsNo account neededBuilt for pilots & student pilots

Crosswind component13.8 ktFrom the right

Runway & wind

Live calculation

Speed units

Heading references: magnetic

Runway referenceWind reference

Written METAR wind uses true north. Select the reference stated by your source; do not infer it from a runway number.

Runway heading

Use the published runway heading

Wind direction

Direction the wind is coming from

Wind speed

Steady reported wind

Gust speedoptional

Leave blank if no gusts reported

Runway shortcut & reciprocal

Have a runway number?

Runway numbers approximate magnetic headings. The shortcut sets the runway reference to magnetic.

Your wind, resolved.

LIVE RESULTS

Crosswind component

13.8kt

From the right

Runway-relative view. Blue: wind · White: crosswind · Light blue: headwind/tailwind.

Headwind component11.6 kt

Gust crosswind19.9 kt

Wind angle50.0 °

Wind is 50.0° off the runway. Expect a crosswind from the right.

THE MATH18.0 × sin(50.0°) ≈ 13.8 kt (from right)Explore the formula ↗

Compare runway headings

Current heading and reciprocal, using the same wind. Additional headings use magnetic north. This compares wind components only—not runway suitability.

Additional headings (comma-separated)

Components in kt; gust direction is assumed unchanged.
Heading	Crosswind	Gust crosswind	Along runway
270.0°	13.8 from right	19.9	11.6 headwind
90.0°	13.8 from left	19.9	11.6 tailwind

Explore the crosswind curve

Learning lab

Hold the wind speed constant and change the angle. At 30°, half the wind acts across the runway; at 90°, all of it does.

Angle off the runway: 30°

9.0 kt crosswind · 15.6 kt headwind

Uses your current steady wind speed of 18.0 kt. This explores 0–90° only; the main calculator also handles winds from behind.

Report a calculation issue

Describe what you expected. This creates a report you can send to the site maintainer; it does not submit anything automatically.

What seems incorrect?

A LITTLE THEORY

Make sense of your result.

Calculate lateral wind and explore its relationship to angle with the interactive crosswind curve.

How to use this calculator

Enter the runway and wind data, then use the learning-lab slider to explore angles from 0° to 90°. The chart uses your steady wind speed and does not change your runway inputs.

The formulaCrosswind = V × sin(θ)

θ is wind direction minus runway heading or course, normalized to −180° to 180°. V is wind speed. Results round to one decimal; calculations use full precision. Speed units are converted through knots.

PUT IT INTO PRACTICE

Worked examples

A perpendicular wind

Runway 180°, wind 270° at 20 kt: the full 20.0 kt is crosswind from the right.

A shallow angle

Runway 090°, wind 060° at 12 kt: 6.0 kt crosswind from the left.

A few common questions

When is crosswind greatest?+

At 90° to the runway, the crosswind equals the full wind speed. The interactive curve shows this progression.

Does the learning-lab slider change my result?+

No. It explores a hypothetical angle using your steady wind speed. The main result and runway comparison keep your entered headings.

Is this an aircraft crosswind limit?+

No. Compare with the aircraft handbook, operating rules and your personal limits.

A planning aid. Always use your judgement.

This is a geometric component, not a determination that a landing or takeoff is safe. Gusts are calculated separately. This tool does not replace your aircraft operating handbook, official weather, regulations or pilot judgement.

Calculation transparency

Updated 11 September 2026. Automated checks cover the mathematical model; an independent aviation review is pending.

Reference: FAA aviation handbooks · FAA weather reporting and heading references · Models and limitations