Headwind & Tailwind Calculator

Summary

Calculate headwind, tailwind, and crosswind components from wind speed, wind direction, and runway heading for preflight planning.

How it works

1. Enter the reported wind speed in knots from the ATIS or METAR.
2. Enter the wind direction in degrees magnetic — the direction the wind is blowing FROM.
3. Enter your runway heading in degrees (runway number × 10, e.g. Runway 27 = 270°).
4. The calculator computes the wind angle: Wind Angle = Wind Direction - Runway Heading.
5. Headwind component = Wind Speed × cos(Wind Angle). Positive = headwind, negative = tailwind.
6. Crosswind component = Wind Speed × sin(Wind Angle). Sign indicates left or right of centerline.
7. A wind diagram shows the vector decomposition visually.

Use cases

• Determine headwind and tailwind before takeoff to estimate runway distance required.
• Check whether crosswind component exceeds aircraft or personal limits.
• Compare runway options when the wind favors neither direction cleanly.
• Validate mental crosswind math during flight training and checkride prep.
• Use after an ATIS update in the pattern to re-evaluate the preferred runway.
• Understand how wind angle affects performance when transitioning to a new aircraft.

Frequently Asked Questions