Rank runways for the wind

Headwind and crosswind on every runway at an airport for one wind, ranked by headwind, with runways beyond your limits flagged.

Planning and education aid. Not for primary navigation. Full disclaimer

Experimental: not yet fully verified. How results are checked

Computing your own values needs JavaScript and WebAssembly. The worked example below was computed when this page was built, and the documentation under "How we got this" applies.

Runway 18 ranks first, with 11.3 kt headwind and 4.1 kt crosswind.

Each runway was taken as 10 times its number. Actual headings can differ by up to 5°, which can decide a close call.

Every runway, in rank order
Runway	Headwind	Crosswind	Crosswind from
18	11.3 kt	4.1 kt	right
27	4.1 kt	11.3 kt	left
09	-4.1 kt	11.3 kt	right
36	-11.3 kt	4.1 kt	left

Its headwind
Its crosswind
Every runway, in rank order

Provenance

Computed by: aviation.wind.best-runway 1.0.0, core 0.1.0
Model: Each runway end's headwind = W·cos θ and crosswind = W·sin θ, θ the wind's angle off the runway heading (10 × its number). Runways within every limit you gave come first, then by headwind, most first, then by crosswind, least first. A variable wind is judged by its worst case
Accuracy: Exact for the entered wind. Runway numbers round the heading to 10°, so components can be off by up to W·sin 5°; a close call between two runways may need the published headings. Planning aid: the runway in use is the one ATC or local procedures assign
Notes: 2 shown with the answer
Cites: Federal Aviation Administration, Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, FAA-H-8083-25C; Federal Aviation Administration, Standards for Airport Markings, AC 150/5340-1M; Federal Aviation Administration, Aeronautical Information Manual

Something look off?

Your values

Showing an example. Change anything.

Runways Designators, like 09/27, 18/36 or 27L 27R 36 (T for true) Wind directionoptional Where the wind blows from, like 300 deg · plain numbers mean degrees Wind speedoptional Like 15 kt · plain numbers mean kt Your crosswind limitoptional Optional, like 15 kt · plain numbers mean kt

More options 6

Gustoptional Optional, like 25 kt · plain numbers mean kt Your tailwind limitoptional Optional, like 5 kt · plain numbers mean kt Wind referenceoptional magnetic (ATIS and tower, the default) or true (METAR) METAR wind groupoptional Instead of direction and speed, like 30015G25KT or VRB05KT (true north) Variable rangeoptional Like 280V340 from the METAR Magnetic variationoptional East positive, like -12 for 12° W; needed to mix true and magnetic · plain numbers mean degrees

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How we got thisFormula, worked example, sources, and proof

Model: Each runway end's headwind = W·cos θ and crosswind = W·sin θ, θ the wind's angle off the runway heading (10 × its number). Runways within every limit you gave come first, then by headwind, most first, then by crosswind, least first. A variable wind is judged by its worst case

Accuracy: Exact for the entered wind. Runway numbers round the heading to 10°, so components can be off by up to W·sin 5°; a close call between two runways may need the published headings. Planning aid: the runway in use is the one ATC or local procedures assign

Worked example: Runways 09/27 and 18/36 with the wind 200° at 12 kt. Source: add-aviation-suite ranking scenario: runway 18 ranks first, every runway listed. It is golden test vector v001, and every build checks the tool still gives its answer within its tolerance.

You enter

Runways: 09/27, 18/36
Wind direction: 200 deg
Wind speed: 12 kt

You get

First choice: 18
Its headwind: 11.3 kt
Its crosswind: 4.1 kt
Every runway, in rank order: 09/27, 18/36

Review: Not yet independently reviewed by a flight instructor (CFI).

Last verified: 2026-09-18, when a maintainer last confirmed this tool's sources at the issuer. See the sources ledger.

Status: version 1.0.0, core 0.1.0. See this tool in the verification report.

Checked against: 9 golden test vectors (download the test vectors, each with its source and tolerance). See how results are checked and every source.

Sources

Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, FAA-H-8083-25C, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA-H-8083-25C. Aircraft Performance and Navigation chapters (pressure and density altitude, wind triangle).
Standards for Airport Markings, AC 150/5340-1M, Federal Aviation Administration, AC 150/5340-1M. Runway designation marking (whole number nearest one-tenth of the magnetic azimuth). Read free.
Aeronautical Information Manual, Federal Aviation Administration, Current edition. Chapter 4 (tower and ATIS winds, magnetic) and Chapter 7 (METAR and TAF winds, true).

Terms

ATIS: Automatic Terminal Information Service: A recorded broadcast at busier airports of current weather, runways in use, and notices, updated at least hourly. Source: Aeronautical Information Manual
METAR: aviation routine weather report: An airport weather observation in a standard code: wind, visibility, weather, clouds, temperature, dew point, and altimeter setting, issued at least hourly. Source: Aviation Weather Handbook

Experimental means this tool has not yet met the stable bar: at least 20 golden vectors, differential tests, and an independent worked example.

Learn the concept: How to calculate crosswind

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Sources

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