Runway wind components

Crosswind and headwind or tailwind on a runway, with gusts, variable winds, and your personal limits.

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

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.

7.5kt

7.5 kt crosswind from the right and 13 kt headwind on runway 27, 12.5 kt crosswind in gusts.

Within your 15 kt crosswind limit Against the limit you entered.

Runway 27 was taken as 270°. Actual runway headings can differ by up to 5°; enter the published heading for exact components.

Crosswind from
Headwind
Gust crosswind
Gust headwind
Runway heading used

Provenance

Computed by: aviation.wind.runway-components 1.0.0, core 0.1.0
Model: Vector components: headwind = W·cos(θ), crosswind = W·sin(θ)
Accuracy: Exact for the entered wind and heading. Runway numbers round the heading to 10°, so components can be off by up to W·sin 5°. Planning aid, not certified for navigation.
Notes: 1 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.

Runway A designator like 27, 09L, or 36T (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 7

Gustoptional Optional, like 25 kt · plain numbers mean kt Your tailwind limitoptional Optional, like 5 kt · plain numbers mean kt Runway headingoptional Optional precise heading, like 268 deg, instead of the designator's · plain numbers mean degrees 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: Vector components: headwind = W·cos(θ), crosswind = W·sin(θ)

Show your work

Angle off the runway
θ = wind direction − runway heading
θ = 300° − 270° = 30°
Headwind
headwind = wind speed × cos θ
15 × cos 30° = 13 kt
Crosswind
crosswind = wind speed × sin θ
15 × sin 30° = 7.5 kt

The same steps an agent gets from the MCP server with explain: true.

Accuracy: Exact for the entered wind and heading. Runway numbers round the heading to 10°, so components can be off by up to W·sin 5°. Planning aid, not certified for navigation.

When to use this: Use this at the hold short line or while planning: given the wind and the runway, it splits the wind into the part along the runway and the part across it, so you can compare the crosswind against your own limit and the aircraft's demonstrated value. It handles gusts and a variable wind range, and can flag the components against a limit you set.

Limitations: It resolves the wind you enter into components and nothing more: it does not know the runway's surface, its slope, or your aircraft's demonstrated crosswind, and it does not decide whether the landing is within your ability. A runway number rounds the true heading to ten degrees, so components can be off by the sine of five degrees unless you enter the exact heading, and a reported wind is a measurement at one place and moment.

Worked example: Runway 27 with the wind 300° at 15 gusting 25 kt. Source: add-aviation-suite wind scenarios: headwind 13.0 kt, crosswind 7.5 kt from the right, gust crosswind 12.5 kt.

You enter

Gust: 25 kt
Your crosswind limit: 15 kt
Runway: 27
Wind direction: 300 deg
Wind speed: 15 kt

You get

Crosswind: 7.5 kt
Crosswind from: right
Headwind: 13 kt
Gust crosswind: 12.5 kt
Gust headwind: 21.7 kt
Crosswind limit: Within your 15 kt crosswind limit
Runway heading used: 270°

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.

Changes

2026-09-19, changed: Pressure altitude, density altitude, runway crosswind and headwind, and the wind triangle are now stable. Each matches the worked examples in the FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25C) and at least 20 vectors from a separate implementation. Results are unchanged. Changelog

Checked against: 21 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

Learn the concept: How to calculate crosswind