Free Aviation Tool
Crosswind & Headwind Calculator
Calculate crosswind and headwind components for any runway and wind condition. Instantly check if conditions are within your aircraft's limits.
🛬 Crosswind Calculator
Crosswind · Headwind · Tailwind Components
Simple 3 steps
How It Works
No sign-up required. Enter your runway heading, wind data and aircraft type to get instant wind component results.
Enter Runway
Type your runway heading in degrees and the reported wind speed in knots from ATIS or weather briefing.
Add Wind Direction
Enter the wind direction in degrees. Select your aircraft type to set the maximum crosswind limit.
Check Your Limits
Instantly see crosswind and headwind components and whether conditions are within your aircraft's limits.
Quick reference
Crosswind Examples
Common crosswind scenarios for the Cessna 172 with a 15 knot crosswind limit.
| Runway | Wind | Crosswind | Headwind | Wind From | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 090° | 090° @ 20 kts | 0.0 kts | 20.0 kts | Direct Headwind | ✅ Safe |
| 090° | 270° @ 20 kts | 0.0 kts | 20.0 kts tailwind | Direct Tailwind | ✅ Safe |
| 270° | 310° @ 20 kts | 12.9 kts | 15.3 kts | From Left | ⚠️ Caution |
| 360° | 090° @ 25 kts | 25.0 kts | 0.0 kts | From Right | 🚫 Exceeds |
| 180° | 120° @ 18 kts | 15.6 kts | 9.0 kts | From Left | ⚠️ Caution |
| 050° | 100° @ 22 kts | 16.9 kts | 14.1 kts | From Right | 🚫 Exceeds |
About this tool
Accurate & Free
This crosswind and headwind component calculator helps pilots determine whether wind conditions are safe for takeoff and landing on any runway. Simply enter your runway heading, wind direction, wind speed and select your aircraft type to instantly see the crosswind and headwind components.
Every aircraft has a demonstrated crosswind limit defined in its Pilot Operating Handbook. This tool helps you quickly check if reported winds are within those limits before you fly — an essential part of any pre-flight weather assessment.
- Crosswind component in knots
- Headwind and tailwind component
- Wind angle relative to runway
- Wind side — left, right or direct
- 16 aircraft presets with real limits
- Custom crosswind limit option
- Visual gauge showing limit usage
- Green, yellow and red limit alerts
- No sign-up or account needed
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