Crosswind and Headwind Component
The wind split pilots misjudge, and the gust that actually counts: angle = |wind dir - runway heading| folded to 0-180, crosswind = speed x sin(angle), headwind = speed x cos(angle). A wind '20 kt, 30 deg off' is only 10 kt of crosswind but 17 kt of headwind. Two traps made explicit: the value checked against the aircraft's maximum demonstrated crosswind is the GUST, not the steady wind, and a wind more than 90 deg off the nose becomes a TAILWIND -- it still adds crosswind while erasing the headwind margin, the setup that overruns a runway. Returns both components with a tailwind flag and a demonstrated-crosswind check. A planning aid; the pilot in command and the flight manual govern.
Formula and source
angle = fold(|wind_dir - runway_heading|, 0..180); crosswind = speed x sin(angle); headwind = speed x cos(angle) (negative = tailwind); gust_xwind = (gust > 0 ? gust : speed) x sin(angle).
Runway wind-component resolution (the FAA vector method / POH crosswind chart), first-principles trigonometry, by name; the pilot in command and the aircraft flight manual govern.
Audience
This tile is built for mechanics and the adjacent professions in the Mechanic - Auto, Marine, Aviation group. The interactive calculator runs entirely in your browser. No account, no fee, no advertising, no tracking.
Related tools
Posture
Rough Logic answers the math question the working professional asks on the job. The site is a calm, fast, ad-free, account-free, ever-free reference. It does not interpret code. It does not replace the licensed professional. It does not store your inputs. The Authority Having Jurisdiction governs all installations and inspections.