Find a runway with the wind you want

Crosswind calculator FAQ

How does the crosswind calculator pick a runway?

For each runway near the airport you enter, the runway crosswind calculator pulls the latest METAR (or the TAF forecast for a future departure) and works out the crosswind component against every runway heading. Results are ranked by how close the crosswind matches the value you asked to train on.

What is a good crosswind for training?

Pick a value at or just below your personal crosswind limit, then step up from there. Many primary students train at 5–10 kt, and ramping toward the demonstrated crosswind component of your aircraft is a useful goal. Always stay inside what the POH and your CFI signed off on.

Does this work with the TAF forecast and not just the current METAR?

Yes. Pick a future departure time and the crosswind finder uses the active TAF forecast for that hour, so you can plan a crosswind training flight a few hours out instead of only flying right now.

Can I filter by runway length and surface?

Yes. Set a minimum runway length and restrict to paved or unpaved surfaces if you want — useful for matching the kind of training environment your aircraft is comfortable with.

How is crosswind component calculated?

Crosswind component equals wind speed × sin(angle between wind direction and runway heading). Headwind is wind speed × cos(angle). Aero Companion does this math for every runway near you and surfaces the closest match to the crosswind you asked for.

Looking to plan an actual cross-country instead of just a pattern? Try the glide-aware VFR flight planner, or convert UTC / Zulu with the pilot time-zone converter.