Aviation Calculators
Wind correction angle.
The wind correction angle is how far you must point the nose into the wind to hold your course. Enter the true course, true airspeed and the wind to get the correction angle, the true heading to fly and the ground speed. Runs in your browser; nothing is sent or stored.
Planning aid, not for flight operations
This tool is for study, trip planning and curiosity. It is not approved flight-planning or performance data. For an actual flight, use the aircraft's approved Pilot's Operating Handbook or Aircraft Flight Manual, current weather and charts, and your own judgement as pilot in command. Results can differ from your aircraft's real figures.
Inputs
Result
Fill the form and press Calculate.
Worked example
An aircraft with a true airspeed of 120 knots flies true course 360 degrees with a wind from 090 degrees at 20 knots. The wind is a pure crosswind from the right, so the wind correction angle is asin(20 ÷ 120) = 9.6 degrees right, the true heading is 9.6 degrees and the ground speed is 120 × cos(9.6°) = 118.3 knots. The FAA handbook's 120 knot, 20 knot example gives a ground speed of 100 knots flying into that wind (course 090: this tool gives 100) and 140 knots with it (course 270: 140).
How it works
Let θ be the angle from the true course to the direction the wind blows from. The sideways wind component is wind speed × sin θ, and the aircraft must point into it: WCA = asin(wind speed × sin θ ÷ TAS). A positive angle means correct to the right. The true heading is the course plus the WCA.
Ground speed = TAS × cos(WCA) − wind speed × cos θ. The tool gives an error if the crosswind is faster than the airspeed, because no heading then holds the course.
The result is a true heading. Turning it into a compass heading needs magnetic variation and compass deviation, which the FAA handbook covers as separate steps.
Sources (each opened 2026-10-08): FAA, Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Chapter 16: Navigation. The two formulas are the standard wind triangle; the FAA text explains the concept and gives the 120 knot example used to test this tool.
FAQ
What is a wind correction angle?
The FAA handbook explains that to follow a course in a crosswind the pilot must correct the heading into the wind, and that this correction is the wind correction angle (WCA), expressed in degrees right or left of the true course.
How do I get ground speed from airspeed and wind?
Subtract the headwind component from the true airspeed (add a tailwind), after allowing for the wind correction angle. This tool does both steps. The FAA handbook gives the simple case: a 120 knot airspeed with a 20 knot headwind is a 100 knot ground speed, and with a 20 knot tailwind 140 knots.
Is the heading true or magnetic?
True. The course and the wind direction you enter should both be true. To fly a compass heading, apply magnetic variation and compass deviation.
Why does the tool say the course cannot be held?
If the crosswind component is as large as your airspeed, no heading will hold the course. If the headwind is as strong as the airspeed, the ground speed is zero or negative.
Which airspeed do I enter?
True airspeed. If you only have calibrated airspeed, convert it with the True Airspeed Calculator first.
Is this approved for navigation?
No. It is a learning and planning aid. Use approved sources and your own judgement in the air.