Wind Correction Angle Calculator
Fill in the values and the answer updates as you type.
How the Wind Correction Angle Calculator works
With β as the angle from the course to the wind direction, sin(WCA) = wind speed × sin(β) ÷ true airspeed. Heading = course + WCA, and groundspeed = TAS × cos(WCA) − wind speed × cos(β). Use true values for true course and true wind, or magnetic values for both. No result appears when the wind is too strong to hold the course. Example: with Desired course 90 °, Wind from 150 °, Wind speed 25 kt, and True airspeed 120 kt, the result is Heading to fly (°) = 100.4; Wind correction angle (°, positive = right) = 10.4; Groundspeed (kt) = 105.5.
Inputs and results
The Wind Correction Angle Calculator takes 4 inputs and gives 4 results.
What you enter
- Desired course (°) — starts at 90.
- Wind from (°) — starts at 150.
- Wind speed (kt) — starts at 25.
- True airspeed (kt) — starts at 120.
What you get
- Heading to fly (°)
- Wind correction angle (°, positive = right)
- Groundspeed (kt)
- Time for 100 NM (minutes)
Example: Wind Correction Angle Calculator with the starting values
With desired course 90 °, wind from 150 °, wind speed 25 kt and true airspeed 120 kt, the calculator returns:
| Heading to fly (°) | 100.4 |
|---|---|
| Wind correction angle (°, positive = right) | 10.4 |
| Groundspeed (kt) | 105.5 |
| Time for 100 NM (minutes) | 56.9 |
Change any value above and the results update straight away.
Wind Correction Angle Calculator FAQ
How do I use the Wind Correction Angle Calculator?
Enter desired course, wind from, wind speed and true airspeed in the fields, then read heading to fly (°), wind correction angle (°, positive = right), groundspeed (kt) and time for 100 nm (minutes) in the result panel. The answer updates as you type, and you can press Calculate or Enter to refresh it. Use “Copy link” to share your exact numbers with someone else.
What does the Wind Correction Angle Calculator calculate?
Heading to fly and groundspeed with a crosswind. It returns heading to fly (°), wind correction angle (°, positive = right), groundspeed (kt) and time for 100 nm (minutes) from the 4 values you provide.
What values does the Wind Correction Angle Calculator start with?
It opens with desired course 90 °, wind from 150 °, wind speed 25 kt and true airspeed 120 kt so you can see a working result straight away. Replace them with your own numbers, or press Reset to return to these starting values.
Is the Wind Correction Angle Calculator free and private?
Yes. It is free, needs no account, and runs in your browser, so nothing you type is sent to or stored on our servers. See the Privacy Policy for details.
Can I rely on the Wind Correction Angle Calculator for important decisions?
Treat the result as a well-rounded estimate. Real situations often have details a general calculator cannot know, so confirm important decisions with a qualified professional. See the Disclaimer for more.