Flight Parameters
METAR Raw DecoderWind 310° at 18 KTS with gusts to 28 KTS aligned directly with Runway 31. Produces 0 KTS crosswind and 18.0 KTS beneficial headwind (gusts to 28 KTS).
METAR Wind Calculator: Operational Architecture
Paste or type raw METAR strings to decode wind direction, sustained speed, gusts, and variable wind groups with automatic crosswind decomposition.
Active Runway Alignment
Directly decomposes current surface wind vectors against active runway headings with instant magnetic variation and reciprocal runway telemetry.
Orthogonal Trigonometry
Computes true lateral crosswind components and longitudinal headwind/tailwind velocities following FAA AC 91-79A certified trigonometry.
Zero Ground-Risk Operations
Provides real-time safety margins against manufacturer demonstrated limits, tailwind hazards, and contaminated runway braking codes.
Pilot Operating Handbook Briefing: METAR Wind Calculator
Standard METAR wind groups format as DDDSS(Ggg)KT (e.g. 24018G28KT = wind from 240° at 18 knots with gusts to 28 knots).
Winds below 6 knots may report as VRB03KT. Directional variability of 60° or more at 6+ knots reports as 180V260 (varying between 180° and 260°).
Always evaluate your crosswind limits using the "G" gust value in the METAR, as peak gusts represent the maximum lateral control demand.
How AeroWind Pro Works
Surface wind is broken down using vector decomposition into longitudinal (headwind/tailwind) and lateral (crosswind) components.
Runway & Wind Alignment
Enter runway identifier (e.g. 03) or exact magnetic heading, and wind from METAR or AWOS.
Trigonometric Calculations
Instant calculation of V·sin(θ) for crosswind and V·cos(θ) for headwind/tailwind.
Safety Telemetry & Reciprocal
Verifies conditions against aircraft demonstrated limits and assesses reciprocal runway safety.
Crosswind Component Reference Table
Calculated crosswind values (in knots) based on wind speed and angular differential from the runway centerline.
| WIND SPEED | 15° DIFF | 30° DIFF | 45° DIFF | 60° DIFF | 75° DIFF | 90° DIFF (DIRECT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 KTS | 2.6 KT | 5.0 KT | 7.1 KT | 8.7 KT | 9.7 KT | 10.0 KT |
| 15 KTS | 3.9 KT | 7.5 KT | 10.6 KT | 13.0 KT | 14.5 KT | 15.0 KT |
| 20 KTS | 5.2 KT | 10.0 KT | 14.1 KT | 17.3 KT | 19.3 KT | 20.0 KT |
| 25 KTS | 6.5 KT | 12.5 KT | 17.7 KT | 21.7 KT | 24.1 KT | 25.0 KT |
| 30 KTS | 7.8 KT | 15.0 KT | 21.2 KT | 26.0 KT | 29.0 KT | 30.0 KT |
Specialized Flight Computers & Calculators
Explore all 10 certified flight computation instruments engineered for specific aerodynamic scenarios, from wing-low crab corrections to raw METAR decoding.
Crosswind Correction Calculator
Calculate the precise heading crab angle and wing-low sideslip control deflections required to arrest lateral runway drift and achieve centerline alignment on final approach.
Crosswind Drift Calculator
Calculate lateral crosswind drift rate, cross-track error per nautical mile, and heading adjustments required to maintain your flight path over the runway extended centerline.
Crosswind Limit Calculator
Evaluate crosswind operating limits against aircraft certified Maximum Demonstrated Crosswind values and Runway Condition Codes (RWYCC 1 to 6).
Max Crosswind Calculator
Solve the maximum allowable total surface wind speed and gust velocity that keeps your aircraft within its certified crosswind envelope at any wind angle.
Wind Triangle Calculator
Solve the classic E6B aviation wind triangle. Compute True Heading (TH), Wind Correction Angle (WCA), and Groundspeed (GS) from True Airspeed and wind vectors.
Aviation Groundspeed Calculator
Calculate True Airspeed (TAS) and actual Groundspeed (GS) across the runway threshold, factoring density altitude, headwind compression, and landing roll distance.
Drift Angle Calculator
Calculate pilot drift angle and track error angles using the classic 1-in-60 rule. Determine heading corrections required to regain your desired flight course.
Crosswind Magnetic Variation Calculator
Convert True wind reports from METARs and TAFs into Magnetic directions for active runway crosswind resolution using local magnetic variation (isogonic lines).
Crosswind Tailwind Calculator
Evaluate critical tailwind components during crosswind approaches. Computes landing roll distance expansion, float tendencies, and FAA regulatory tailwind limits.
METAR Wind Calculator
Paste or type raw METAR strings to decode wind direction, sustained speed, gusts, and variable wind groups with automatic crosswind decomposition.
Frequently Asked Questions: METAR Wind Calculator
How do you read a wind group in a METAR?
The first 3 digits indicate True wind direction in degrees. The next 2 or 3 digits indicate speed in knots. If followed by G and numbers, that is the peak gust in knots.
What does VRB mean in a METAR wind group?
VRB indicates variable wind direction, used when wind speed is 6 knots or less and direction cannot be reliably determined.
What does 180V250 mean in an aviation METAR?
It indicates variable wind direction between 180 degrees and 250 degrees, which occurs when wind direction fluctuates by 60° or more with speed above 6 knots.
Can this tool parse international METARs from ICAO airports?
Yes! It parses standard ICAO and FAA METARs from any airport worldwide, including US, European, Asian, and military airfield formats.
How often are METAR weather reports updated?
Routine METARs are published every hour or half-hour. Special weather reports (SPECI) are issued immediately when significant weather or wind changes occur.