Weather

Wind Component Calculation

Wind Direction.

• The Surface Wind is defined as the wind velocity and direction at a height of 50 feet.
• The Surface Wind is reported by the Control Tower.
• The direction reported by the Control Tower is a magnetic direction as the runway direction is also magnetic.
• A METAR or a TAF wind information is a true direction.
• When using the pathfinder navigation computer a runway direction is entered as a number between 0 and 36.
• A negative value in the x-wind field indicates that the wind component is from the left.
• A positive value in the x-wind field indicates that the wind component is from the right.
• A negative value in the H/T wind field indicates a headwind component.
• A positive value in the H/T wind field indicates a tailwind component.

Example No 1.

What is the headwind and tailwind component of the following:

• TAF: FAFS W/V 050/40
• Variation: 15 degrees West
• Runway: 03L         

HW = 32.8 Kts          

XW = 22.9 Kts

Wind Shear

• Low-level wind shear as an operational problem constitutes a significant hazard to aircraft during take-off and landing.

• Wind shear is a change in wind direction and/or speed.
• Wind shear may occur with height (vertical) or lateral distance (horizontal)
• These changes will change the flight path of the aircraft.

More about wind in the Meteorology course.