Wind Correction

Wind is the main disruptive factor in IFR navigation. The pilot must constantly calculate and apply corrections to maintain the desired track.

The Wind Triangle

Wind creates a wind triangle:

• TAS (true airspeed): direction = aircraft heading, magnitude = TAS
• Wind: direction and speed of the meteorological wind
• Gs (groundspeed): resultant = TAS + Wind

The angular difference between the heading and the track is called drift.

Drift Calculation

Simplified Formula

For moderate winds (crosswind component < 30% of TAS):

Drift (°) ≈ (Crosswind component (kt) / TAS (kt)) × 60

Example: 20 kt crosswind, TAS = 150 kt:

Drift ≈ (20 / 150) × 60 = 8°

Wind Decomposition

To calculate the crosswind component:

Crosswind component = Wind speed × sin(wind/track angle)
Headwind/tailwind component = Wind speed × cos(wind/track angle)

Example: Wind from 270° at 30 kt, track 360°:

• Wind/track angle = 270° - 360° = -90° (full crosswind from the left)
• Crosswind component = 30 × sin(90°) = 30 kt
• Headwind component = 30 × cos(90°) = 0 kt

Approximate sin/cos Values

For mental math, use these approximations:

Applying the Correction

En Route

Heading = Desired track ± Drift

• Wind from the left → correct to the left (subtract the drift)
• Wind from the right → correct to the right (add the drift)

In a Holding Pattern

Corrections are amplified in a holding pattern:

• Inbound leg: single correction
• Outbound leg: triple correction with opposite sign

Example: If the drift on the inbound leg is +5°:

• Inbound heading = Track + 5°
• Outbound heading = Reciprocal track - 15° (triple, opposite sign)

Effect of Wind on Groundspeed

Gs = TAS + Headwind/tailwind component

• Headwind: Gs < TAS (the trip takes longer)
• Tailwind: Gs > TAS (the trip is faster)

In HOLD: The wind triangle is visualized on the "Wind vector" instrument (if enabled). Wind correction is evaluated in the scoring, particularly in holding patterns.