🧭 Wind Correction Angle Calculator
Work out the wind correction angle and resulting ground speed for a flight leg using the classic wind triangle method.
What This Calculator Does
Pilots use the wind correction angle (WCA) to figure out how many degrees to offset their heading from their desired course so that crosswind drift is cancelled out, keeping the aircraft tracking along the intended path over the ground.
The Formula
Using the standard wind triangle: WCA = asin((Wind Speed × sinθ) / True Airspeed), where θ is the angular difference between the wind direction and the true course. True Heading = True Course − WCA, and Ground Speed = True Airspeed × cos(WCA) − Wind Speed × cosθ.
Note: If the crosswind component exceeds the true airspeed, no correction angle solution exists; the calculator caps the result in that edge case. This tool is for flight planning practice and education, not for operational navigation.