PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - CrossWind Component Formula
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Old 29th Jul 2016, 12:20
  #9 (permalink)  
Genghis the Engineer
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SOHCAHTOA - just go back to school maths.

Sin = Opposite over Hypotenuse

So, Sin (angle) x Hypotenuse = Opposite

So, sin (angle between runway and wind) x total wind = crosswind component.


Quick check
=========
sin(0)=0, so no angle, no crosswind component.
sin(90)=1, so 90 degrees angle, it's all crosswind
sin(45)=0.70 (the clock code would use 75%, near enough)
sin(30)=0.5 (the clock code would use 50%, spot on).



And as just said above, Cos for head/tailwind components. Cos(0)=1, so it's all headwind, cos(90)=0, so if it's all crosswind there's no headwind.



Gusting winds are still just winds - apply the same factor, you get correct answers.

G
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