Wind Correction Angle
Calculator
Results
- Wind correction angle (degrees)
- -7.335206
- True heading to fly (degrees)
- 82.664793
- Ground speed (knots)
- 106.162189
Aviation and marine results
| Wind correction angle (degrees) | -7.335206 |
| True heading to fly (degrees) | 82.664793 |
| Ground speed (knots) | 106.162189 |
formula-map diagram
- Wind correction angle (degrees)
- -7.335206
- True heading to fly (degrees)
- 82.664793
- Ground speed (knots)
- 106.162189
Aviation and marine relationship
Formula
WCA = asin(V × sin(wind − course) ÷ TAS)= -7.3352065318683
Note
This is a simplified model: it applies a standard navigation, performance or seamanship formula to the numbers you entered. True airspeed and density altitude use the ISA troposphere model for dry air and ignore humidity, compressibility and instrument or position error, so they are not a substitute for your aircraft's flight manual or an air data computer. Wind, climb, descent and fuel figures assume a steady wind and a constant speed and fuel flow for the whole leg; they ignore manoeuvring, holding, taxi and start-up fuel, terrain, turbulence and air traffic control routing. Takeoff distance scales an entered sea level figure by a rule-of-thumb percentage per 1000 ft of density altitude and is not a certified performance chart. Weight and balance results depend entirely on the arms and weights you enter and must be checked against the approved loading envelope. Hull speed is the classic 1.34 × √LWL displacement estimate, boat fuel burn is a horsepower-based approximation, anchor scope is a rule of thumb, and the rule of twelfths is a linear approximation of a sinusoidal tide that does not hold in all locations. Always use official charts, tide tables, the aircraft or vessel manuals and current weather, and treat these numbers as planning estimates only.
More in Aviation and marine
See all →Frequently asked questions
What is wind correction angle and why is it needed?+
Wind correction angle (WCA) is the number of degrees a pilot must offset the aircraft's heading from the desired course to counteract crosswind drift, so that the actual path over the ground matches the intended track. Without it, a crosswind would push the aircraft off course.
How is wind correction angle calculated?+
It uses the crosswind component and true airspeed: WCA (in degrees) ≈ arcsin(crosswind component ÷ true airspeed), often approximated as 60 × crosswind ÷ true airspeed for small angles. The result tells you how many degrees to turn into the wind.
Why does a slower aircraft need a larger wind correction angle?+
For the same crosswind component, a slower aircraft needs to angle further into the wind to counteract the same sideways push, because the crosswind represents a larger fraction of its true airspeed. This is why light aircraft often need noticeably larger WCAs than jets in the same wind.
What's a common misconception about wind correction angle and heading?+
Some pilots confuse heading with course: after applying WCA, the heading (where the nose points) differs from the course (the path over the ground) by the correction angle. The aircraft physically points into the wind slightly while still tracking the intended straight-line path.
Does wind correction angle need to be recalculated during a long flight?+
Yes — if forecast winds change with altitude or over time, or if actual winds differ from forecast, the WCA should be recalculated using updated wind data. Pilots often verify and adjust it in flight using groundspeed and track information rather than relying solely on the pre-flight planning figure.