Definition
A reference chart used to determine the headwind and crosswind components of a reported wind, based on the angle between the wind direction and the runway heading and the reported wind speed. The pilot enters the chart with the wind angle and wind speed, and reads off the resulting headwind component (along the runway) and crosswind component (across the runway).
Plain English
A simple chart that tells you how much of the wind is blowing straight down the runway and how much is blowing across it. You give it the wind angle and speed, and it gives you those two numbers.
Context Anchor
Used before takeoff or landing when the wind is not straight down the runway, especially when checking whether the wind is within safe limits for the airplane and pilot.
Derivation
Component' comes from the Latin componere, meaning 'to put together.' A wind blowing at an angle to the runway is treated as two parts put together: one along the runway and one across it. The chart breaks the single wind into those two components so the pilot can evaluate each separately.
Why Pilots Care
It quickly tells whether the sideways wind is within the airplane’s maximum demonstrated crosswind limit, helping avoid loss of directional control on the runway.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as a chart of total wind speed. It shows only the part of the wind pushing sideways across the runway.
Example Sentence 1
With the wind reported at 060 at 20 knots and runway 09 in use, the pilot used the crosswind component chart and found a 17-knot crosswind, which was within the airplane's demonstrated limit.
Example Sentence 2
Before taxiing out, she checked the crosswind component chart to confirm the conditions remained within the airplane’s limits.