Plain English Meaning

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.

Full 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).

Context Anchor

Used before takeoff or when the wind is not straight down the runway, especially when checking whether the wind is within safe limits for the and .