Definition
An increase to the planned top-of-descent distance to compensate for the higher groundspeed produced by a tailwind during descent. Because a tailwind pushes the aircraft over the ground faster, the descent must be started earlier (further from the destination) to reach the target altitude at the right point.
Plain English
Extra miles added to where you start your descent because a tailwind is making you cover ground faster than usual. Start down sooner so you don't arrive too high.
Context Anchor
Used in descent planning, especially when deciding where to begin descent from a high altitude so the aircraft reaches the target altitude at the planned point.
Why Pilots Care
Prevents arriving at a fix too high or too fast, which can compromise compliance with published procedures and increase workload during the approach phase.
Grounding Statement
A tailwind makes the ground pass under the aircraft faster, so the same descent takes more miles.
Intuition Check
Do not think of a tailwind adjustment as simply lowering the nose more later. In descent planning, it usually means planning more distance or starting down earlier because the aircraft is moving faster across the ground.
Example Sentence 1
With a 60-knot tailwind at cruise, the captain added a tailwind adjustment of about six miles to the planned top of descent.
Example Sentence 2
During pre-descent planning the crew included a tailwind adjustment so the aircraft would cross the metering fix at the required altitude and speed.