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5 Answers

Best way to plan for winds aloft and cross country calculations?

Asked by: 10578 views Student Pilot

I am using aviationweather.gov along with 1-800-WX-BRIEF for pre-flight weather checks. Was wondering how would I obtain winds aloft and factor this into my cross country flight planning?

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5 Answers



  1. Chris Carlson on Jan 26, 2013

    http://aviationweather.gov/products/nws/winds/

    This is the source for winds and temp aloft text

    Read into chapter 15 of the handbook of aeronautical knowledge. This explains how to do cross country calculations including wind corrections.

    Is there a more specific calculation you had in mind?

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  2. Chris Carlson on Jan 26, 2013

    To add to the above…

    A from similar to this will help you in the process, as it provides a box for each step of the process.

    http://www.dauntless-soft.com/downloads/vfrfp22a.pdf

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  3. Ben on Jan 26, 2013

    Thanks in the flight navigation log from ASA there is section for winds and calculations for course, TH, MH and so forth.

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  4. Chris Carlson on Jan 26, 2013

    The basic series is…true course +/- wind correction angle (use the back of the e6b) this gives you true heading. True heading plus or minus the variation (the difference in true north versus magnetic north, add for west, subtract for east, and the value is obtained from the dashed purple lines on the chart) you now have calculated your magnetic heading. This is the direction you point your nose relative to magnetic north. The last (and usually tiny) correction is to correct for your compasses error, which can be found and interpolated from the compass correction car that is required to be in the aircraft.

    Good luck with your cross country!

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  5. MaggotCFII on Jan 27, 2013

    Perhaps you should schedule ground instruction with your CFI.

    What you are talking about is a basic skill that is alluded to the the
    PTS, Area of Operation VII, Task A: Pilotage and Navigation.

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