IFR PilotLab

• WCA: wind correction angle in degrees
• angle: angle between your track and the wind direction (max. 60°)
• V_wind: wind speed in kt
• V_TAS: true airspeed in kt

Example

Wind 20 kt at 60° to the track, TAS 120 kt: WCA = 60 · 20120 = 10°. Turn the nose 10° into the wind.

Work out the WCA for the inbound leg first. All other corrections come from it.

The Three Entries

• Direct: turn directly onto the outbound track. Correct 3 · WCA outbound, 1 · WCA inbound.
• Teardrop: fly 30° off the outbound track on the holding side for 1 min (with the outbound WCA), then turn to intercept the inbound track.
• Parallel: fly outbound on the non-holding side for 1 min, then turn towards the holding side to intercept the inbound track.

Example Calculation

Inbound WCA = 5° (wind from the right). Inbound correction: 5° right. Outbound correction: 3 · 5° = 15° right (into the wind).

• D: distance to the descent point in NM
• H: height to lose in ft
• GS: groundspeed in kt
• fpm: planned rate of descent in ft/min

• RoD: required rate of descent in ft/min
• H: height to lose in ft
• GS: groundspeed in kt
• D: distance available in NM