13. Wind Effects

Question 1

The behavior of an aircraft in flight is the result of
three vectors

Answer 1

Heading (Hdg) and True Airspeed (TAS)
- direction the AC is pointing & Speed
Wind Velocity (W/V)
The combined effect of wind speed and direction.
Track (Tk) and Groundspeed (GS)
The direction and speed at which an aircraft travels,
in relation to the ground, under the combined
influence of Hdg, TAS and W/V.

Question 2

How is wind direction used in ATC?

Answer 2

True North (T) - METARs

Shown in degrees Magnetic (M) when displayed in ATC)

Question 3

If there was no wind?

Answer 3

Heading & TAS would be the same as Track and Groundspeed.

Question 4

If there is wind, what happens?

Answer 4

The angle between Hdg & Track
is known as Drift Angle.

(measured in degrees port or starboard of the aircraft heading)

Question 5

What is required track?

Answer 5

An appropriate heading needs to be calculated to account for the prevailing wind

Question 6

What is track made good?

Answer 6

Once airborne, the track that the aircraft actually traces over the ground is known as the Track Made Good.

Question 7

What happens when the wind is strong in flight than forecast?

Answer 7

Track made good could differ from the Required Track.

The angle between Required Track and Track Made
Good is the Track Error.

Question 8

Plotting measurements?

Answer 8

TAS is always measured along the Heading vector.
GS is always measured along the Track vector.

Question 9

Crosswind calculations

Answer 9