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For take-off an aircraft requires a headwind component of at least 10 kt and has a cross wind limitation of 35 kt.If the angle between the wind direction and the runway is 60°, what are the minimum and maximum allowable wind speeds?
  • A
    15 kt and 43 kt
  • B
    20 kt and 40 kt
  • C
    18 kt and 50 kt
  • D
    12 kt and 38 kt

The wind velocity is made of two components, one acting along the runway called the headwind component, and the other acting across the runway called the crosswind component.

It is possible to calculate the crosswind component taking the sine and the cosine of the relative bearing between the runway and the wind direction.

Head/Tail wind component = Wind Speed x cosine (Relative Bearing)

Crosswind component = Wind Speed x sine (Relative Bearing)

Minimum headwind component 10 kts, relative bearing between the runway and the wind direction 60º.

The minimum headwind component will dictated the minimum wind speed required:

Minimum wind speed = 10 / cosine (60º) = 20 kts

Maximum crosswind component 35 kts, relative bearing between the runway and the wind direction 60º.

The maximum crosswind component will dictated the maximum wind speed allowed:

Maximum wind speed = 35 / sine (60º) = 40 kts

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