What is the approximate crosswind component when landing on Rwy 22 with winds from 260° at 23 kts?

• A. 10 knots
• B. 15 knots
• C. 20 knots
• D. 25 knots

Answer: (B)

To determine the approximate crosswind component when landing on Runway 22 with winds coming from 260° at 23 knots, you need to consider the angle between the wind direction and the runway heading. Runway 22 has a magnetic heading of approximately 220°, making it aligned toward the southwest.

The wind is coming from 260°, which means it is blowing from slightly north of due west. To find the crosswind component, you can use a trigonometric relationship, particularly the sine function since crosswinds are perpendicular to the runway's heading.

1. First, calculate the angle between the wind direction and the runway:

• The angle is 260° (wind direction) - 220° (runway heading) = 40°.

2. Apply the sine function to get the crosswind component:

• Crosswind component = Wind speed × sin(angle)

• Crosswind component ≈ 23 knots × sin(40°).

Using the sine of 40°, which is approximately 0.6428, you can calculate:

• Crosswind component ≈ 23 knots × 0.6428 ≈ 14.77 knots.

Rounding this value gives you an approximate crosswind component of