Hello all, I have had the 747/737 for a while but I am still confused on the proper way to determine wind direction and speed when it comes to flight planning. I have AS6 which calculates an average speed and direction per waypoint. The problem is I have no idea how to apply this information. The speed is self explanatory, however I am confused about the heading of the winds.For instance a wind heading of 250 at a given waypoint would relate how to the aircraft? Does it mean 250 degrees as seen from the aicraft heading or is it 250 in relation to grid or magnetic north?I know it is probably a beginners question but I wanted to clear this up. Does anyone have an alternate method?Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks: Zsolt

Winds are given in magnetic direction, blowing from, such that a wind of 180 is blowing from South to North, and if your heading is 180 then it is a headwind. That's a memory jogger for you... the wind "heading" is for a headwind if you're heading in that direction. You prefer headwinds when landing/takeoffs, so runway 18 would be nice in this example.Yes, it is a pretty basic question. There's a good forum in the Hanger Section of AVSIM (above) for flight basics.

Thanks a lot, this should clear the issue up.Regards: Zsolt

headwind component = cos(heading-wind direction)*windspeedi guess :)-- Pelusa

>Winds are given in magnetic directionActually, winds aloft are given relative to true north -- the wind in the ATIS, OTOH, is magnetic.Martin

"Actually, winds aloft are given relative to true north -- the wind in the ATIS, OTOH, is magnetic."Correct! :)Give that man a prize!Cheers.Q> (イアン)