FAA Ground School Practice Test

If the wind is from 330° at 25 knots, how should the pilot adjust their heading to maintain course?

1. Heading directly into the wind

2. Heading slightly east of course

3. Heading slightly west of course

4. Heading directly with the wind

The correct answer is: Heading slightly west of course

To maintain a desired course when there is a crosswind, pilots need to adjust their heading to compensate for the wind's impact on the aircraft's flight path. In this scenario, the wind is coming from 330°, which means it is approaching from the northwest. Given that the wind's speed is 25 knots, this creates a right crosswind effect on the aircraft. When faced with crosswind conditions, pilots typically apply "crab" into the wind to ensure the aircraft remains on the desired track over the ground. In this case, adjusting the heading slightly west of the intended course would be the correct approach. This allows the aircraft's nose to point into the wind, counteracting the drift caused by the crosswind and keeping the aircraft aligned with the intended course. If a pilot were to head directly into the wind or directly with the wind, it would not account for the necessary correction to maintain the specified path—a vital aspect in navigation. Similarly, heading slightly east of course would not provide the necessary adjustment to counteract the wind from 330°, leading to an unintended flight path. Thus, heading slightly west of course is the most effective method to counteract the winds and maintain proper course navigation.