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Aviation tools that
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Precise calculators for student pilots, CFIs, and experienced aviators. No account needed — create one to save your work.

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Weight & Balance

CG, total moment, and full loadout breakdown.

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Pressure & Density Altitude

PA from altimeter setting, DA from OAT and ISA.

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Crosswind Component

Headwind and crosswind from any wind report.

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Fuel Burn Calculator

Plan fuel load with reserves and alternates.

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Cloud Base (AGL)

Estimate cloud base from OAT and dewpoint.

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Glide Distance

Max glide range from altitude and glide ratio.

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Climb & Descent

Required rate of climb/descent for any gradient.

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Holding Pattern Entry

Direct, teardrop, or parallel entry from any heading.

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True ↔ Magnetic

Convert headings and courses using variation and deviation.

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METAR & TAF Decoder

Paste raw weather reports for plain-English breakdowns.

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E6B Flight Computer

TAS, wind correction, time/distance/fuel, and more.

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Weight & Balance

Enter weights and arm distances to calculate CG and total moment.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter aircraft empty weight and arm — find these in your aircraft's current weight and balance record (not the POH — the actual document in the aircraft).
  2. Enter pilot and passenger weights — use actual weights, not estimates. Use the arm for each seat station from your POH.
  3. Enter baggage weights — check the arm for each baggage area in your POH — they differ.
  4. Enter fuel — 100LL avgas weighs 6 lbs/gal. Use the fuel arm from your POH.
  5. Click Calculate — verify total weight is at or below max gross weight, and CG is within limits for your weight.
📖 Read the full Weight & Balance guide →

Free aircraft weight and balance calculator for general aviation pilots. Enter weights and arm distances for pilot, passengers, baggage, and fuel to instantly calculate your center of gravity (CG), total moment, and total weight. Works for Cessna 172, Piper Cherokee, Cirrus SR22, and any GA aircraft. Supports lbs/inches and kg/cm. Required for every flight — verify your aircraft is within CG limits before departure.

Aircraft Info (optional)

Loadout

Weights in lbs · Arms in inches
Item Weight (lbs) Arm (in) Moment

Calculation Complete

Total Weight
pounds
Total Moment
lb·in
Center of Gravity
inches from datum
ItemWeight (lbs)Arm (in)Moment (lb·in)
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Pressure & Density Altitude

Compute PA and DA from field conditions.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter field elevation — from the Chart Supplement or airport information in your EFB.
  2. Enter altimeter setting — from current ATIS, AWOS, or ASOS in inHg.
  3. Enter OAT — outside air temperature from ATIS in °C or °F (toggle the unit).
  4. Click Calculate — check density altitude against your aircraft's service ceiling and POH performance charts.
📖 Read the full Density Altitude guide →

Free pressure altitude and density altitude calculator for pilots. Pressure altitude formula: PA = (29.92 − Altimeter Setting) × 1,000 + Field Elevation. Density altitude formula: DA = PA + (OAT − ISA) × 120. Essential for takeoff performance planning, especially at high-elevation airports or on hot days. Includes built-in ISA temperature calculator. Supports °F and °C.

Pressure Altitude

Standard = 29.92 inHg

Density Altitude

ISA at sea level = 15°C

Results

Pressure Altitude
ft MSL
ISA Temp
°C
Temp Deviation
°C from ISA
Density Altitude
ft MSL

Crosswind Component

Headwind and crosswind from any wind report and runway.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter wind direction — the direction the wind is coming FROM, in degrees, from ATIS or AWOS.
  2. Enter wind speed — if winds are gusty, use the gust speed for the worst-case crosswind.
  3. Enter runway heading — the runway number × 10 (Runway 28 = 280°).
  4. Click Calculate — compare crosswind component to your aircraft's demonstrated crosswind limit in the POH.
📖 Read the full Crosswind Component guide →

Free crosswind component calculator for pilots. Enter the wind direction, wind speed, and runway heading to instantly calculate the headwind component and crosswind component in knots. Essential for pre-flight planning and determining whether wind conditions are within your aircraft's demonstrated crosswind limits. Works with any runway and any wind report including ATIS and METAR winds.

Inputs

e.g. RWY 18 = 180°

Results

Headwind
knots
Crosswind
knots
Wind Angle
degrees off runway

Fuel Burn Calculator

Plan your fuel load with reserves and alternates.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter fuel burn rate — from your POH performance charts for your cruise power setting in gal/hr.
  2. Enter estimated flight time — total time including taxi and climb.
  3. Enter reserve requirements — VFR day: 30 min, VFR night: 45 min, IFR: fuel to alternate plus 45 min.
  4. Click Calculate — total fuel required includes trip, reserve, and alternate fuel. Compare to usable fuel on board.

Free aviation fuel burn calculator for VFR and IFR flight planning. Enter your fuel burn rate, flight time, and reserve requirements to calculate trip fuel, reserve fuel, alternate fuel, and total fuel required. Supports gallons and liters. Includes FAA VFR reserve requirements (30 minutes day, 45 minutes night) and IFR alternate fuel planning. Converts total fuel to pounds for weight and balance.

Flight Parameters

Reserve & Alternate

FAA: 30 min day / 45 min night
IFR only — time to alternate

Fuel Plan

Trip Fuel
gallons
Reserve Fuel
gallons
Alternate Fuel
gallons
Taxi/Extra
gallons
Total Required
gallons
Total in lbs
pounds (×6)

Cloud Base (AGL)

Estimate cloud base height from surface observations.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter OAT — outside air temperature from ATIS or surface observation in °C or °F.
  2. Enter dewpoint — from the same ATIS or weather observation.
  3. Click Calculate — estimated cloud base is in feet AGL. This is an estimate — always check actual reported ceilings in the METAR.

Free cloud base calculator for pilots. Estimates the height of the cloud base above ground level (AGL) using the temperature/dewpoint spread method. Formula: Cloud Base ≈ Spread × 400 ft per °C (or × 227 ft per °F). Enter outside air temperature (OAT) and dewpoint from a METAR or surface observation to estimate convective cloud base height. Useful for VFR flight planning and determining ceiling estimates.

Inputs

Formula: Spread = OAT − Dewpoint  ·  Cloud Base ≈ Spread × 227 ft (°F) or × 400 ft (°C) per degree

Results

Temp/Dewpoint Spread
°C
Est. Cloud Base
ft AGL

Glide Distance

Maximum glide range from altitude and best glide ratio.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter current altitude AGL — height above the terrain, not MSL.
  2. Enter best glide ratio — from your POH (Cessna 172 is approximately 9:1).
  3. Enter wind component — headwind is positive, tailwind is negative, in knots. Use 0 if unknown.
  4. Click Calculate — results show glide distance in NM and SM, and estimated time to ground.

Free glide distance calculator for pilots. Calculate maximum glide range in nautical miles and statute miles from any altitude using your aircraft's best glide ratio. Includes wind correction — enter headwind or tailwind component for an accurate wind-adjusted glide distance. Also calculates time to ground. Essential for engine-out emergency planning. Works for all general aviation aircraft including Cessna 172 (9:1), Cherokee (9:1), and Cirrus SR22 (10:1).

Inputs

e.g. C172 ≈ 9:1, C182 ≈ 10:1
+ tailwind / − headwind
From POH — for wind correction

Wind-corrected glide ratio = Vbg ± Wind / (Vbg / L:D)

Results

Glide Distance (no wind)
nautical miles
Glide Distance (wind adj.)
nautical miles
Glide Distance
statute miles
Time to Ground
minutes

Climb & Descent Calculator

Required rate for any gradient or altitude change.

How to use this calculator

  1. ROC tab: Enter current altitude, target altitude, and time available to get required rate of climb.
  2. ROD tab: Enter altitudes and ground speed to get required rate of descent and descent distance.
  3. Gradient tab: Enter descent gradient % and ground speed to get the required VSI setting.
  4. Top of Descent tab: Enter cruise altitude, target altitude, ground speed, and ROD to get your TOD point in NM from destination.

Free aviation climb and descent calculator for pilots. Calculate required rate of climb (ROC) to reach an altitude in a given time, required rate of descent (ROD) for a given gradient and ground speed, vertical speed indicator (VSI) setting for any descent gradient percentage, and top of descent (TOD) point for IFR arrivals. Essential for IFR flight planning, RNAV approaches, and ATC compliance. Includes standard 3% and 5.2% glidepath calculations.

Standard 3° glide = ~5.2%
e.g. 3% = 300 ft per NM

Holding Pattern Entry

Determine correct FAA entry procedure based on your heading at the fix.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter your holding course — select whether it's the inbound or outbound course using the toggle.
  2. Enter your aircraft heading — your magnetic heading at the time you reach the fix.
  3. Select turn direction — right for standard holds, left for non-standard (check the plate).
  4. Click Calculate — the result shows your entry type and a description of exactly what to do at the fix.
📖 Read the full Holding Pattern Entry guide →

Free holding pattern entry calculator for IFR pilots. Determines the correct FAA entry procedure — direct entry, teardrop entry, or parallel entry — based on your aircraft heading at the fix and the holding course. Supports both inbound and outbound course input, and both right-turn (standard) and left-turn (non-standard) holding patterns. Based on FAA AIM holding entry sector criteria. Essential for IFR rating students and instrument pilots.

Inputs

The published course TO the fix
Your heading when crossing the fix

Entry Procedure

Entry Type

True ↔ Magnetic Heading/Course

Convert between true and magnetic headings using magnetic variation and deviation.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter magnetic variation — East variation is positive (+), West variation is negative (−). Find it on your sectional chart or in the METAR remarks.
  2. Enter compass deviation — from your aircraft's compass correction card (usually near the compass). Use 0 if converting courses rather than headings.
  3. Select conversion direction — True→Magnetic, Magnetic→True, or Compass→True.
  4. Click Convert — results show all three values with the conversion math explained.

Free true to magnetic heading converter for pilots. Convert between true heading, magnetic heading, and compass heading using magnetic variation and compass deviation. Supports True → Magnetic, Magnetic → True, and Compass → True conversions. Essential for flight planning, VOR navigation, and cross-country flying. Applies the "East is least, West is best" rule automatically. Enter your local magnetic variation from a sectional chart or METAR.

Magnetic Variation & Deviation

East variation is positive (+) · West variation is negative (−)
From compass correction card · 0 if converting courses only
Memory aid: "East is least, West is best" — East variation: subtract to get Magnetic · West variation: add to get Magnetic
Full sequence: True → (±Variation) → Magnetic → (±Deviation) → Compass

METAR & TAF Decoder

Paste any raw METAR or TAF and get a plain-English breakdown of every element.

How to use this decoder

  1. Find your raw METAR or TAF — from aviationweather.gov, ForeFlight, or any EFB. Copy the entire raw string.
  2. Paste it into the input box — the decoder handles both METAR and TAF formats.
  3. Click Decode — each element is broken out in plain English including remarks and precipitation begin/end times.
📖 Read the full How to Read a METAR guide →

Free METAR and TAF decoder for pilots. Paste any raw METAR or TAF weather report and instantly get a plain-English translation of every element — wind direction and speed, visibility, sky conditions, temperature, dewpoint, altimeter setting, and remarks. Decodes all standard ICAO METAR codes including CB, TCU, TS, TSRA, FZRA, RVR, wind shear, precipitation begin/end times, sea-level pressure, and more. Works with reports from aviationweather.gov, ForeFlight, and all other sources.

Tip: You can paste METARs directly from aviationweather.gov, ForeFlight, or any other source. The decoder works with all standard ICAO METAR and TAF formats.

E6B Flight Computer

Essential navigation and planning calculations.

How to use this calculator

  1. TAS tab: Enter calibrated airspeed, pressure altitude, and OAT to get true airspeed and density altitude.
  2. Wind Correction tab: Enter true course, TAS, wind direction, and wind speed to get true heading, wind correction angle, and ground speed.
  3. Time/Dist/Fuel tab: Enter ground speed, distance, and fuel burn rate to get flight time and fuel required.

Free online E6B flight computer calculator for pilots. Calculate true airspeed (TAS) from calibrated airspeed, pressure altitude, and outside air temperature using the ICAO density ratio formula. Wind correction angle (WCA) and ground speed from true course, TAS, wind direction, and wind speed. Time, distance, and fuel calculations from ground speed, distance, and fuel burn rate. Replaces the physical E6B whiz wheel for preflight planning.

IAS ≈ CAS for most GA aircraft
Outside air temp at cruise altitude

Results

True Airspeed
knots
Density Altitude
feet
ISA Temp at Altitude
°C
Temp Deviation
°C ISA

Results

True Heading
degrees
Wind Corr. Angle
degrees
Ground Speed
knots

Results

Flight Time
hours : minutes
Fuel Required
gallons
NM per Gallon
NM/gal

My Saved Calculations

All your saved calculations across every tool — click any row to reload it.