Your younger brother who wishes to be a pilot reads a news article about a search and rescue plane. In this search and rescue operation, an ultra-light aircraft travelling north at 30 km/hr encounters a 40 km/hr crosswind. After explaining to him that a crosswind is wind that blows at right angle with the direction of the plane, he then asks you the following questions:

Question

Your younger brother who wishes to be a pilot reads a news article about a search and rescue plane.  In this search and rescue operation, an ultra-light aircraft travelling north at 30 km/hr encounters a 40 km/hr crosswind.  After explaining to him that a crosswind is wind that blows at right angle with the direction of the plane, he then asks you the following questions: 
a.	How fast and in what direction will the plane move as it gets affected by the crosswind?
b.	Why is it important to understand the concepts of motion as a pilot?

Henry · Answer

a. X = 30km/h Y = 40km/h Tan A = Y/X = 40/30 = 1.33333 A = 53.13o E. of N. if wind is coming from the West. = 53.13o W. of N. if wind is coming from the East. V = Y/sin A=40/sin53.13=50 km/h[53.13o]