Flight Dead Reckoning Calculator
Calculate flight time, ground speed, and fuel required from distance, true airspeed, wind component, and fuel burn rate.
Essential for VFR and IFR flight planning.
Aviation dead reckoning
Dead reckoning in aviation means calculating your expected position, flight time, and fuel requirements from known or forecast data — without relying on GPS or radio navigation. It is the foundation of all flight planning, used to check navigational instruments and as a backup if electronic systems fail.
The core calculation
Ground Speed = TAS ± Wind Component Flight Time = Distance ÷ Ground Speed Fuel Required = Flight Time × Fuel Burn Rate
A headwind component (wind opposing the direction of flight) reduces ground speed. A tailwind component (wind behind the aircraft) increases ground speed. The wind component along the route depends on the angular difference between wind direction and track — only the component along the route affects ground speed.
Wind correction angle
Cross-wind components (perpendicular to track) require a correction angle to maintain the desired track. This calculator focuses on the along-track wind component. For precise WCA calculations, use the Wind Correction Angle Formula.
Route legs
Most flights involve multiple legs (route segments) with different winds, altitudes, and distances. This calculator handles a single leg. For multi-leg flights, calculate each leg separately and sum the fuel and time totals.
Planning margins
Always add planning margins to calculated fuel:
- Navigate with a comfortable reserve above regulatory minimums
- Build in 10–15% contingency for unexpected winds or routing changes
- Never assume forecast winds are accurate — check actual winds against forecast at the first waypoint and revise fuel planning if significantly different
Dead reckoning is a skill that requires practice. Use it alongside GPS as a cross-check, and you will always know where you are.