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About PlaneWX

Aircraft Profiles

Configure your aircraft's capabilities for accurate weather analysis.

Why Aircraft Profiles Matter#

Every aircraft has different capabilities. A FIKI-equipped Cirrus can handle icing that would ground a Cessna 172. A turboprop has different crosswind limits than a light sport aircraft. PlaneWX uses your aircraft profile to provide analysis that matches what YOUR plane can do.

Aircraft Profile Fields#

Basic Information

  • • Tail Number – Your aircraft's registration (e.g., N12345)
  • • Aircraft Type – Make and model (e.g., Cessna 172S)
  • • Default Flight Rules – VFR or IFR

Performance Data

  • • True Airspeed (TAS) – Cruise speed in knots
  • • Preferred Altitude – Your typical cruise altitude
  • • Service Ceiling – Maximum altitude capability

These are used for calculating flight time, winds aloft analysis, and en-route weather evaluation.

Equipment & Capabilities

  • FIKI Capable – Flight Into Known Icing approved

    Affects how icing conditions are evaluated

  • IFR Certified – Equipped for instrument flight
  • Autopilot – Has autopilot installed

    Affects workload assessment in complex weather

  • Weather Radar – Onboard weather radar

    Adjusts convective weather guidance

  • Datalink Radar – ADS-B or satellite weather display

    Ground-based radar data with noted limitations

  • De-ice Equipment – Boots, TKS, or other de-ice systems

Runway Requirements

  • • Minimum Runway Length – Shortest runway you'll use (e.g., 3,000 ft)
  • • Paved Only – Whether you require paved surfaces

Aircraft-Specific Weather Limits#

Each aircraft can have its own weather limits that override your global personal minimums. These are optional — leave them blank to use your global settings.

Crosswind Overrides

• No concerns if winds up to — Your comfortable crosswind for this aircraft

• Won't fly if winds above — Your personal max for this aircraft

Turbulence, Icing & Wind Shear

• No concerns at — What severity (or speed) you're comfortable with

• Won't fly above — Your maximum acceptable severity (or speed)

FIKI-equipped aircraft typically have higher icing tolerance. Heavier aircraft handle turbulence and wind shear better. Wind shear limits are set in knots (e.g., comfort 30kt, max 50kt).

How overrides work: Aircraft-specific values take precedence over your global personal minimums. This allows you to fly with lower limits in well-equipped aircraft you're comfortable in (e.g., 400 ft arrival ceiling in your SR22T vs 600 ft in a rental).

Ground Operations Wind Limit#

Some aircraft — particularly jets and turboprops — have an AFM or POH limitation on the total surface wind speed for ground operations. This is different from a crosswind limit. A crosswind limit is about the component of wind perpendicular to the runway. A ground operations wind limit is about total wind speed, regardless of direction — whether it's a headwind, tailwind, or crosswind.

Why does this matter?

It's possible to have zero crosswind — wind perfectly aligned with the runway — but still face 35-knot surface winds that exceed what's safe or approved for your aircraft's ground handling, engine start, or taxi. The crosswind check would show a clean pass. The total wind check catches that.

Common examples from aircraft AFMs:

  • • Eclipse EA50 — 30 kt max crosswind for operations, 25 kt max tailwind. High surface winds can also affect engine start procedures.
  • • Cirrus Vision Jet (SF50) — 25 kt max crosswind, 15 kt max tailwind for engine start.
  • • Piston singles/twins — Most POHs don't specify a hard total-wind limit, but sustained winds above 25–30 kt raise real taxi and ground handling concerns even on an aligned runway.

Always verify the applicable limit in your aircraft's current AFM or POH.

How PlaneWX scores it

NO-GOSustained surface wind exceeds your AFM limit — hard NO-GO exceedance, same weight as a crosswind exceedance.
CAUTIONGusts exceed the limit but sustained winds are within it — scored caution, not a NO-GO. Gusts are transient; you still have the option to time your taxi or departure.
WATCHSustained winds are within the limit but above 75% of it — proportional caution. Worth monitoring closely before departure.

This field is optional and aircraft-specific

If you leave it blank, PlaneWX won't apply a ground operations wind limit for that aircraft — it's not a required field. Enter the value from your AFM/POH, not a general comfort preference (use your personal crosswind minimums for that). If your AFM lists separate limits for taxiing vs. engine start, use the more restrictive of the two.

Managing Multiple Aircraft#

If you fly multiple aircraft, you can add profiles for each one. When creating a trip, select which aircraft you'll be flying, and PlaneWX will apply the appropriate capabilities and minimums.

Set one aircraft as your default—it will be pre-selected when creating new trips.

Adding or Editing Aircraft#

  1. 1Go to Profile from the navigation
  2. 2Scroll to the Aircraft section
  3. 3Click Add Aircraft or Edit on an existing aircraft
  4. 4Fill in the performance data, equipment, and weather limits
  5. 5Save your changes

Tips

  • • Use your aircraft manual for accurate performance data
  • • Set crosswind limits based on your comfort level with each aircraft
  • • If your AFM has a ground ops wind limit, enter it — PlaneWX will flag surface wind exceedances that a crosswind check alone would miss
  • • Update profiles when equipment changes (e.g., adding ADS-B In)
  • • If renting, create a profile for each aircraft you commonly fly