What is the formula for calculating drift angle due to wind?

The correct formula for calculating drift angle due to wind is based on the relationship between the wind component and the true airspeed of the aircraft. The formula involves the arcsine function because drift angle can be viewed as the angle between the aircraft’s intended track over the ground and its heading, which is affected by wind.

When calculating drift angle, the wind component that acts perpendicular (crosswind) to the aircraft's flight path is used in conjunction with its true airspeed. The ratio of the wind component to true airspeed gives the sine of the drift angle, which is why arcsin is employed in the formula. This reflects the geometric relationship of the triangle formed by the true airspeed vector, the wind vector, and the ground track of the aircraft.

Using this understanding, the formula Drift Angle = arcsin(Wind Component / True Airspeed) accurately provides the drift angle by using the correct trigonometric relationship between the side opposite the angle (the wind component) and the hypotenuse (the true airspeed). This makes it the most suitable choice among the options presented.