The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Sun 8:41 pm MDT (02:41 UTC)

Albuquerque International Sunport to Charlotte/Douglas International ABQ → CLT

1,256 nautical miles (1,446 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 082°, about 071° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 34 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 46-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:15 am EDT (10:15 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ABQ is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 7 knots; CLT is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 8 knots. For planning, not a briefing: the legal preflight briefing comes from Flight Service (1-800-WX-BRIEF) or the FAA's own tools. Airlines fly this pair: 16 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The return flight

The route the straight line, the warnings crossed, restrictions, pilot reports and the airports along the way · click a mark for its words

Green, blue, red and purple airport dots are the flying conditions reported there now (VFR, marginal VFR, IFR, low IFR); grey means no report. Red areas are SIGMETs, orange areas AIRMETs, hatched red areas temporary flight restrictions. Map tiles: OpenFreeMap, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Warnings the route crosses SIGMETs and AIRMETs whose area the line passes through or comes within 25 nm of

  • SIGMET 6W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 9:55 pm MDT (03:55 UTC). Over the first 120 nm of the route.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 120155
    MKCW WST 120155
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 6W
    VALID UNTIL 0355Z
    CO NM
    FROM 50SSW DEN-30NNE TBE-50SSW CME-50E SJN-20NE DVC-50SSW DEN
    AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
  • AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the first 120 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 130 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 10 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1057 to 1177 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 1067 nm along the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the last 130 nm of the route.

A SIGMET warns of weather hazardous to all aircraft; an AIRMET of weather that matters to small aircraft and to flying without instruments. "From 60 to 180 nm out" is measured along the route from ABQ.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

Not fetched just now.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed

The eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 12 forecast points nearest it (ABQ, TCC, AMA, GAG, OKC, TUL, FSM, LIT, MEM, BNA, TYS, GSP). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
3,500 ft250° at 15 kt−15 kt135 kt9 h 18 min7:59 am EDT (11:59 UTC)
5,500 ft240° at 19 kt−18 kt19 °C138 kt9 h 06 min7:47 am EDT (11:47 UTC)
7,500 ft250° at 18 kt−18 kt14 °C138 kt9 h 06 min7:47 am EDT (11:47 UTC)
9,500 ft260° at 17 kt−18 kt11 °C138 kt9 h 06 min7:47 am EDT (11:47 UTC)
11,500 ft270° at 16 kt−17 kt7 °C137 kt9 h 10 min7:51 am EDT (11:51 UTC)
13,500 ft270° at 16 kt−17 kt3 °C137 kt9 h 10 min7:51 am EDT (11:51 UTC)
15,500 ft270° at 17 kt−18 kt-1 °C138 kt9 h 06 min7:47 am EDT (11:47 UTC)
17,500 ft270° at 18 kt−19 kt-5 °C139 kt9 h 02 min7:43 am EDT (11:43 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180260° at 18 kt−19 kt-6 °C139 kt9 h 02 min7:43 am EDT (11:43 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240270° at 27 kt−28 kt-18 °C148 kt8 h 29 min7:10 am EDT (11:10 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300270° at 42 kt−44 kt-30 °C164 kt7 h 40 min6:21 am EDT (10:21 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340280° at 45 kt−46 kt-39 °C166 kt7 h 34 min6:15 am EDT (10:15 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390290° at 38 kt−37 kt-50 °C157 kt8 h6:41 am EDT (10:41 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 UTC; temperatures above 24,000 ft are below zero. Heights are above sea level; a height is left out when the forecast has no wind for it over most of the line (the ground is higher). Ground speed is the airspeed less the headwind; the time en route is for the straight line and ignores climb, descent and routing around weather.

The forecast points as issued
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
ABQused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line220/27 11°210/35 5°220/46 -9°230/62 -20°240/78 -25°240/80 -35°240/56 -47°
TCCused from 50 nm out; 73 nm from the line210/42230/33 14°230/32 6°220/35 -6°230/49 -19°240/72 -27°250/62 -36°250/52 -48°
AMAused from 199 nm out; 23 nm from the line210/38230/29 14°240/29 7°220/27 -5°240/37 -18°240/66 -28°250/59 -37°260/47 -49°
GAGused from 299 nm out; 43 nm from the line220/40 19°230/28 14°240/23 8°230/21 -6°240/31 -19°250/66 -29°260/58 -38°260/47 -49°
OKCused from 399 nm out; 27 nm from the line200/44230/32 18°240/13 15°240/10 9°240/20 -5°250/27 -16°260/47 -28°270/48 -39°270/45 -50°
TULused from 499 nm out; 26 nm from the line210/37240/29 17°260/15 14°260/11 7°240/22 -6°250/29 -16°270/45 -29°270/47 -40°280/44 -50°
FSMused from 548 nm out; 39 nm from the line210/27250/23 16°250/20 13°240/17 8°250/18 -6°260/31 -16°280/42 -30°280/44 -40°290/38 -51°
LITused from 648 nm out; 72 nm from the line220/21230/17 16°250/24 12°260/15 7°260/13 -5°280/25 -16°290/35 -30°300/42 -40°300/40 -52°
MEMused from 748 nm out; 61 nm from the line230/19260/16 15°270/17 12°300/13 6°300/15 -5°300/26 -18°300/34 -32°300/41 -40°310/46 -52°
BNAused from 897 nm out; 58 nm from the line310/20340/20 17°330/24 10°340/22 5°330/26 -6°340/29 -18°330/52 -33°320/62 -41°340/45 -50°
TYSused from 1047 nm out; 38 nm from the line320/20340/18 11°340/32 9°340/36 4°330/37 -7°330/38 -19°330/50 -34°330/53 -38°330/44 -48°
GSPused from 1147 nm out; 36 nm from the line320/22340/19 13°320/18 8°310/24 5°300/34 -7°300/36 -18°290/30 -33°300/32 -39°320/42 -49°

The weather now: both ends and the airports along the way public airports with a weather report within 25 nm of the line, one for each stretch

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
ABQ Albuquerque, NM departure VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 13,000 feet from the southeast (140°) at 7 knots 10+ mi 13,000 ft 5,354 ft 7:52 pm MDT (01:52 UTC)
SXU Santa Rosa, NM 100 nm out, 19 nm south of the line VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet from the south (180°) at 15 knots, gusting to 20 10+ mi none 4,791 ft 02:15 UTC
AMA Amarillo, TX 239 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower VFR from the south (170°) at 19 knots, gusting to 27 10+ mi none 3,606 ft 01:53 UTC
CSM Burns Flat, OK 359 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower VFR from the south-southeast (160°) at 13 knots 10+ mi none 1,922 ft 01:53 UTC
PWA Oklahoma City, OK 439 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower VFR from the south (170°) at 14 knots 10+ mi none 1,299 ft 01:53 UTC
FYV Fayetteville, AR 608 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower VFR calm 10+ mi none 1,252 ft 01:53 UTC
BVX Batesville, AR 728 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line VFR from the southeast (130°) at 3 knots 10+ mi none 465 ft 01:56 UTC
MKL Jackson, TN 868 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower VFR from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots 10+ mi none 434 ft 01:53 UTC
MQY Smyrna, TN 977 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower reported, no category from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots none 543 ft 01:56 UTC
TYS Knoxville, TN 1107 nm out, 20 nm north of the line, tower marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,300 feet, overcast at 2,700 feet from the west-southwest (250°) at 12 knots 10+ mi 1,300 ft 986 ft 01:53 UTC
AVL Asheville, NC 1177 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower VFR variable at 4 knots 10+ mi none 2,163 ft 01:54 UTC
CLT Charlotte, NC destination VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 feet from the southwest (230°) at 8 knots 10+ mi none 747 ft 9:52 pm EDT (01:52 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 5,354 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At CLT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:15 am EDT (10:15 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for CLT
  • From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 23,000 feet
  • From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for ABQ, the departure
  • From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 22 knots, gusting to 35, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
  • At times between Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind variable at 25 knots, gusting to 40, light thunderstorms with rain, a broken layer at 6,000 feet (thunderheads)
  • From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet
  • From Sun 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet
  • From Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at ABQ 6:35 pm MDT (00:35 UTC), at CLT 6:52 pm EDT (22:52 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm EDT (23:18 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CLT is before sunrise there (7:27 am EDT (11:27 UTC)).

Each restriction opens the FAA's own page with the exact area, heights and times. Ordinary notices to air missions (closed runways, lights out) are not shown: the FAA's notice search is not open to sites like this one at this time.

Radar and forecast charts for the regions crossed government pictures, the latest each time the page loads

Radar now, the southern Rockies
Radar now, the southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the southern Plains
Radar now, the southern Plains · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley
Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Sources: the Aviation Weather Center's data service (SIGMETs, AIRMETs, graphical AIRMETs, pilot reports, winds and temperatures aloft, observations and terminal forecasts), the National Weather Service radar, the Weather Prediction Center's charts, the FAA's temporary flight restriction list and shapes, and the FAA's airport file for the positions, elevations and magnetic variation. Fetched when the page is viewed and kept a few minutes. Each leg is the straight line between its two airports; airways, terrain and airspace are not considered. The airports in detail: Albuquerque International Sunport, Charlotte/Douglas International.