Albuquerque International Sunport to Garden City Regional ABQ → GCK
333 nautical miles (383 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 057°, about 046° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11E). At 120 knots that is 1 h 44 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 72-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:36 am CDT (07:36 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ABQ is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 4 knots; GCK is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 15 knots, gusting to 21. 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: 2 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.
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 7C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 12:55 am MDT (06:55 UTC). Over the route from 39 to 215 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120455 MKCC WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 7C VALID UNTIL 0655Z TX OK CO NM FROM 40NNW PUB-70WSW LBL-40NE CME-40ESE RSK-30ENE HBU-40NNW PUB AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the first 137 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 186 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the last 147 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
- B738 at 11,000 ft, 9 nm southeast, 9:25 pm MDT (03:25 UTC): 7 °C, wind 220° at 30 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. At the departure end, 9 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ABQ UA /OV ABQ094018 /TM 0325 /FL110 /TP B738 /TA 07 /WV 22030KT /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
- Report
- a routine report filed through ABQ
- Where
- 18 nm east (094°) of ABQ
- Time
- 03:25 UTC
- Height
- at 11,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Temperature
- 7 °C
- Wind
- from 220° at 30 knots
- Remarks
- produced by skypath
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 3 forecast points nearest it (ABQ, TCC, GCK). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 220° at 45 kt | −42 kt | 21 °C | 162 kt | 2 h 03 min | 2:55 am CDT (07:55 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 220° at 36 kt | −35 kt | 15 °C | 155 kt | 2 h 09 min | 3:01 am CDT (08:01 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | −32 kt | 12 °C | 152 kt | 2 h 11 min | 3:03 am CDT (08:03 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 31 kt | −31 kt | 8 °C | 151 kt | 2 h 12 min | 3:04 am CDT (08:04 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 33 kt | −32 kt | 3 °C | 152 kt | 2 h 11 min | 3:03 am CDT (08:03 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 35 kt | −35 kt | -1 °C | 155 kt | 2 h 09 min | 3:01 am CDT (08:01 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 38 kt | −37 kt | -6 °C | 157 kt | 2 h 07 min | 2:59 am CDT (07:59 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 39 kt | −38 kt | -7 °C | 158 kt | 2 h 06 min | 2:58 am CDT (07:58 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 48 kt | −48 kt | -20 °C | 168 kt | 1 h 59 min | 2:51 am CDT (07:51 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 73 kt | −72 kt | -27 °C | 192 kt | 1 h 44 min | 2:36 am CDT (07:36 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 69 kt | −68 kt | -36 °C | 188 kt | 1 h 46 min | 2:38 am CDT (07:38 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 55 kt | −54 kt | -48 °C | 174 kt | 1 h 55 min | 2:47 am CDT (07:47 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
| Point | From | 3,000 | 6,000 | 9,000 | 12,000 | 18,000 | 24,000 | 30,000 | 34,000 | 39,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABQ | used from 0 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 220/27 11° | 210/35 5° | 220/46 -9° | 230/62 -20° | 240/78 -25° | 240/80 -35° | 240/56 -47° | ||
| TCC | used from 98 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 210/42 | 230/33 14° | 230/32 6° | 220/35 -6° | 230/49 -19° | 240/72 -27° | 250/62 -36° | 250/52 -48° | |
| GCK | used from 196 nm out; 113 nm from the line | 220/48 21° | 230/37 14° | 250/30 8° | 230/37 -6° | 240/37 -20° | 240/69 -28° | 250/67 -37° | 260/58 -48° |
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
| Airport | Where | Conditions | Wind | Visibility | Ceiling | Elevation | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABQ Albuquerque, NM | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,354 ft | 10:52 pm MDT (04:52 UTC) |
| SAF Santa Fe, NM | 39 nm out, 15 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,348 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| LVS Las Vegas, NM | 78 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line | reported, no category | from the south-southeast (160°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,877 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| CAO Clayton, NM | 186 nm out, 18 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 17 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,969 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| JHN Johnson City, KS | 284 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 18 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | none | 3,325 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| ULS Ulysses, KS | 294 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 18 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | none | 3,071 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| GCK Garden City, KS | destination | VFR | from the south (190°) at 15 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 2,890 ft | 11:54 pm CDT (04:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,877 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At GCK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:36 am CDT (07:36 UTC)
Wind from the south at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for GCK
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for ABQ, the departure
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 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 10,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 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 GCK 7:08 pm CDT (00:08 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:34 pm CDT (00:34 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at GCK is before sunrise there (7:48 am CDT (12:48 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
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, Garden City Regional.