Albuquerque International Sunport to Robert Gray Army Airfield ABQ → GRK
502 nautical miles (577 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 116°, about 105° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 08 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 40-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:57 am CDT (08:57 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ABQ is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 4 knots; GRK is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 12 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: 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 9C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 30 knots, until 12:55 am MDT (06:55 UTC). Near the route, 98 nm along the route.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120455 MKCC WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 9C VALID UNTIL 0655Z TX NM FROM 50NNW CME-40ENE CME-50SE ELP-20WSW ELP-30E TCS-50NNW CME AREA TS MOV FROM 22030KT. TOPS TO FL300.
- 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 118 to 138 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 20 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 98 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, 2 nm west, 9:25 pm MDT (03:25 UTC): 7 °C, wind 220° at 30 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. At the departure end, 2 nm west 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
- B738 at 36,000 ft, 27 nm northeast, 9:11 pm MDT (03:11 UTC): -40 °C, wind 245° at 69 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. 79 nm along the route, 27 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
SXU UA /OV ACH146017 /TM 0311 /FL360 /TP B738 /TA M40 /WV 24569KT /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
- Report
- a routine report filed through SXU
- Where
- 17 nm southeast (146°) of ACH
- Time
- 03:11 UTC
- Height
- at 36,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Temperature
- −40 °C
- Wind
- from 245° at 69 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 5 forecast points nearest it (ABQ, ROW, LBB, ABI, CLL). 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 | 200° at 32 kt | +7 kt | 17 °C | 113 kt | 4 h 27 min | 5:16 am CDT (10:16 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 210° at 27 kt | +1 kt | 15 °C | 119 kt | 4 h 13 min | 5:02 am CDT (10:02 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 23 kt | −3 kt | 13 °C | 123 kt | 4 h 05 min | 4:54 am CDT (09:54 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 22 kt | −6 kt | 8 °C | 126 kt | 3 h 59 min | 4:48 am CDT (09:48 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 23 kt | −8 kt | 4 °C | 128 kt | 3 h 55 min | 4:44 am CDT (09:44 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | −9 kt | 0 °C | 129 kt | 3 h 53 min | 4:42 am CDT (09:42 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | −10 kt | -4 °C | 130 kt | 3 h 52 min | 4:41 am CDT (09:41 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 26 kt | −10 kt | -5 °C | 130 kt | 3 h 52 min | 4:41 am CDT (09:41 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 40 kt | −19 kt | -16 °C | 139 kt | 3 h 37 min | 4:26 am CDT (09:26 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 53 kt | −30 kt | -27 °C | 150 kt | 3 h 21 min | 4:10 am CDT (09:10 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 50 kt | −36 kt | -37 °C | 156 kt | 3 h 13 min | 4:02 am CDT (09:02 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 45 kt | −40 kt | -49 °C | 160 kt | 3 h 08 min | 3:57 am CDT (08:57 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; 25 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° | ||
| ROW | used from 98 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 190/33 | 210/27 14° | 220/28 6° | 230/36 -6° | 230/56 -15° | 230/63 -27° | 250/59 -37° | 260/57 -49° | |
| LBB | used from 197 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 200/36 18° | 220/19 15° | 240/20 8° | 230/24 -4° | 240/37 -16° | 250/57 -28° | 250/51 -38° | 270/47 -50° | |
| ABI | used from 295 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 200/31 17° | 210/21 15° | 240/15 9° | 250/14 -4° | 250/24 -14° | 250/36 -28° | 270/35 -38° | 290/41 -50° | |
| CLL | used from 492 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 170/22 | 170/26 18° | 200/15 14° | 240/13 8° | 240/15 -5° | 260/17 -13° | 290/27 -29° | 290/22 -40° | 320/30 -51° |
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) |
| FSU Fort Sumner, NM | 118 nm out, 23 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 4,164 ft | ||||
| PRZ Portales, NM | 167 nm out, 24 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 4,077 ft | ||||
| BFE Brownfield, TX | 246 nm out, 1 nm east of the line | no report just now | 3,264 ft | ||||
| LUV Lamesa, TX | 266 nm out, 16 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,998 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| SNK Snyder, TX | 315 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 10 knots, gusting to 15 | 10+ mi | none | 2,430 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| ABI Abilene, TX | 384 nm out, 23 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,790 ft | 04:52 UTC |
| COM Coleman, TX | 413 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,696 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| LZZ Lampasas, TX | 482 nm out, 8 nm south of the line | VFR | variable at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,214 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| GRK Fort Hood (Killeen), TX | destination | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,015 ft | 11:55 pm CDT (04:55 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 GRK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:57 am CDT (08:57 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 9 knots, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet
Changing between Mon 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC) and 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC) to: wind from the southeast at 6 knots, a broken layer at 1,500 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for GRK
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 9 knots, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet
- Changing between Mon 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC) and 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC) to: wind from the southeast at 6 knots, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- Changing between Mon 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC) and 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC) to: wind from the south-southeast at 12 knots, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- Changing between Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC) and 11:00 pm CDT (04:00 UTC) to: wind from the south-southeast at 9 knots, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
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 GRK 7:02 pm CDT (00:02 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:26 pm CDT (00:26 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at GRK is before sunrise there (7:31 am CDT (12:31 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, Robert Gray Army Airfield.