Albuquerque International Sunport to Great Falls International ABQ → GTF
777 nautical miles (894 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 345°, about 334° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 59 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 36-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:06 pm MDT (18:06 UTC). Right now ABQ is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 7 knots; GTF is low IFR, wind from the northwest (310°) at 5 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: 1 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
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the first 418 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 30 to 279 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 189 to 767 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: 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 route from 239 to 349 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 249 to 628 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 299 to 369 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the last 219 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 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
- A359 at 38,000 ft, 23 nm east, 4:13 am MDT (10:13 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-37. 189 nm along the route, 23 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
GUC UA /OV HBU185015/TM 1013/FL380/TP A359/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-37
- Report
- a routine report filed through GUC
- Where
- 15 nm south (185°) of HBU
- Time
- 10:13 UTC
- Height
- at 38,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A359
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-37
- PC12 at 5,000 ft, 25 nm west, 5:23 am MDT (11:23 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the descent zdvwc. 259 nm along the route, 25 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
GJT UA /OV GJT/TM 1123/FL050/TP PC12/TB LGT-MOD/IC NEG/RM DURD. ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through GJT
- Where
- over GJT
- Time
- 11:23 UTC
- Height
- at 5,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Turbulence
- light to moderate
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the descent zdvwc
- C340 descending, 22 nm west, 6:47 am MDT (12:47 UTC): light icing, remarks: smooth. 677 nm along the route, 22 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 1247/FLDURD/TP C340/SK 055/IC LGT RM/RM SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through BZN
- Where
- over BZN
- Time
- 12:47 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- C340
- Sky
- at 5,500 ft
- Icing
- light remarks
- Remarks
- smooth
- BE9L at 7,500 ft, 34 nm west, 6:45 am MDT (12:45 UTC): no turbulence, light rime icing, overcast from 7,500 ft to 9,000 ft, -6 °C, remarks: during the climb. 727 nm along the route, 34 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
HLN UA /OV HLN120010/TM 1245/FL075/TP BE9L/SK OVC075-TOPS090/TA M06/TB NEG/IC LGT RIME/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through HLN
- Where
- 10 nm southeast (120°) of HLN
- Time
- 12:45 UTC
- Height
- at 7,500 ft
- Aircraft
- BE9L
- Sky
- overcast from 7,500 ft, tops 9,000 ft
- Temperature
- −6 °C
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- light rime
- Remarks
- during the climb
- B752 at 41,000 ft, 33 nm west, 6:31 am MDT (12:31 UTC): light to moderate turbulence above 41,000 ft. 737 nm along the route, 33 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
HLN UA /OV HLN009010/TM 1231/FL410/TP B752/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD 410/ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through HLN
- Where
- 10 nm north (009°) of HLN
- Time
- 12:31 UTC
- Height
- at 41,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B752
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate 410/ZLC
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed
The westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 7 forecast points nearest it (ABQ, FMN, GJT, RKS, LND, BIL, GTF). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 14 kt | −5 kt | 5 °C | 125 kt | 6 h 13 min | 1:20 pm MDT (19:20 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | −8 kt | 1 °C | 128 kt | 6 h 04 min | 1:11 pm MDT (19:11 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 30 kt | −12 kt | -2 °C | 132 kt | 5 h 53 min | 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 35 kt | −16 kt | -6 °C | 136 kt | 5 h 43 min | 12:50 pm MDT (18:50 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 40 kt | −21 kt | -9 °C | 141 kt | 5 h 31 min | 12:38 pm MDT (18:38 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 43 kt | −24 kt | -12 °C | 144 kt | 5 h 24 min | 12:31 pm MDT (18:31 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 56 kt | −25 kt | -24 °C | 145 kt | 5 h 22 min | 12:29 pm MDT (18:29 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 68 kt | −34 kt | -32 °C | 154 kt | 5 h 03 min | 12:10 pm MDT (18:10 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 72 kt | −36 kt | -36 °C | 156 kt | 4 h 59 min | 12:06 pm MDT (18:06 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 69 kt | −34 kt | -45 °C | 154 kt | 5 h 03 min | 12:10 pm MDT (18:10 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 | 220/19 9° | 220/35 3° | 230/50 -8° | 240/64 -19° | 230/83 -26° | 230/85 -36° | 230/80 -48° | ||
| FMN | used from 50 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 220/16 6° | 220/39 1° | 220/50 -10° | 230/67 -23° | 230/94 -29° | 230/102 -35° | 230/90 -46° | ||
| GJT | used from 199 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 220/26 6° | 230/39 0° | 220/55 -13° | 230/60 -23° | 230/78 -31° | 230/80 -35° | 230/74 -44° | ||
| RKS | used from 349 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 250/9 | 230/21 -1° | 210/43 -14° | 220/59 -23° | 220/55 -32° | 220/53 -35° | 220/48 -44° | ||
| LND | used from 448 nm out; 27 nm from the line | 240/10 3° | 240/30 0° | 220/42 -13° | 230/52 -23° | 220/54 -33° | 220/52 -36° | 220/53 -44° | ||
| BIL | used from 598 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 300/14 | 270/19 -2° | 260/26 -2° | 220/28 -13° | 210/51 -25° | 220/56 -33° | 220/61 -39° | 220/72 -45° | |
| GTF | used from 697 nm out; 55 nm from the line | L/V | L/V -7° | 240/8 -8° | 240/30 -14° | 240/40 -28° | 210/52 -38° | 210/76 -38° | 220/72 -43° |
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 broken layer at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 5,354 ft | 6:52 am MDT (12:52 UTC) |
| PSO Pagosa Springs, CO | 139 nm out, 14 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet | from the east-northeast (070°) at 2 knots | 10+ mi | 5,000 ft | 7,663 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| MTJ Montrose, CO | 219 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,500 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 5,758 ft | 12:53 UTC |
| GJT Grand Junction, CO | 259 nm out, 25 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the east-southeast (110°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,861 ft | 12:53 UTC |
| RKS Rock Springs, WY | 408 nm out, 8 nm west of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,000 feet, overcast at 12,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 3,000 ft | 6,764 ft | 12:54 UTC |
| DUB Dubois, WY | 528 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the southeast (130°) at 6 knots | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 7,298 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| BZN Bozeman, MT | 677 nm out, 22 nm west of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 4,473 ft | 12:56 UTC |
| GTF Great Falls, MT | destination | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots | 0.5 mi | 400 ft | 3,680 ft | 6:53 am MDT (12:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,663 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At GTF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:06 pm MDT (18:06 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 700 feet IFR
The whole forecast for GTF
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 600 feet
- At times between Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC) and 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light snow, mist, overcast at 400 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 700 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 500 feet
The forecast for ABQ, the departure
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 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, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 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 6:34 pm MDT (00:34 UTC), at GTF 6:41 pm MDT (00:41 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:12 pm MDT (01:12 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, Great Falls International.