Albuquerque International Sunport to Kansas City International ABQ → MCI
623 nautical miles (717 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 062°, about 051° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 35 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 54-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:24 pm CDT (03:24 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ABQ is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 17 knots, gusting to 29; MCI is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 13 knots, gusting to 20. 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: 415 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 W63W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 37,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 6:55 pm MDT (00:55 UTC). Over the first 129 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 112255 MKCW WST 112255 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 63W VALID UNTIL 0055Z CO NM AZ UT FROM 30SSW MTU-30NW PUB-20NW TCC-60SE ABQ-40N SJN-30SSW MTU AREA SEV TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL370. WIND GUSTS TO 50KT POSS.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the first 40 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 138 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
- HDJT at 18,000 ft, 25 nm west, 4:38 pm MDT (22:38 UTC): light rime icing from 16,000 ft to 17,500 ft, -9 °C, remarks: during the climb out of abq zab/fd. At the departure end, 25 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
ABQ UA /OV ABQ285015/TM 2238/FL180/TP HDJT/TA M09/IC LGT RIME 160-175/RM DURC OUT OF ABQ - ZAB/FD
- Report
- a routine report filed through ABQ
- Where
- 15 nm west (285°) of ABQ
- Time
- 22:38 UTC
- Height
- at 18,000 ft
- Aircraft
- HDJT
- Temperature
- −9 °C
- Icing
- light rime from 16,000 ft to 17,500 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb out of abq zab/fd
- B38M at 37,000 ft, 25 nm northwest, 4:55 pm MDT (22:55 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zab fdcs. 79 nm along the route, 25 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
AXX UA /OV CIM210040/TM 2255/FL370/TP B38M/TB LGT-CONS MOD CHOP/RM ZAB FDCS
- Report
- a routine report filed through AXX
- Where
- 40 nm southwest (210°) of CIM
- Time
- 22:55 UTC
- Height
- at 37,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- lgt-cons moderate chop
- Remarks
- zab fdcs
- GA6C at 47,000 ft, 50 nm northwest, 3:47 pm MDT (21:47 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zab fdcs. 79 nm along the route, 50 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
LVS UA /OV FTI320050/TM 2147/FL470/TP GA6C/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZAB FDCS
- Report
- a routine report filed through LVS
- Where
- 50 nm northwest (320°) of FTI
- Time
- 21:47 UTC
- Height
- at 47,000 ft
- Aircraft
- GA6C
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate chop
- Remarks
- zab fdcs
- GLEX at 47,000 ft, 20 nm northwest, 3:38 pm MDT (21:38 UTC): remarks: mountain wave a 10-knot loss of airspeed or 150FT zab fdcs. 138 nm along the route, 20 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
RTN UA /OV CIM090030/TM 2138/FL470/TP GLEX/RM MTN WAVE +/-10KTS OR 150FT ZAB FDCS
- Report
- a routine report filed through RTN
- Where
- 30 nm east (090°) of CIM
- Time
- 21:38 UTC
- Height
- at 47,000 ft
- Aircraft
- GLEX
- Remarks
- mountain wave a 10-knot loss of airspeed or 150FT zab fdcs
- CRJ7 descending, 38 nm south, 3:52 pm MDT (21:52 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 465 nm along the route, 38 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ICT UA /OV 19R FINAL 100FT/TM 2152/FL100F/TP CRJ7/TB 7KTS LOSS
- Report
- a routine report filed through ICT
- Where
- 19R final 100FT
- Time
- 21:52 UTC
- Height
- at 100F
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Turbulence
- 7 knots loss
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 7 forecast points nearest it (ABQ, TCC, AMA, GCK, ICT, SLN, MKC). 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 | 210° at 32 kt | −24 kt | 21 °C | 144 kt | 4 h 20 min | 11:09 pm CDT (04:09 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 210° at 29 kt | −25 kt | 16 °C | 145 kt | 4 h 18 min | 11:07 pm CDT (04:07 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | −25 kt | 12 °C | 145 kt | 4 h 18 min | 11:07 pm CDT (04:07 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | −25 kt | 8 °C | 145 kt | 4 h 18 min | 11:07 pm CDT (04:07 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | −25 kt | 4 °C | 145 kt | 4 h 18 min | 11:07 pm CDT (04:07 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | −26 kt | -1 °C | 146 kt | 4 h 16 min | 11:05 pm CDT (04:05 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 27 kt | −27 kt | -5 °C | 147 kt | 4 h 14 min | 11:03 pm CDT (04:03 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 27 kt | −28 kt | -6 °C | 148 kt | 4 h 13 min | 11:02 pm CDT (04:02 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 33 kt | −33 kt | -18 °C | 153 kt | 4 h 04 min | 10:53 pm CDT (03:53 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 53 kt | −53 kt | -30 °C | 173 kt | 3 h 36 min | 10:25 pm CDT (03:25 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 54 kt | −54 kt | -38 °C | 174 kt | 3 h 35 min | 10:24 pm CDT (03:24 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 51 kt | −51 kt | -50 °C | 171 kt | 3 h 39 min | 10:28 pm CDT (03:28 UTC) |
Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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 | 200/28 13° | 210/28 5° | 210/44 -7° | 230/46 -20° | 230/80 -28° | 240/74 -35° | 240/58 -47° | ||
| TCC | used from 99 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 200/26 | 200/28 14° | 220/25 7° | 230/28 -7° | 240/41 -19° | 240/62 -28° | 250/61 -37° | 250/49 -49° | |
| AMA | used from 198 nm out; 97 nm from the line | 190/28 | 220/26 14° | 230/27 7° | 250/24 -6° | 250/32 -16° | 240/51 -28° | 250/52 -38° | 250/51 -50° | |
| GCK | used from 247 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 200/35 21° | 220/34 14° | 240/30 8° | 240/27 -6° | 240/31 -17° | 240/53 -30° | 250/55 -39° | 250/60 -50° | |
| ICT | used from 396 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 190/34 | 210/34 18° | 240/28 13° | 260/23 7° | 250/23 -6° | 240/29 -17° | 260/40 -30° | 260/47 -40° | 270/42 -51° |
| SLN | used from 445 nm out; 26 nm from the line | 190/37 | 220/39 20° | 240/31 14° | 250/24 7° | 260/25 -7° | 250/26 -17° | 250/44 -31° | 260/47 -40° | 260/47 -50° |
| MKC | used from 544 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 200/28 | 220/30 16° | 270/20 11° | 280/22 7° | 260/27 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 280/38 -32° | 270/38 -40° | 280/50 -52° |
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 7,500 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 17 knots, gusting to 29 | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 5,354 ft | 5:35 pm MDT (23:35 UTC) |
| SAF Santa Fe, NM | 40 nm out, 19 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 8,500 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet Weather: nearby thunderstorms | from the southwest (230°) at 15 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | 8,500 ft | 6,348 ft | 23:34 UTC |
| LVS Las Vegas, NM | 79 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line | reported, no category | from the south-southeast (160°) at 18 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,877 ft | 22:53 UTC |
| CAO Clayton, NM | 188 nm out, 1 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 19 knots, gusting to 30 | 10+ mi | none | 4,969 ft | 22:55 UTC |
| EHA Elkhart, KS | 257 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 16 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 3,621 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| DDC Dodge City, KS | 356 nm out, 9 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 22 knots, gusting to 34 | 8 mi | none | 2,595 ft | 22:52 UTC |
| LQR Larned, KS | 406 nm out, 16 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 15 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 2,012 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| HUT Hutchinson, KS | 455 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 20 knots, gusting to 31 | 10+ mi | none | 1,542 ft | 22:52 UTC |
| MHK Manhattan, KS | 534 nm out, 24 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 11 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | none | 1,066 ft | 22:52 UTC |
| FOE Topeka, KS | 574 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,077 ft | 22:53 UTC |
| MCI Kansas City, MO | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 13 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 1,027 ft | 5:53 pm CDT (22:53 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 MCI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:24 pm CDT (03:24 UTC)
Wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MCI
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 17 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered 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 MCI 6:46 pm CDT (23:46 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:13 pm CDT (00:13 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MCI is after sunset there (6:46 pm CDT (23:46 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, Kansas City International.