Plan a flight · Mon 6:13 am MDT (12:13 UTC)

Albuquerque International Sunport to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International ABQ → MSY

880 nautical miles (1,013 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 106°, about 095° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 38 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 36-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:51 pm CDT (17:51 UTC). Right now ABQ is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 5 knots; MSY is VFR, wind calm. 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 59 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Near the route, at the departure end.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 297 to 376 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, mist, fog). Over the last 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

B738 at 2,100 ft, 27 nm north, 5:55 am MDT (11:55 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 494 nm along the route, 27 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DFW UA /OV 3 N OF DFW/TM 1155/FL021/TP B738/SK BASE021
```
Report
a routine report filed through DFW
Where
3 north of dfw
Time
11:55 UTC
Height
at 2,100 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
BASE021
E170 at 2,200 ft, 27 nm north, 5:42 am MDT (11:42 UTC): scattered clouds above 2,200 ft, remarks: haze layer on final at 2200 ft. 494 nm along the route, 27 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DFW UA /OV DFW/TM 1142/FL022/TP E170/SK SCT022/RM HAZE LAYER ON FINAL AT 2200 FT
```
Report
a routine report filed through DFW
Where
over DFW
Time
11:42 UTC
Height
at 2,200 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
scattered clouds from 2,200 ft
Remarks
haze layer on final at 2200 ft
A21N at 34,000 ft, 11 nm northeast, 5:37 am MDT (11:37 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: zhu. 821 nm along the route, 11 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BTR UA /OV KBTR/TM 1137/FL340/TP A21N/TB NEG/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through BTR
Where
over KBTR
Time
11:37 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
none
Remarks
zhu
C25A at 41,000 ft, 47 nm northeast, 5:05 am MDT (11:05 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. At the destination end, 47 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HSA UA /OV KPCU314014/TM 1105/FL410/TP C25A/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through HSA
Where
14 nm northwest (314°) of KPCU
Time
11:05 UTC
Height
at 41,000 ft
Aircraft
C25A
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
zhu
B738 at 40,000 ft, 0 nm northeast, 5:03 am MDT (11:03 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. At the destination end, 0 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSY UA /OV KHRV067024/TM 1103/FL400/TP B738/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSY
Where
24 nm northeast (067°) of KHRV
Time
11:03 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
zhu
B738 at 36,000 ft, 0 nm northeast, 4:58 am MDT (10:58 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: zhu. At the destination end, 0 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSY UA /OV KHRV339030/TM 1058/FL360/TP B738/TB NEG/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSY
Where
30 nm north (339°) of KHRV
Time
10:58 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
none
Remarks
zhu

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 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 8 forecast points nearest it (ABQ, TCC, LBB, ABI, DAL, SHV, LCH, MSY). 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 21 kt	−1 kt	20 °C	121 kt	7 h 16 min	2:29 pm CDT (19:29 UTC)
7,500 ft	210° at 18 kt	−4 kt	15 °C	124 kt	7 h 06 min	2:19 pm CDT (19:19 UTC)
9,500 ft	220° at 15 kt	−6 kt	12 °C	126 kt	6 h 59 min	2:12 pm CDT (19:12 UTC)
11,500 ft	230° at 16 kt	−7 kt	8 °C	127 kt	6 h 56 min	2:09 pm CDT (19:09 UTC)
13,500 ft	230° at 18 kt	−10 kt	4 °C	130 kt	6 h 46 min	1:59 pm CDT (18:59 UTC)
15,500 ft	240° at 21 kt	−13 kt	-1 °C	133 kt	6 h 37 min	1:50 pm CDT (18:50 UTC)
17,500 ft	240° at 23 kt	−16 kt	-5 °C	136 kt	6 h 28 min	1:41 pm CDT (18:41 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	240° at 24 kt	−17 kt	-6 °C	137 kt	6 h 25 min	1:38 pm CDT (18:38 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	250° at 31 kt	−24 kt	-16 °C	144 kt	6 h 07 min	1:20 pm CDT (18:20 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	260° at 42 kt	−36 kt	-29 °C	156 kt	5 h 38 min	12:51 pm CDT (17:51 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	270° at 37 kt	−36 kt	-38 °C	156 kt	5 h 38 min	12:51 pm CDT (17:51 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	280° at 35 kt	−36 kt	-50 °C	156 kt	5 h 38 min	12:51 pm CDT (17:51 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°
TCC	used from 99 nm out; 52 nm from the line		240/20	230/22 13°	230/27 6°	230/40 -7°	240/55 -18°	240/74 -27°	240/68 -37°	250/64 -49°
LBB	used from 198 nm out; 30 nm from the line		220/25 21°	230/20 15°	220/20 7°	230/36 -6°	240/50 -15°	240/59 -28°	260/52 -37°	260/45 -50°
ABI	used from 346 nm out; 47 nm from the line		200/30 19°	220/12 16°	220/11 9°	230/15 -5°	250/26 -15°	250/39 -28°	270/36 -38°	280/30 -51°
DAL	used from 445 nm out; 43 nm from the line	190/30	200/28 18°	220/18 13°	250/13 8°	240/24 -6°	270/20 -14°	270/35 -29°	290/34 -39°	310/41 -51°
SHV	used from 593 nm out; 72 nm from the line	210/20	210/20 18°	230/20 11°	240/16 7°	270/17 -7°	250/11 -15°	300/34 -30°	310/34 -40°	320/36 -51°
LCH	used from 692 nm out; 58 nm from the line	170/21	160/23 18°	170/13 13°	170/6 8°	300/12 -7°	280/16 -14°	320/27 -30°	330/23 -41°	340/38 -51°
MSY	used from 791 nm out; 64 nm from the line	150/9	140/8 18°	L/V 13°	L/V 6°	320/15 -5°	310/16 -16°	320/32 -31°	340/35 -40°	350/34 -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: overcast at 7,000 feet	from the southeast (130°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	7,000 ft	5,354 ft	5:52 am MDT (11:52 UTC)
FSU Fort Sumner, NM	119 nm out, 4 nm east of the line	no report just now				4,164 ft
LBB Lubbock, TX	247 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	3,282 ft	11:53 UTC
RPH Graham, TX	415 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line	reported, no category	variable at 5 knots		none	1,122 ft	07:55 UTC
FWS Fort Worth, TX	485 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,100 feet	from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	2,100 ft	700 ft	11:46 UTC
JSO Jacksonville, TX	603 nm out, 4 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	677 ft	11:55 UTC
OCH Nacogdoches, TX	633 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line	reported, no category	from the east (100°) at 3 knots		none	343 ft	11:56 UTC
LFT Lafayette, LA	791 nm out, 25 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	40 ft	11:53 UTC
BTR Baton Rouge, LA	821 nm out, 11 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	9 mi	none	69 ft	11:53 UTC
MSY New Orleans, LA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	3 ft	6:53 am CDT (11:53 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 MSY when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:51 pm CDT (17:51 UTC)

Wind from the southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for MSY

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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

6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 17 nm from the route, 494 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Thursday 15 October · ZFW
6/8926 Tyler, TX, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 22 nm from the route, 583 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZFW

Daylight

Sunset at ABQ 6:34 pm MDT (00:34 UTC), at MSY 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:57 pm CDT (23:57 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 · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Plains · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International.