Albuquerque International Sunport to Chicago O'Hare International ABQ → ORD
970 nautical miles (1,116 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 059°, about 048° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 53 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 45-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:15 am CDT (07:15 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ABQ is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 15 knots; ORD is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 7 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: 2,255 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 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 150 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
Not fetched just now.
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 8 forecast points nearest it (ABQ, TCC, GCK, SLN, MKC, DSM, BRL, JOT). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 200° at 26 kt | −19 kt | 139 kt | 6 h 59 min | 3:21 am CDT (08:21 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | −24 kt | 21 °C | 144 kt | 6 h 44 min | 3:06 am CDT (08:06 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 220° at 25 kt | −24 kt | 15 °C | 144 kt | 6 h 44 min | 3:06 am CDT (08:06 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | −23 kt | 11 °C | 143 kt | 6 h 47 min | 3:09 am CDT (08:09 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 250° at 22 kt | −22 kt | 7 °C | 142 kt | 6 h 50 min | 3:12 am CDT (08:12 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 250° at 22 kt | −22 kt | 3 °C | 142 kt | 6 h 50 min | 3:12 am CDT (08:12 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 250° at 23 kt | −23 kt | -1 °C | 143 kt | 6 h 47 min | 3:09 am CDT (08:09 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 250° at 24 kt | −24 kt | -6 °C | 144 kt | 6 h 44 min | 3:06 am CDT (08:06 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 24 kt | −24 kt | -7 °C | 144 kt | 6 h 44 min | 3:06 am CDT (08:06 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 27 kt | −27 kt | -18 °C | 147 kt | 6 h 36 min | 2:58 am CDT (07:58 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 42 kt | −41 kt | -31 °C | 161 kt | 6 h 01 min | 2:23 am CDT (07:23 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 46 kt | −43 kt | -40 °C | 163 kt | 5 h 57 min | 2:19 am CDT (07:19 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 50 kt | −45 kt | -50 °C | 165 kt | 5 h 53 min | 2:15 am CDT (07:15 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 100 nm out; 67 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° | |
| GCK | used from 200 nm out; 108 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° | |
| SLN | used from 400 nm out; 60 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 550 nm out; 68 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° |
| DSM | used from 700 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 200/32 | 240/27 17° | 260/19 10° | 260/16 5° | 260/19 -7° | 240/22 -19° | 270/20 -32° | 270/38 -42° | 290/58 -53° |
| BRL | used from 750 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 200/20 | 250/21 16° | 240/22 10° | 260/20 5° | 270/16 -7° | 290/22 -18° | 320/41 -34° | 320/56 -43° | 310/68 -53° |
| JOT | used from 900 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 230/11 | 290/12 16° | 300/19 10° | 320/19 4° | 300/17 -9° | 330/31 -20° | 320/49 -37° | 320/53 -45° | 320/67 -49° |
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: scattered clouds at 7,500 feet, a broken layer at 9,500 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 15 knots | 10+ mi | 9,500 ft | 5,354 ft | 7:11 pm MDT (01:11 UTC) |
| SAF Santa Fe, NM | 40 nm out, 17 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 feet, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, overcast at 9,500 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 9,500 ft | 6,348 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| CAO Clayton, NM | 190 nm out, 11 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 15 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,969 ft | 00:55 UTC |
| EHA Elkhart, KS | 260 nm out, 11 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,621 ft | 01:15 UTC |
| GCK Garden City, KS | 330 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,890 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| GBD Great Bend, KS | 420 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 18 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,886 ft | 00:56 UTC |
| SLN Salina, KS | 490 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,288 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| STJ St Joseph, MO | 630 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 826 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| TVK Centerville, IA | 730 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,023 ft | 01:15 UTC |
| MLI Moline, IL | 850 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 00:52 UTC |
| ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL | 940 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 712 ft | 00:52 UTC |
| ORD Chicago, IL | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 680 ft | 7:51 pm CDT (00:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,348 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ORD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:15 am CDT (07:15 UTC)
Wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for ORD
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 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 ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:43 pm CDT (23:43 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ORD is before sunrise there (7:00 am CDT (12:00 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, Chicago O'Hare International.