Albuquerque International Sunport to Chicago/Rockford International ABQ → RFD
925 nautical miles (1,064 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 057°, about 046° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 12 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 58-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:11 am CDT (08:11 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ABQ is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 11 knots; RFD is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 4 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 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the first 149 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 189 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 30 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: 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 129 to 716 nm out.
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
- B737 at 14,000 ft, 17 nm west, 6:15 pm MDT (00:15 UTC): light turbulence above 14,000 ft. At the departure end, 17 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
ABQ UA /OV ABQ275007/TM 0015/FL140/TP B737/TB LGT ABV 140
- Report
- a routine report filed through ABQ
- Where
- 7 nm west (275°) of ABQ
- Time
- 00:15 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- light above 14,000 ft
- UAL2499 at 28,000 ft, 13 nm north, 8:15 pm MDT (02:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. 805 nm along the route, 13 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL2499 4138N 09137W 0215 F280 TB INTMT LGT CHOP IC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
- A321 at 32,000 ft, 6 nm south, 7:56 pm MDT (01:56 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: pocket continuous light turbulence. At the destination end, 6 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
RPJ UA /OV PLL/TM 0156/FL320/TP A321/TB CONS LGT/RM POCKET CONS LGT TB
- Report
- a routine report filed through RPJ
- Where
- over PLL
- Time
- 01:56 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- continuous light
- Remarks
- pocket continuous light turbulence
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 8 forecast points nearest it (ABQ, TCC, GCK, SLN, MKC, DSM, BRL, DBQ). 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 | 220° at 38 kt | −36 kt | 156 kt | 5 h 56 min | 3:55 am CDT (08:55 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 230° at 37 kt | −37 kt | 21 °C | 157 kt | 5 h 54 min | 3:53 am CDT (08:53 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 230° at 30 kt | −30 kt | 15 °C | 150 kt | 6 h 10 min | 4:09 am CDT (09:09 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | −24 kt | 11 °C | 144 kt | 6 h 25 min | 4:24 am CDT (09:24 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | −22 kt | 7 °C | 142 kt | 6 h 31 min | 4:30 am CDT (09:30 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | −23 kt | 3 °C | 143 kt | 6 h 28 min | 4:27 am CDT (09:27 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | −26 kt | -1 °C | 146 kt | 6 h 20 min | 4:19 am CDT (09:19 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 28 kt | −29 kt | -6 °C | 149 kt | 6 h 12 min | 4:11 am CDT (09:11 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 29 kt | −29 kt | -7 °C | 149 kt | 6 h 12 min | 4:11 am CDT (09:11 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 37 kt | −38 kt | -19 °C | 158 kt | 5 h 51 min | 3:50 am CDT (08:50 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 57 kt | −57 kt | -30 °C | 177 kt | 5 h 14 min | 3:13 am CDT (08:13 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 59 kt | −58 kt | -39 °C | 178 kt | 5 h 12 min | 3:11 am CDT (08:11 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 57 kt | −53 kt | -49 °C | 173 kt | 5 h 21 min | 3:20 am CDT (08:20 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° | ||
| TCC | used from 99 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 210/42 | 230/33 14° | 230/32 6° | 220/35 -6° | 230/49 -19° | 240/72 -27° | 250/62 -36° | 250/52 -48° | |
| GCK | used from 199 nm out; 109 nm from the line | 220/48 21° | 230/37 14° | 250/30 8° | 230/37 -6° | 240/37 -20° | 240/69 -28° | 250/67 -37° | 260/58 -48° | |
| SLN | used from 398 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 210/53 | 230/41 20° | 240/26 14° | 230/16 8° | 240/25 -7° | 240/35 -19° | 250/61 -30° | 260/65 -38° | 260/56 -49° |
| MKC | used from 547 nm out; 84 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/28 18° | 250/18 13° | 240/12 6° | 280/24 -6° | 240/34 -18° | 260/47 -30° | 260/51 -40° | 270/58 -50° |
| DSM | used from 646 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 230/40 | 250/33 17° | 250/18 12° | 240/17 5° | 260/28 -8° | 270/34 -19° | 260/41 -33° | 260/55 -41° | 270/62 -51° |
| BRL | used from 746 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/29 15° | 290/16 10° | 280/15 4° | 260/23 -7° | 260/32 -19° | 260/36 -33° | 280/48 -41° | 280/59 -52° |
| DBQ | used from 845 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 230/33 | 250/30 16° | 280/15 9° | 260/15 5° | 260/21 -7° | 260/24 -20° | 250/37 -33° | 270/42 -43° | 280/63 -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: scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 13,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 13,000 ft | 5,354 ft | 8:52 pm MDT (02:52 UTC) |
| SAF Santa Fe, NM | 40 nm out, 15 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 6,348 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| CAO Clayton, NM | 189 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 17 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 4,969 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| GCK Garden City, KS | 328 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 16 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 2,890 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| RSL Russell, KS | 437 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 16 knots, gusting to 26 | 10+ mi | none | 1,863 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| SLN Salina, KS | 487 nm out, 22 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 15 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 1,288 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| FNB Falls City, NE | 606 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 983 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| LWD Lamoni, IA | 686 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,130 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| OTM Ottumwa, IA | 766 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 845 ft | ||||
| MLI Moline, IL | 845 nm out, 18 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 742 ft | 9:54 pm CDT (02:54 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 RFD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:11 am CDT (08:11 UTC)
Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for RFD
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, 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 RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:47 pm CDT (23:47 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RFD is before sunrise there (7:05 am CDT (12:05 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/Rockford International.