Alexandria International to San Antonio International AEX → SAT
325 nautical miles (374 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 252°, about 249° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 42 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, no wind along the track), arriving about 10:47 pm CDT (03:47 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now AEX is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots; SAT is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 11 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: 20 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
No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.
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 AEX.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B39M at 32,000 ft, 5 nm southeast, 6:07 pm CDT (23:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. At the departure end, 5 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
AEX UA /OV AEX/TM 2307/FL320/TP B39M/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through AEX
- Where
- over AEX
- Time
- 23:07 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
- Remarks
- zhu
- B39M at 27,000 ft, 32 nm southeast, 7:42 pm CDT (00:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 167 nm along the route, 32 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAH UA /OV IH340035/TM 0042/FL270/TP B39M/TB LT CHOP DURC/RM ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAH
- Where
- IH340035
- Time
- 00:42 UTC
- Height
- at 27,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- lt chop during the climb
- Remarks
- zhu
- A320 at 24,000 ft, 32 nm southeast, 5:07 pm CDT (22:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb zhu. 167 nm along the route, 32 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAH UA /OV IAH/TM 2207/FL240/TP A320/TB OCNL LGT CHOP /RM DURC. ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAH
- Where
- over IAH
- Time
- 22:07 UTC
- Height
- at 24,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
- Remarks
- during the climb zhu
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 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 4 forecast points nearest it (LCH, HOU, CLL, SAT). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 160° at 14 kt | 0 | 120 kt | 2 h 42 min | 10:47 pm CDT (03:47 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 170° at 15 kt | +2 kt | 16 °C | 118 kt | 2 h 45 min | 10:50 pm CDT (03:50 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 180° at 16 kt | +5 kt | 13 °C | 115 kt | 2 h 50 min | 10:55 pm CDT (03:55 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 190° at 14 kt | +8 kt | 10 °C | 112 kt | 2 h 54 min | 10:59 pm CDT (03:59 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 210° at 12 kt | +9 kt | 6 °C | 111 kt | 2 h 56 min | 11:01 pm CDT (04:01 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 11 kt | +11 kt | 2 °C | 109 kt | 2 h 59 min | 11:04 pm CDT (04:04 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 250° at 12 kt | +12 kt | -1 °C | 108 kt | 3 h 01 min | 11:06 pm CDT (04:06 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 13 kt | +13 kt | -4 °C | 107 kt | 3 h 02 min | 11:07 pm CDT (04:07 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 15 kt | +15 kt | -13 °C | 105 kt | 3 h 06 min | 11:11 pm CDT (04:11 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 23 kt | +15 kt | -30 °C | 105 kt | 3 h 06 min | 11:11 pm CDT (04:11 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 25 kt | +15 kt | -40 °C | 105 kt | 3 h 06 min | 11:11 pm CDT (04:11 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 26 kt | +12 kt | -52 °C | 108 kt | 3 h 01 min | 11:06 pm CDT (04:06 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LCH | used from 0 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 190/6 | 180/8 18° | 170/13 12° | 220/12 7° | 290/10 -4° | 280/15 -14° | 320/30 -31° | 320/32 -40° | 320/39 -53° |
| HOU | used from 98 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 160/18 | 160/14 17° | 180/19 12° | 190/11 8° | 260/12 -4° | 260/14 -13° | 310/26 -30° | 310/30 -40° | 320/21 -52° |
| CLL | used from 148 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 160/18 | 190/18 16° | 200/19 12° | 220/14 7° | 260/18 -5° | 250/20 -13° | 290/29 -29° | 290/31 -40° | 300/22 -53° |
| SAT | used from 246 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 130/22 | 140/24 18° | 170/19 13° | 190/13 7° | 240/15 -4° | 220/14 -13° | 270/11 -28° | 280/10 -40° | 310/18 -51° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEX Alexandria, LA | departure | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 88 ft | 7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC) |
| JAS Jasper, TX | 79 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 212 ft | 00:55 UTC |
| CXO Houston, TX | 157 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 244 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| CLL College Station, TX | 197 nm out, 22 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 320 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| GYB Giddings, TX | 236 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 484 ft | 00:55 UTC |
| AUS Austin, TX | 276 nm out, 23 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 541 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| BAZ New Braunfels, TX | 305 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 658 ft | 00:51 UTC |
| SAT San Antonio, TX | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 809 ft | 7:51 pm CDT (00:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 809 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SAT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:47 pm CDT (03:47 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SAT
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 am CDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
The forecast for AEX, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 AEX 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 UTC), at SAT 7:06 pm CDT (00:06 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:30 pm CDT (00:30 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SAT is after sunset there (7:08 pm CDT (00:08 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: Alexandria International, San Antonio International.