Rick Husband Amarillo International to John Wayne/Orange County AMA → SNA
805 nautical miles (926 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 268°, about 260° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 44 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 16-knot headwind), arriving about 1:03 pm PDT (20:03 UTC). Right now AMA is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots; SNA is VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 3 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 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 route from 159 to 497 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Near the route, 219 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: 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 368 to 477 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 397 to 775 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 457 to 586 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 477 to 566 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 60 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 AMA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B763 at 2,800 ft, 19 nm north, 7:05 am CDT (12:05 UTC): overcast from 1,500 ft to 6,000 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 26R. At the destination end, 19 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ONT UA /OV ONT080006/TM 1205/FL028/TP B763/SK OVC015-TOP060/RM DURD RY26R
- Report
- a routine report filed through ONT
- Where
- 6 nm east (080°) of ONT
- Time
- 12:05 UTC
- Height
- at 2,800 ft
- Aircraft
- B763
- Sky
- overcast from 1,500 ft, tops 6,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 26R
- A333 descending, 20 nm north, 6:05 am CDT (11:05 UTC): overcast from 1,500 ft to 7,000 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 26R. At the destination end, 20 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ONT UA /OV ONT080/TM 1105/FLUNKN/TP A333/SK OVC015 - TOP070/RM DURD RY26R
- Report
- a routine report filed through ONT
- Where
- ONT080
- Time
- 11:05 UTC
- Height
- height not given
- Aircraft
- A333
- Sky
- overcast from 1,500 ft, tops 7,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 26R
- B744 at 1,700 ft, 31 nm northwest, 4:24 am CDT (09:24 UTC): a few clouds above 1,700 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 25L lax. At the destination end, 31 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
LAX UA /OV KLAX/TM 0924/FL017/TP B744/SK FEW017/RM DURD RY25L LAX
- Report
- a routine report filed through LAX
- Where
- over KLAX
- Time
- 09:24 UTC
- Height
- at 1,700 ft
- Aircraft
- B744
- Sky
- a few clouds from 1,700 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 25L lax
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 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 7 forecast points nearest it (AMA, TCC, ABQ, FMN, PRC, BLH, ONT). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,500 ft | 210° at 25 kt | +16 kt | 6 °C | 104 kt | 7 h 44 min | 1:03 pm PDT (20:03 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 210° at 29 kt | +18 kt | 4 °C | 102 kt | 7 h 54 min | 1:13 pm PDT (20:13 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 33 kt | +23 kt | 0 °C | 97 kt | 8 h 18 min | 1:37 pm PDT (20:37 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 39 kt | +28 kt | -3 °C | 92 kt | 8 h 45 min | 2:04 pm PDT (21:04 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 44 kt | +34 kt | -7 °C | 86 kt | 9 h 22 min | 2:41 pm PDT (21:41 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 49 kt | +39 kt | -10 °C | 81 kt | 9 h 56 min | 3:15 pm PDT (22:15 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 62 kt | +51 kt | -20 °C | 69 kt | 11 h 40 min | 4:59 pm PDT (23:59 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 79 kt | +64 kt | -28 °C | 56 kt | 14 h 22 min | 7:41 pm PDT (02:41 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 82 kt | +67 kt | -36 °C | 53 kt | 15 h 11 min | 8:30 pm PDT (03:30 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 78 kt | +65 kt | -47 °C | 55 kt | 14 h 38 min | 7:57 pm PDT (02:57 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMA | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 230/32 | 230/28 14° | 230/27 7° | 230/38 -6° | 230/50 -17° | 250/69 -28° | 260/62 -37° | 270/65 -49° | |
| TCC | used from 50 nm out; 19 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° | |
| ABQ | used from 149 nm out; 67 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° | ||
| FMN | used from 348 nm out; 129 nm from the line | 220/16 6° | 220/39 1° | 220/50 -10° | 230/67 -23° | 230/94 -29° | 230/102 -35° | 230/90 -46° | ||
| PRC | used from 397 nm out; 107 nm from the line | 200/37 6° | 200/35 0° | 220/60 -11° | 220/71 -20° | 220/88 -29° | 220/98 -35° | 220/94 -45° | ||
| BLH | used from 596 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 240/19 | 210/20 10° | 200/27 4° | 210/34 -2° | 220/59 -10° | 220/67 -20° | 220/75 -29° | 230/78 -38° | 220/90 -47° |
| ONT | used from 695 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 250/11 | 200/20 4° | 210/27 3° | 220/26 -4° | 240/32 -13° | 220/52 -21° | 220/67 -30° | 220/72 -37° | 220/65 -46° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMA Amarillo, TX | departure | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 12,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | 12,000 ft | 3,606 ft | 6:53 am CDT (11:53 UTC) |
| HRX Hereford, TX | 30 nm out, 20 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,787 ft | 11:50 UTC |
| TCC Tucumcari, NM | 89 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the west (280°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,064 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| ABQ Albuquerque, NM | 238 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 7,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 5,354 ft | 11:52 UTC |
| AEG Albuquerque, NM | 248 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 8,500 feet | from the east-southeast (120°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 8,500 ft | 5,837 ft | 12:00 UTC |
| SJN St Johns, AZ | 378 nm out, 15 nm south of the line | VFR | variable at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,736 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| TYL Taylor, AZ | 417 nm out, 14 nm south of the line | reported, no category | from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots, gusting to 14 | 10+ mi | none | 5,823 ft | 12:15 UTC |
| PRC Prescott, AZ | 527 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 feet, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 6,500 feet | from the south (190°) at 14 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 5,045 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| HII Lake Havasu City, AZ | 626 nm out, 22 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,000 feet, overcast at 7,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 782 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| TNP Twentynine Palms, CA | 705 nm out, 9 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,888 ft | ||||
| PSP Palm Springs, CA | 735 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,500 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, overcast at 9,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 476 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| SNA Santa Ana, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,500 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | from the west (270°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 4,500 ft | 55 ft | 4:53 am PDT (11:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,837 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SNA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:03 pm PDT (20:03 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SNA
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- At times between Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC) and 9:00 am PDT (16:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, mist, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am PDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Tue 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
The forecast for AMA, the departure
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 5 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at AMA 7:14 pm CDT (00:14 UTC), at SNA 6:20 pm PDT (01:20 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:45 pm PDT (01:45 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: Rick Husband Amarillo International, John Wayne/Orange County.