The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Sun 8:09 pm EDT (00:09 UTC)

Laurence G Hanscom Field to San Francisco International BED → SFO

2,331 nautical miles (2,682 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 281°, about 297° magnetic at the departure end (variation 16W). At 120 knots that is 20 h 06 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 4-knot headwind), arriving about 1:15 pm PDT (20:15 UTC). 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: 3 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The return flight

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

  • SIGMET W70W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 32,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 9:55 pm EDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 1534 to 1663 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 112355
    MKCW WST 112355
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 70W
    VALID UNTIL 0155Z
    MT WY
    FROM 30SSW MLS-60WNW BFF-40SSE OCS-10S BPI-10S BIL-30SSW MLS
    AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL320.
  • SIGMET W71W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 27,000 ft, moving from the south at 40 knots, until 9:55 pm EDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 1763 to 1872 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 112355
    MKCW WST 112355
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 71W
    VALID UNTIL 0155Z
    WY UT ID
    FROM 40S DBS-40WNW BPI-30WSW MTU-30SSW DTA-30SE TWF-40S DBS
    AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 20040KT. TOPS TO FL270.
  • SIGMET W72W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 9:55 pm EDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 2042 to 2101 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 112355
    MKCW WST 112355
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 72W
    VALID UNTIL 0155Z
    NV
    FROM 60SSW BAM-60W ELY-OAL-40WNW OAL-60SSW BAM
    AREA TS MOV FROM 23020KT. TOPS TO FL300.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 528 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET ZULU 1C: moderate icing up to 24,000 ft. Over the first 319 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 319 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 339 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 70 to 229 nm out.
  • 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). Near the route, 239 nm along the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 1364 to 2022 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 1484 to 1862 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1544 to 2012 nm out.
  • 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 1554 to 1823 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 1613 to 1673 nm out.
  • AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 1693 to 2092 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 1793 to 1823 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 2141 to 2211 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 BED.

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 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 20 forecast points nearest it (BOS, ALB, SYR, BUF, CLE, TVC, MKG, GRB, LSE, MCW, FSD, ONL, BFF, RKS, SLC, ELY, BAM, RNO, SAC, SFO). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
4,500 ft200° at 11 kt+4 kt17 °C116 kt20 h 06 min1:15 pm PDT (20:15 UTC)
6,500 ft220° at 10 kt+7 kt12 °C113 kt20 h 38 min1:47 pm PDT (20:47 UTC)
8,500 ft220° at 15 kt+12 kt8 °C108 kt21 h 35 min2:44 pm PDT (21:44 UTC)
10,500 ft230° at 18 kt+16 kt5 °C104 kt22 h 25 min3:34 pm PDT (22:34 UTC)
12,500 ft230° at 21 kt+19 kt1 °C101 kt23 h 05 min4:14 pm PDT (23:14 UTC)
14,500 ft230° at 22 kt+21 kt-3 °C99 kt23 h 33 min4:42 pm PDT (23:42 UTC)
16,500 ft230° at 24 kt+22 kt-7 °C98 kt23 h 47 min4:56 pm PDT (23:56 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180240° at 25 kt+24 kt-10 °C96 kt24 h 17 min5:26 pm PDT (00:26 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240240° at 31 kt+30 kt-21 °C90 kt25 h 54 min7:03 pm PDT (02:03 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300240° at 41 kt+39 kt-33 °C81 kt28 h 47 min9:56 pm PDT (04:56 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340250° at 51 kt+50 kt-40 °C70 kt33 h 18 min2:27 am PDT (09:27 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390250° at 59 kt+58 kt-48 °C62 kt37 h 36 min6:45 am PDT (13:45 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
BOSused from 0 nm out; 39 nm from the line160/27190/23 9°260/20 7°260/32 1°250/48 -7°240/56 -17°240/59 -33°250/75 -43°250/94 -55°
ALBused from 50 nm out; 38 nm from the line160/27190/16 9°200/29 7°230/21 3°240/24 -9°240/43 -19°230/65 -33°240/91 -42°230/99 -53°
SYRused from 149 nm out; 42 nm from the line160/17200/22 10°250/10 6°L/V 1°270/11 -11°220/25 -20°220/66 -36°230/89 -42°240/74 -51°
BUFused from 249 nm out; 58 nm from the line170/19L/V 10°040/9 6°220/8 2°230/15 -11°220/33 -22°220/47 -35°230/55 -41°230/56 -50°
CLEused from 448 nm out; 120 nm from the line340/5320/13 14°300/12 8°310/10 2°310/14 -10°340/14 -23°320/27 -35°260/28 -40°250/36 -48°
TVCused from 498 nm out; 131 nm from the line210/17290/14 15°310/20 9°310/18 2°310/24 -11°320/35 -22°320/53 -39°310/45 -49°290/58 -51°
MKGused from 548 nm out; 88 nm from the line250/5320/10 15°310/19 9°320/21 3°310/23 -10°330/37 -22°330/51 -38°320/44 -47°300/60 -49°
GRBused from 697 nm out; 62 nm from the line240/24260/18 16°270/20 11°290/14 4°280/24 -9°300/34 -21°310/51 -38°310/54 -48°300/71 -51°
LSEused from 797 nm out; 61 nm from the line220/33250/29 17°250/15 9°260/12 6°280/21 -9°280/33 -20°300/43 -36°310/56 -45°300/79 -53°
MCWused from 896 nm out; 48 nm from the line200/35240/33 18°250/20 10°260/10 6°270/18 -8°260/28 -19°280/30 -34°290/49 -43°280/70 -54°
FSDused from 1046 nm out; 54 nm from the line200/16220/20 17°240/26 13°230/19 6°240/25 -9°240/28 -20°250/39 -33°250/44 -43°260/63 -52°
ONLused from 1145 nm out; 45 nm from the line200/20 17°230/26 14°240/21 7°250/27 -9°260/32 -19°240/44 -34°240/56 -41°250/62 -51°
BFFused from 1295 nm out; 112 nm from the line120/24180/31 13°210/26 7°230/25 -7°240/41 -20°230/52 -36°250/56 -41°260/57 -45°
RKSused from 1544 nm out; 104 nm from the line190/43210/65 3°210/57 -9°210/56 -21°210/47 -33°230/63 -37°240/77 -46°
SLCused from 1743 nm out; 44 nm from the line280/8210/39 5°210/52 -1°200/50 -11°200/56 -23°220/61 -28°230/73 -37°230/73 -45°
ELYused from 1892 nm out; 58 nm from the line210/20 4°240/21 -1°230/37 -13°200/58 -25°220/73 -27°220/73 -36°220/69 -44°
BAMused from 2042 nm out; 81 nm from the line270/8 4°230/27 -4°220/49 -18°210/52 -26°220/77 -29°220/71 -33°220/63 -43°
RNOused from 2092 nm out; 81 nm from the line320/7260/13 1°230/21 -7°210/38 -17°220/43 -26°230/54 -29°230/59 -32°230/54 -41°
SACused from 2191 nm out; 64 nm from the line270/5L/V 5°L/V -1°240/11 -5°250/22 -15°270/25 -24°260/31 -27°240/39 -33°240/39 -42°
SFOused from 2291 nm out; 20 nm from the line220/11L/V 5°280/7 1°270/15 -3°290/23 -14°310/29 -24°280/26 -28°250/30 -34°250/36 -43°

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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
BED Bedford, MA departure no report just now 132 ft
ALB Albany, NY 110 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower no report just now 284 ft
ROC Rochester, NY 279 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower no report just now 558 ft
MBS Saginaw, MI 568 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower no report just now 668 ft
MSN Madison, WI 797 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower no report just now 886 ft
SPW Spencer, IA 1046 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line no report just now 1,338 ft
ANW Ainsworth, NE 1265 nm out, 9 nm south of the line no report just now 2,588 ft
GUR Guernsey, WY 1474 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower no report just now 4,401 ft
SLC Salt Lake City, UT 1813 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower no report just now 4,230 ft
TMT Austin, NV 2062 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line no report just now 5,735 ft
SCK Stockton, CA 2271 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower no report just now 32 ft
SFO San Francisco, CA destination no report just now 13 ft

The highest airport on this list sits at 5,735 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SFO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:15 pm PDT (20:15 UTC)

SFO has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

  • 6/8802 Foxborough, MA, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 22 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZBW
  • 6/6740 SACRAMENTO, CA, Thursday, October 8, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local 24 nm from the route, at the destination end · air shows/sports · ended 11 October · ZOA
  • 6/7231 Santa Clara, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 19 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZOA
  • 6/7455 SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Thursday, October 8, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local 10 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ended 11 October · ZOA
  • 6/6741 SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Thursday, October 8, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local 7 nm from the route, at the destination end · air shows/sports · ended 11 October · ZOA

Daylight

Sunset at BED 6:08 pm EDT (22:08 UTC), at SFO 6:36 pm PDT (01:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm PDT (02:02 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 Northeast
Radar now, the Northeast · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the central Great Lakes
Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley
Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
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: Laurence G Hanscom Field, San Francisco International.