Boeing Fld/King County International to EL Paso International BFI → ELP
1,192 nautical miles (1,372 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 137°, about 122° magnetic at the departure end (variation 15E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 51 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 1-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:41 am MDT (15:41 UTC). Right now BFI is VFR, wind calm; ELP is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (110°) at 5 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: 17 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
- SIGMET W14W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 28,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 11:55 pm PDT (06:55 UTC). Over the route from 507 to 507 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120455 MKCW WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 14W VALID UNTIL 0655Z NV FROM 40NW BVL-20WNW ELY-20SSE OAL-40WNW OAL-50NE BAM-40NW BVL AREA TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL280.
- SIGMET 9C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 30 knots, until 11:55 pm PDT (06:55 UTC). Over the last 20 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120455 MKCC WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 9C VALID UNTIL 0655Z TX NM FROM 50NNW CME-40ENE CME-50SE ELP-20WSW ELP-30E TCS-50NNW CME AREA TS MOV FROM 22030KT. TOPS TO FL300.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 238 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 129 to 258 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 189 to 864 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 338 to 477 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 417 to 775 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 546 to 1073 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 705 to 815 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 824 to 1003 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 BFI.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E75L at 1,500 ft, 46 nm northeast, 9:49 pm PDT (04:49 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear loss of 8 knots on final. 149 nm along the route, 46 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
PSC UA /OV PSC120003/TM 0449/FL015/TP E75L/RM LLWS LOSS OF 8 KTS ON FINAL
- Report
- a routine report filed through PSC
- Where
- 3 nm southeast (120°) of PSC
- Time
- 04:49 UTC
- Height
- at 1,500 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear loss of 8 knots on final
- E75L descending, 29 nm northeast, 9:35 pm PDT (04:35 UTC): light turbulence from 11,000 ft to 14,000 ft, light rime icing from 8,000 ft to 12,000 ft, -10 °C. 179 nm along the route, 29 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
GEG UA /OV PDT/TM 0435/FLDURD/TP E75L/TA M10/TB LT TURB 140-110/IC LT RIME 120-080
- Report
- a routine report filed through GEG
- Where
- over PDT
- Time
- 04:35 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Temperature
- −10 °C
- Turbulence
- lt turbulence from 14,000 ft to 11,000 ft
- Icing
- lt rime from 12,000 ft to 8,000 ft
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 10 forecast points nearest it (SEA, YKM, RDM, BOI, BAM, ELY, BCE, FMN, ABQ, ELP). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7,500 ft | 230° at 9 kt | +2 kt | 2 °C | 118 kt | 10 h 06 min | 9:56 am MDT (15:56 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 9 kt | +2 kt | 1 °C | 118 kt | 10 h 06 min | 9:56 am MDT (15:56 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 14 kt | +4 kt | -3 °C | 116 kt | 10 h 17 min | 10:07 am MDT (16:07 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 18 kt | +5 kt | -6 °C | 115 kt | 10 h 22 min | 10:12 am MDT (16:12 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 22 kt | +6 kt | -10 °C | 114 kt | 10 h 27 min | 10:17 am MDT (16:17 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 26 kt | +7 kt | -13 °C | 113 kt | 10 h 33 min | 10:23 am MDT (16:23 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 27 kt | +7 kt | -14 °C | 113 kt | 10 h 33 min | 10:23 am MDT (16:23 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 35 kt | +1 kt | -23 °C | 119 kt | 10 h 01 min | 9:51 am MDT (15:51 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 40 kt | −1 kt | -31 °C | 121 kt | 9 h 51 min | 9:41 am MDT (15:41 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 46 kt | −1 kt | -35 °C | 121 kt | 9 h 51 min | 9:41 am MDT (15:41 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 42 kt | +2 kt | -43 °C | 118 kt | 10 h 06 min | 9:56 am MDT (15:56 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEA | used from 0 nm out; 22 nm from the line | 050/7 | 050/11 1° | 050/12 -5° | 030/31 -7° | 010/61 -15° | 010/69 -26° | 360/73 -40° | 360/62 -47° | 330/21 -43° |
| YKM | used from 50 nm out; 22 nm from the line | 070/10 | 040/15 -1° | 020/27 -8° | 030/25 -13° | 020/48 -20° | 010/83 -27° | 010/77 -37° | 010/49 -40° | 350/14 -41° |
| RDM | used from 199 nm out; 109 nm from the line | 040/17 -1° | 030/31 -8° | 010/29 -12° | 010/61 -19° | 360/95 -25° | 360/82 -36° | 360/40 -37° | 310/19 -40° | |
| BOI | used from 248 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 300/7 2° | 280/5 -4° | 210/16 -9° | 210/60 -20° | 210/75 -29° | 210/63 -32° | 220/64 -32° | 220/54 -39° | |
| BAM | used from 447 nm out; 100 nm from the line | 310/7 0° | 270/19 -7° | 200/38 -17° | 190/49 -28° | 220/69 -29° | 220/63 -33° | 230/48 -41° | ||
| ELY | used from 497 nm out; 99 nm from the line | 200/39 3° | 210/27 -2° | 210/45 -15° | 220/56 -24° | 210/60 -28° | 210/63 -34° | 220/61 -43° | ||
| BCE | used from 646 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 220/27 -1° | 210/40 -13° | 220/54 -21° | 220/64 -30° | 220/64 -34° | 220/52 -44° | |||
| FMN | used from 844 nm out; 91 nm from the line | 220/28 9° | 220/40 2° | 220/53 -10° | 220/62 -22° | 230/79 -28° | 240/91 -34° | 230/71 -45° | ||
| ABQ | used from 944 nm out; 111 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° | ||
| ELP | used from 1093 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 290/17 | 210/11 13° | 200/18 5° | 220/46 -6° | 230/64 -14° | 230/63 -27° | 240/55 -37° | 240/44 -48° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BFI Seattle, WA | departure | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 21 ft | 9:53 pm PDT (04:53 UTC) |
| YKM Yakima, WA | 89 nm out, 14 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 9,500 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 9,500 ft | 1,098 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| GCD John Day, OR | 228 nm out, 23 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,500 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 3,500 ft | 3,702 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| ENV Wendover, UT | 546 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,400 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 3,400 ft | 4,236 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| FOM Fillmore, UT | 675 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,984 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| RQE Window Rock, AZ | 924 nm out, 17 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,900 feet, overcast at 3,600 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 2,900 ft | 6,742 ft | 05:27 UTC |
| XNI Zuni, NM | 954 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the north (350°) at 2 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,371 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| LRU Las Cruces, NM | 1152 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet | from the west (280°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 4,456 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| ELP El Paso, TX | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 9,000 feet, a few clouds at 12,000 feet, scattered clouds at 15,000 feet | from the east-southeast (110°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,961 ft | 10:51 pm MDT (04:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,742 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ELP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:41 am MDT (15:41 UTC)
Wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ELP
- From Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- At times between Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC) and 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind variable at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility 4 miles, rain showers
The forecast for BFI, the departure
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, patches of fog, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 am PDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind calm, 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 BFI 6:27 pm PDT (01:27 UTC), at ELP 6:36 pm MDT (00:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm MDT (01:01 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: Boeing Fld/King County International, EL Paso International.
