Meadows Field to Midland International Air And Space Port BFL → MAF
867 nautical miles (997 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 099°, about 085° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 25 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 40-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:49 am CDT (16:49 UTC). Right now BFL is VFR, wind from the north (360°) at 8 knots; MAF is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 14 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 SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 10 to 100 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 60 to 538 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 249 to 438 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 279 to 369 nm out.
- 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 388 to 558 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 458 to 488 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 BFL.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 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 (WJF, ONT, LAS, BLH, PRC, PHX, ABQ, ELP, ROW, INK). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 220° at 18 kt | −7 kt | 12 °C | 127 kt | 6 h 50 min | 1:14 pm CDT (18:14 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 210° at 23 kt | −7 kt | 8 °C | 127 kt | 6 h 50 min | 1:14 pm CDT (18:14 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 210° at 25 kt | −7 kt | 7 °C | 127 kt | 6 h 50 min | 1:14 pm CDT (18:14 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 210° at 28 kt | −8 kt | 3 °C | 128 kt | 6 h 46 min | 1:10 pm CDT (18:10 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 32 kt | −12 kt | -1 °C | 132 kt | 6 h 34 min | 12:58 pm CDT (17:58 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 38 kt | −17 kt | -4 °C | 137 kt | 6 h 20 min | 12:44 pm CDT (17:44 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 44 kt | −21 kt | -8 °C | 141 kt | 6 h 09 min | 12:33 pm CDT (17:33 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 45 kt | −23 kt | -9 °C | 143 kt | 6 h 04 min | 12:28 pm CDT (17:28 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 58 kt | −32 kt | -19 °C | 152 kt | 5 h 42 min | 12:06 pm CDT (17:06 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 71 kt | −35 kt | -28 °C | 155 kt | 5 h 36 min | 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 73 kt | −40 kt | -37 °C | 160 kt | 5 h 25 min | 11:49 am CDT (16:49 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 69 kt | −37 kt | -47 °C | 157 kt | 5 h 31 min | 11:55 am CDT (16:55 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WJF | used from 0 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 210/26 4° | 210/28 2° | 230/23 -4° | 240/28 -13° | 220/47 -23° | 220/57 -30° | 220/65 -37° | 220/59 -45° | |
| ONT | used from 100 nm out; 80 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° |
| LAS | used from 149 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 210/20 8° | 210/29 4° | 200/32 -3° | 200/51 -15° | 210/64 -21° | 220/70 -30° | 220/66 -38° | 220/55 -44° | |
| BLH | used from 199 nm out; 69 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° |
| PRC | used from 249 nm out; 58 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° | ||
| PHX | used from 398 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 190/15 | 210/25 12° | 200/34 4° | 200/34 2° | 220/58 -9° | 220/75 -19° | 220/91 -28° | 220/100 -35° | 220/95 -47° |
| ABQ | used from 498 nm out; 136 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° | ||
| ELP | used from 598 nm out; 84 nm from the line | 300/8 | 210/14 12° | 210/28 6° | 230/47 -6° | 230/56 -14° | 220/58 -27° | 230/60 -38° | 230/56 -50° | |
| ROW | used from 647 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 230/12 | 230/17 13° | 220/30 7° | 230/41 -5° | 240/52 -17° | 230/66 -28° | 240/63 -38° | 240/60 -50° | |
| INK | used from 747 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 220/17 21° | 230/12 14° | 210/13 7° | 220/29 -5° | 240/41 -14° | 230/43 -28° | 250/41 -38° | 250/33 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BFL Bakersfield, CA | departure | VFR Sky: overcast at 5,500 feet | from the north (360°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 509 ft | 3:54 am PDT (10:54 UTC) |
| MHV Mojave, CA | 50 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,500 feet, overcast at 3,800 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 14 knots, gusting to 17 | 10+ mi | 2,500 ft | 2,801 ft | 07:35 UTC |
| DAG Daggett, CA | 120 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 9,000 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,930 ft | 10:50 UTC |
| IFP Bullhead City, AZ | 219 nm out, 24 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,100 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the south-southeast (160°) at 11 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 707 ft | 11:10 UTC |
| PRC Prescott, AZ | 329 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,900 feet, a broken layer at 2,400 feet, overcast at 3,800 feet | from the south (190°) at 9 knots | 9 mi | 2,400 ft | 5,045 ft | 11:19 UTC |
| PAN Payson, AZ | 388 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,800 feet, overcast at 2,700 feet | from the south (170°) at 8 knots, gusting to 14 | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 5,160 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| JTC Springerville, AZ | 488 nm out, 23 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 7,055 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| TCS Truth Or Consequences, NM | 598 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,861 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| ALM Alamogordo, NM | 667 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 10,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 4,199 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| CNM Carlsbad, NM | 757 nm out, 10 nm south of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 3,294 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| MAF Midland, TX | destination | VFR | from the south (180°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,872 ft | 5:53 am CDT (10:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,055 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MAF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:49 am CDT (16:49 UTC)
Wind from the south at 13 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MAF
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 13 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for BFL, the departure
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8783 38NM NE BAKERSFIELD, CA, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Friday, October 23, 2026 UTC 19 nm from the route, at the departure end · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 23 October · ZLA
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 14 nm from the route, 219 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
- 6/8722 ALAMOGORDO, NM, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local on the route, 667 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZAB
Daylight
Sunset at BFL 6:23 pm PDT (01:23 UTC), at MAF 7:19 pm CDT (00:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:43 pm CDT (00:43 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: Meadows Field, Midland International Air And Space Port.