Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International to Santa Barbara Municipal BHM → SBA
1,641 nautical miles (1,888 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 281°, about 284° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 15 h 47 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 16-knot headwind), arriving about 5:29 pm PDT (00:29 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: 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 TANGO 3W: 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 497 to 736 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 42,000 ft. Over the route from 905 to 1233 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 925 to 1283 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 1213 to 1263 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1223 to 1352 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 1273 to 1482 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 1392 to 1531 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 BHM.
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 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 16 forecast points nearest it (BHM, MEM, LIT, FSM, OKC, SPS, AMA, TCC, ABQ, FMN, PRC, BLH, LAS, ONT, WJF, SBA). 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 | 240° at 22 kt | +18 kt | 6 °C | 102 kt | 16 h 05 min | 5:47 pm PDT (00:47 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | +17 kt | 13 °C | 103 kt | 15 h 56 min | 5:38 pm PDT (00:38 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 21 kt | +16 kt | 9 °C | 104 kt | 15 h 47 min | 5:29 pm PDT (00:29 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | +16 kt | 7 °C | 104 kt | 15 h 47 min | 5:29 pm PDT (00:29 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 23 kt | +17 kt | 2 °C | 103 kt | 15 h 56 min | 5:38 pm PDT (00:38 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | +21 kt | -1 °C | 99 kt | 16 h 35 min | 6:17 pm PDT (01:17 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 30 kt | +24 kt | -5 °C | 96 kt | 17 h 06 min | 6:48 pm PDT (01:48 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 33 kt | +26 kt | -8 °C | 94 kt | 17 h 27 min | 7:09 pm PDT (02:09 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 43 kt | +37 kt | -19 °C | 83 kt | 19 h 46 min | 9:28 pm PDT (04:28 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 57 kt | +52 kt | -29 °C | 68 kt | 24 h 08 min | 1:50 am PDT (08:50 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 57 kt | +54 kt | -37 °C | 66 kt | 24 h 52 min | 2:34 am PDT (09:34 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 50 kt | +50 kt | -48 °C | 70 kt | 23 h 27 min | 1:09 am PDT (08:09 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHM | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 310/19 | 310/15 16° | 320/19 11° | 330/15 5° | 330/23 -5° | 320/14 -18° | 320/36 -32° | 330/44 -40° | 340/36 -51° |
| MEM | used from 99 nm out; 77 nm from the line | 250/19 | 260/19 17° | 270/20 12° | 270/16 6° | 270/21 -6° | 290/27 -17° | 300/37 -30° | 300/49 -40° | 310/40 -51° |
| LIT | used from 199 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 250/22 | 250/25 18° | 240/23 12° | 240/20 7° | 250/17 -6° | 260/25 -17° | 300/45 -29° | 300/49 -40° | 310/43 -51° |
| FSM | used from 348 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 230/33 | 260/23 15° | 240/23 11° | 230/18 8° | 230/20 -8° | 250/31 -17° | 280/51 -30° | 280/52 -39° | 300/47 -51° |
| OKC | used from 447 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 220/43 | 230/31 17° | 260/13 16° | 270/11 7° | 240/20 -6° | 250/32 -17° | 260/60 -28° | 280/50 -37° | 290/45 -50° |
| SPS | used from 597 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 220/35 | 220/31 18° | 230/16 14° | 230/10 8° | 250/18 -5° | 250/32 -16° | 260/51 -28° | 280/46 -38° | 300/50 -50° |
| AMA | used from 646 nm out; 76 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 795 nm out; 20 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 895 nm out; 68 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 1094 nm out; 109 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 1143 nm out; 108 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 1342 nm out; 80 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° |
| LAS | used from 1392 nm out; 75 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° | |
| ONT | used from 1442 nm out; 75 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° |
| WJF | used from 1541 nm out; 11 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° | |
| SBA | used from 1591 nm out; 25 nm from the line | L/V | 220/9 2° | 240/16 1° | 240/19 -3° | 260/25 -13° | 260/27 -24° | 230/37 -31° | 220/54 -37° | 220/52 -45° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHM Birmingham, AL | departure | no report just now | 650 ft | ||||
| TUP Tupelo, MS | 109 nm out, 23 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 346 ft | ||||
| LIT Little Rock, AR | 278 nm out, 23 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 266 ft | ||||
| MEZ Mena, AR | 378 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | no report just now | 1,079 ft | ||||
| LAW Lawton, OK | 587 nm out, 21 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,110 ft | ||||
| AMA Amarillo, TX | 746 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 3,606 ft | ||||
| ABQ Albuquerque, NM | 984 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,354 ft | ||||
| AEG Albuquerque, NM | 994 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,837 ft | ||||
| FLG Flagstaff, AZ | 1233 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 7,014 ft | ||||
| IFP Bullhead City, AZ | 1372 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 707 ft | ||||
| PMD Palmdale, CA | 1551 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 2,542 ft | ||||
| SBA Santa Barbara, CA | destination | no report just now | 13 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,014 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SBA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:29 pm PDT (00:29 UTC)
SBA has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 6 nm from the route, 1372 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at BHM 6:17 pm CDT (23:17 UTC), at SBA 6:27 pm PDT (01:27 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:52 pm PDT (01:52 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: Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International, Santa Barbara Municipal.