Bishop Airport to San Francisco International BIH → SFO
192 nautical miles (221 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 276°, about 261° magnetic at the departure end (variation 15E). At 120 knots that is 1 h 36 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, no wind along the track), arriving about 8:48 pm PDT (03:48 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now BIH is VFR, wind variable at 3 knots; SFO is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 9 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: 449 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: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the first 48 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 38 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 BIH.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E75L at 18,000 ft, 7 nm north, 4:24 pm PDT (23:24 UTC): moderate turbulence from 18,000 ft to 22,000 ft, remarks: mountain wave a 10-knot loss of airspeed entered by zoa fdcs. 10 nm along the route, 7 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
LOL UA /OV BIH300011/TM 2324/FL 180/TP E75L/TB MOD 180-220/RM MTN WAVE /-10 ENTERED BY ZOA FDCS AWC-WEB
- Report
- a routine report filed through LOL
- Where
- 11 nm northwest (300°) of BIH
- Time
- 23:24 UTC
- Height
- at 18,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Turbulence
- moderate from 18,000 ft to 22,000 ft
- Remarks
- mountain wave a 10-knot loss of airspeed entered by zoa fdcs
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 4 forecast points nearest it (BIH, FAT, SAC, SFO). 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 | 200° at 3 kt | +1 kt | 119 kt | 1 h 37 min | 8:49 pm PDT (03:49 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 190° at 3 kt | 0 | 5 °C | 120 kt | 1 h 36 min | 8:48 pm PDT (03:48 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 210° at 8 kt | +4 kt | 2 °C | 116 kt | 1 h 39 min | 8:51 pm PDT (03:51 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 13 kt | +8 kt | -1 °C | 112 kt | 1 h 43 min | 8:55 pm PDT (03:55 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 17 kt | +12 kt | -4 °C | 108 kt | 1 h 47 min | 8:59 pm PDT (03:59 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | +15 kt | -8 °C | 105 kt | 1 h 50 min | 9:02 pm PDT (04:02 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 250° at 21 kt | +18 kt | -11 °C | 102 kt | 1 h 53 min | 9:05 pm PDT (04:05 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 23 kt | +21 kt | -14 °C | 99 kt | 1 h 56 min | 9:08 pm PDT (04:08 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 25 kt | +23 kt | -24 °C | 97 kt | 1 h 59 min | 9:11 pm PDT (04:11 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 41 kt | +31 kt | -27 °C | 89 kt | 2 h 09 min | 9:21 pm PDT (04:21 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 41 kt | +30 kt | -34 °C | 90 kt | 2 h 08 min | 9:20 pm PDT (04:20 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 41 kt | +32 kt | -43 °C | 88 kt | 2 h 11 min | 9:23 pm PDT (04:23 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
| Point | From | 3,000 | 6,000 | 9,000 | 12,000 | 18,000 | 24,000 | 30,000 | 34,000 | 39,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIH | used from 0 nm out; 24 nm from the line | L/V | 210/14 6° | 210/20 -2° | 230/26 -14° | 220/32 -24° | 220/63 -27° | 220/56 -35° | 230/50 -44° | |
| FAT | used from 48 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 180/7 | 170/9 7° | 200/20 3° | 210/27 -3° | 240/27 -14° | 230/38 -24° | 220/57 -27° | 230/42 -33° | 230/41 -44° |
| SAC | used from 96 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 270/5 | L/V 5° | L/V -1° | 240/11 -5° | 250/22 -15° | 270/25 -24° | 260/31 -27° | 240/39 -33° | 240/39 -42° |
| SFO | used from 144 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 220/11 | L/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
| Airport | Where | Conditions | Wind | Visibility | Ceiling | Elevation | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIH Bishop, CA | departure | VFR | variable at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,124 ft | 6:56 pm PDT (01:56 UTC) |
| MMH Mammoth Lakes, CA | 29 nm out, 14 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 9,000 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 19 knots, gusting to 30 | 10+ mi | none | 7,134 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| MPI Mariposa, CA | 77 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | no report just now | 2,254 ft | ||||
| MOD Modesto, CA | 125 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 99 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| LVK Livermore, CA | 163 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (280°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 399 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| SFO San Francisco, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 13 ft | 6:56 pm PDT (01:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,134 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, 8:48 pm PDT (03:48 UTC)
Wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SFO
- From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 16 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet
- From Sun 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am PDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for BIH, the departure
- From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Sun 9:00 pm PDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the north at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/7094 45NM NE MERCED, CA, Sunday, October 4, 2026 through Tuesday, October 20, 2026 UTC 1 nm from the route, 67 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 20 October · ZOA
- 6/7231 Santa Clara, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 11 nm from the route, 172 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at BIH 6:20 pm PDT (01:20 UTC), at SFO 6:36 pm PDT (01:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm PDT (02:02 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SFO is after sunset there (6:38 pm PDT (01:38 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: Bishop Airport, San Francisco International.