Plan a flight · Mon 2:03 am EDT (06:03 UTC)

Buffalo Niagara International to Phoenix Sky Harbor International BUF → PHX

1,658 nautical miles (1,908 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 261°, about 272° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 16 h 15 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 18-knot headwind), arriving about 3:18 pm MST (22:18 UTC). Right now BUF is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 3 knots; PHX is VFR, wind from the east (090°) at 6 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: 395 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 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 180 to 390 nm out.
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 569 to 1189 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 1169 to 1598 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the last 439 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1578 to 1638 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 BUF.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

urgent B39M at 35,000 ft, 16 nm south, 11:15 pm EDT (03:15 UTC): remarks: no inj/dmg zob. 70 nm along the route, 16 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DKK UUA /OV DKK280040/TM 0315/FL350/TP B39M/TB MTN WVE ACTN +/-5KTS/RM NO INJ/DMG ZOB
```
Report
an urgent report filed through DKK
Where
40 nm west (280°) of DKK
Time
03:15 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
mountain wve actn a 5-knot loss of airspeed
Remarks
no inj/dmg zob
B737 at 14,000 ft, 27 nm northwest, 1:15 am EDT (05:15 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: during the descent through clouds. At the destination end, 27 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PHX UA /OV PXR339030/TM 0515/FL140/TP B737/TB OCNL MOD/RM DURD THROUGH CLOUDS
```
Report
a routine report filed through PHX
Where
30 nm north (339°) of PXR
Time
05:15 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
occasional moderate
Remarks
during the descent through clouds
A333 descending, 6 nm south, 1:44 am EDT (05:44 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 210 nm along the route, 6 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0544/FLDURD/TP A333/SK TOPS 025
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
05:44 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A333
Sky
tops 2,500 ft
B739 descending, 6 nm south, 12:54 am EDT (04:54 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 210 nm along the route, 6 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0454/FLDURD/TP B739/SK BASES 011
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
04:54 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B739
Sky
bases 1,100 ft
A320 descending, 6 nm south, 11:27 pm EDT (03:27 UTC): overcast above 1,400 ft. 210 nm along the route, 6 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0327/FLDURD/TP A320/SK 014 OVC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
03:27 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A320
Sky
at 1,400 ft overcast
B738 at 1,800 ft, 38 nm south, 1:18 am EDT (05:18 UTC): overcast from 1,800 ft to 2,700 ft, remarks: during the climb. 240 nm along the route, 38 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0518/FL018/TP B738/SK OVC018-TOP027/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over KTOL
Time
05:18 UTC
Height
at 1,800 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
overcast from 1,800 ft, tops 2,700 ft
Remarks
during the climb
B738 at 1,300 ft, 38 nm south, 12:45 am EDT (04:45 UTC): overcast from 1,300 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 240 nm along the route, 38 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0445/FL013/TP B738/SK OVC013-TOP030/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over KTOL
Time
04:45 UTC
Height
at 1,300 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
overcast from 1,300 ft, tops 3,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent
LJ45 at 10,000 ft, 41 nm south, 12:31 am EDT (04:31 UTC): no turbulence, clear, remarks: ground fog at fwa FV10SM on final runway 14. 320 nm along the route, 41 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FWA UA /OV OLK/TM 0431/FL100/TP LJ45/SK CLR/TB SMOOTH/RM GROUND FOG AT FWA. FV10SM ON FINAL RY 14
```
Report
a routine report filed through FWA
Where
over OLK
Time
04:31 UTC
Height
at 10,000 ft
Aircraft
LJ45
Sky
clear
Turbulence
smooth
Remarks
ground fog at fwa FV10SM on final runway 14
B38M at 29,000 ft, 50 nm south, 12:52 am EDT (04:52 UTC): no turbulence from 23,000 ft to 29,000 ft. 439 nm along the route, 50 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TIP UA /OV RBS/TM 0452/FL290/TP B38M/TB NEG 230-290
```
Report
a routine report filed through TIP
Where
over RBS
Time
04:52 UTC
Height
at 29,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
no from 23,000 ft to 29,000 ft
B737 at 37,000 ft, 43 nm southwest, 11:20 pm EDT (03:20 UTC): scattered clouds, -41 °C, wind 220° at 89 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. At the destination end, 43 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GYR UA /OV GBN112009 /TM 0320 /FL370 /TP B737 /SK FEW-SCT /TA M41 /WV 22089KT /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
```
Report
a routine report filed through GYR
Where
9 nm east (112°) of GBN
Time
03:20 UTC
Height
at 37,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
few-sct
Temperature
−41 °C
Wind
from 220° at 89 knots
Remarks
produced by skypath

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 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 13 forecast points nearest it (BUF, CLE, FWA, JOT, BRL, DSM, MKC, SLN, GCK, PUB, ALS, ABQ, PHX). 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	230° at 22 kt	+22 kt	21 °C	98 kt	16 h 55 min	3:58 pm MST (22:58 UTC)
6,500 ft	240° at 20 kt	+21 kt	15 °C	99 kt	16 h 45 min	3:48 pm MST (22:48 UTC)
8,500 ft	240° at 17 kt	+18 kt	11 °C	102 kt	16 h 15 min	3:18 pm MST (22:18 UTC)
10,500 ft	240° at 17 kt	+18 kt	7 °C	102 kt	16 h 15 min	3:18 pm MST (22:18 UTC)
12,500 ft	240° at 17 kt	+19 kt	4 °C	101 kt	16 h 25 min	3:28 pm MST (22:28 UTC)
14,500 ft	240° at 21 kt	+22 kt	-1 °C	98 kt	16 h 55 min	3:58 pm MST (22:58 UTC)
16,500 ft	240° at 24 kt	+26 kt	-5 °C	94 kt	17 h 38 min	4:41 pm MST (23:41 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	250° at 27 kt	+29 kt	-8 °C	91 kt	18 h 13 min	5:16 pm MST (00:16 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	250° at 35 kt	+37 kt	-20 °C	83 kt	19 h 59 min	7:02 pm MST (02:02 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	260° at 47 kt	+49 kt	-31 °C	71 kt	23 h 21 min	10:24 pm MST (05:24 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 54 kt	+55 kt	-39 °C	65 kt	25 h 30 min	12:33 am MST (07:33 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 49 kt	+49 kt	-49 °C	71 kt	23 h 21 min	10:24 pm MST (05:24 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
BUF	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	320/10	010/16 10°	360/10 6°	340/13 2°	330/22 -11°	300/25 -23°	320/31 -38°	300/29 -44°	280/36 -50°
CLE	used from 100 nm out; 72 nm from the line	340/7	010/16 13°	350/18 8°	350/20 3°	340/31 -10°	340/46 -21°	340/54 -37°	330/62 -44°	340/65 -49°
FWA	used from 250 nm out; 67 nm from the line	300/17	320/20 16°	330/20 10°	340/15 3°	310/27 -8°	320/37 -20°	330/52 -36°	330/65 -43°	330/60 -50°
JOT	used from 350 nm out; 54 nm from the line	250/23	270/22 15°	250/16 10°	240/9 4°	280/22 -7°	280/29 -19°	300/29 -34°	290/50 -43°	300/64 -52°
BRL	used from 499 nm out; 44 nm from the line	230/24	240/29 15°	290/16 10°	280/15 4°	260/23 -7°	260/32 -19°	260/36 -33°	280/48 -41°	280/59 -52°
DSM	used from 649 nm out; 79 nm from the line	230/40	250/33 17°	250/18 12°	240/17 5°	260/28 -8°	270/34 -19°	260/41 -33°	260/55 -41°	270/62 -51°
MKC	used from 699 nm out; 52 nm from the line	220/44	250/28 18°	250/18 13°	240/12 6°	280/24 -6°	240/34 -18°	260/47 -30°	260/51 -40°	270/58 -50°
SLN	used from 799 nm out; 70 nm from the line	210/53	230/41 20°	240/26 14°	230/16 8°	240/25 -7°	240/35 -19°	250/61 -30°	260/65 -38°	260/56 -49°
GCK	used from 949 nm out; 72 nm from the line		220/48 21°	230/37 14°	250/30 8°	230/37 -6°	240/37 -20°	240/69 -28°	250/67 -37°	260/58 -48°
PUB	used from 1149 nm out; 91 nm from the line			230/25 13°	230/32 6°	220/44 -8°	230/49 -21°	240/70 -28°	240/67 -34°	240/58 -46°
ALS	used from 1199 nm out; 90 nm from the line				230/37 4°	220/54 -9°	230/62 -22°	240/77 -26°	240/74 -33°	230/59 -45°
ABQ	used from 1299 nm out; 68 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°
PHX	used from 1498 nm out; 135 nm from the line	150/5	200/21 12°	200/27 6°	200/35 3°	220/58 -8°	220/69 -19°	220/87 -26°	230/93 -35°	230/79 -47°

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
BUF Buffalo, NY	departure	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 12,000 feet, a broken layer at 14,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	14,000 ft	726 ft	1:54 am EDT (05:54 UTC)
CYQS St Thomas,	110 nm out, 9 nm north of the line	no report just now				776 ft
DET Detroit, MI	190 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet	from the west (280°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	624 ft	05:53 UTC
GYY Gary/Chicago, IN	390 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	596 ft	05:55 UTC
BRL Burlington, IA	569 nm out, 1 nm east of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	698 ft	05:53 UTC
STJ St Joseph, MO	749 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	826 ft	05:53 UTC
MHK Manhattan, KS	839 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 13 knots, gusting to 23	10+ mi	none	1,066 ft	05:52 UTC
GCK Garden City, KS	1049 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 19 knots	10+ mi	none	2,890 ft	05:54 UTC
AXX Angel Fire, NM	1279 nm out, 4 nm west of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,300 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots, gusting to 20	10+ mi	3,300 ft	8,379 ft	05:55 UTC
SAF Santa Fe, NM	1338 nm out, 23 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	6,348 ft	05:53 UTC
SOW Show Low, AZ	1548 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line	reported, no category	from the south-southwest (200°) at 15 knots, gusting to 20	10+ mi	none	6,415 ft	05:55 UTC
PHX Phoenix, AZ	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,800 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,500 feet	from the east (090°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	9,500 ft	1,134 ft	10:51 pm MST (05:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 8,379 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At PHX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:18 pm MST (22:18 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for PHX

From Sun 11:00 pm MST (06:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am MST (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm MST (20:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm MST (01:00 UTC): wind from the west at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 pm MST (05:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet

The forecast for BUF, the departure

From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 2,000 feet
From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 700 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Tue 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 12,000 feet

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 BUF 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC), at PHX 5:58 pm MST (00:58 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:23 pm MST (01:23 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 · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: Buffalo Niagara International, Phoenix Sky Harbor International.