Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall to Meadows Field BWI → BFL
2,018 nautical miles (2,323 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 277°, about 288° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 19 h 36 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 17-knot headwind), arriving about 8:40 pm PDT (03:40 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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: 4 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, fog). Over the first 420 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 20 to 80 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 60 to 210 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 679 to 1179 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 1229 to 1819 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 42,000 ft. Over the route from 1249 to 1689 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 1299 to 1419 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1459 to 1749 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). Near the route, 1669 nm along the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 1689 to 1879 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 1699 to 1759 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 1829 to 1948 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 BWI.
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 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 18 forecast points nearest it (RIC, EKN, CMH, CVG, IND, SPI, BRL, COU, MKC, SLN, GCK, GLD, PUB, ALS, FMN, BCE, LAS, WJF). 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 | +21 kt | 11 °C | 99 kt | 20 h 23 min | 9:27 pm PDT (04:27 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 20 kt | +21 kt | 13 °C | 99 kt | 20 h 23 min | 9:27 pm PDT (04:27 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 18 kt | +20 kt | 10 °C | 100 kt | 20 h 11 min | 9:15 pm PDT (04:15 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 17 kt | +18 kt | 6 °C | 102 kt | 19 h 47 min | 8:51 pm PDT (03:51 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 16 kt | +17 kt | 2 °C | 103 kt | 19 h 36 min | 8:40 pm PDT (03:40 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | +20 kt | -2 °C | 100 kt | 20 h 11 min | 9:15 pm PDT (04:15 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | +23 kt | -6 °C | 97 kt | 20 h 48 min | 9:52 pm PDT (04:52 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 24 kt | +25 kt | -9 °C | 95 kt | 21 h 15 min | 10:19 pm PDT (05:19 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 32 kt | +33 kt | -20 °C | 87 kt | 23 h 12 min | 12:16 am PDT (07:16 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 43 kt | +45 kt | -31 °C | 75 kt | 26 h 54 min | 3:58 am PDT (10:58 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 48 kt | +52 kt | -38 °C | 68 kt | 29 h 41 min | 6:45 am PDT (13:45 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 43 kt | +46 kt | -47 °C | 74 kt | 27 h 16 min | 4:20 am PDT (11:20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIC | used from 0 nm out; 103 nm from the line | 270/23 | 280/19 11° | 270/18 8° | 240/22 4° | 230/39 -7° | 220/55 -18° | 220/75 -30° | 230/83 -39° | 230/64 -50° |
| EKN | used from 50 nm out; 78 nm from the line | 330/21 12° | 330/25 7° | 350/22 2° | 330/24 -10° | 310/27 -21° | 320/33 -35° | 290/31 -39° | 290/34 -47° | |
| CMH | used from 200 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 330/15 | 340/22 14° | 340/24 9° | 340/23 4° | 340/35 -9° | 340/49 -20° | 340/58 -37° | 330/70 -42° | 340/55 -47° |
| CVG | used from 350 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/32 16° | 350/35 10° | 350/30 3° | 330/30 -7° | 340/44 -20° | 340/58 -35° | 330/72 -41° | 320/36 -49° |
| IND | used from 400 nm out; 23 nm from the line | 290/16 | 310/20 16° | 320/21 10° | 330/13 3° | 300/25 -7° | 320/32 -19° | 330/46 -34° | 320/61 -43° | 320/63 -50° |
| SPI | used from 550 nm out; 30 nm from the line | 220/21 | 250/23 16° | 260/27 9° | 270/14 6° | 270/23 -7° | 270/31 -19° | 270/28 -33° | 290/48 -42° | 300/55 -52° |
| BRL | used from 649 nm out; 66 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° |
| COU | used from 699 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 230/31 | 230/30 15° | 260/16 11° | 270/14 6° | 260/24 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 270/37 -32° | 280/49 -41° | 290/56 -51° |
| MKC | used from 749 nm out; 63 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 899 nm out; 61 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 1049 nm out; 84 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° | |
| GLD | used from 1099 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 230/49 | 230/42 15° | 220/26 8° | 240/18 -7° | 230/27 -21° | 240/62 -30° | 240/61 -35° | 250/57 -47° | |
| PUB | used from 1249 nm out; 29 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 1349 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 230/37 4° | 220/54 -9° | 230/62 -22° | 240/77 -26° | 240/74 -33° | 230/59 -45° | |||
| FMN | used from 1449 nm out; 72 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° | ||
| BCE | used from 1549 nm out; 92 nm from the line | 220/27 -1° | 210/40 -13° | 220/54 -21° | 220/64 -30° | 220/64 -34° | 220/52 -44° | |||
| LAS | used from 1749 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 210/21 10° | 200/18 5° | 200/23 -2° | 210/49 -14° | 210/63 -21° | 220/58 -30° | 220/61 -35° | 210/56 -44° | |
| WJF | used from 1899 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 200/28 6° | 210/28 3° | 210/29 -4° | 210/28 -14° | 220/41 -20° | 220/47 -29° | 220/46 -37° | 220/53 -44° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BWI Baltimore, MD | departure | no report just now | 143 ft | ||||
| MRB Martinsburg, WV | 60 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 564 ft | ||||
| PKB Parkersburg, WV | 220 nm out, 12 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 858 ft | ||||
| IND Indianapolis, IN | 450 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower | no report just now | 796 ft | ||||
| IJX Jacksonville, IL | 630 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | no report just now | 623 ft | ||||
| MCI Kansas City, MO | 839 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,027 ft | ||||
| OEL Oakley, KS | 1119 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 3,045 ft | ||||
| PUB Pueblo, CO | 1299 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,729 ft | ||||
| TEX Telluride, CO | 1459 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 9,069 ft | ||||
| AZC Colorado City, AZ | 1709 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 4,873 ft | ||||
| VGT Las Vegas, NV | 1829 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 2,205 ft | ||||
| BFL Bakersfield, CA | destination | no report just now | 509 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 9,069 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BFL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:40 pm PDT (03:40 UTC)
BFL has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8800 Baltimore, MD, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 6 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 7 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 6 nm from the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
- 6/8890 LAS VEGAS, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local on the route, 1809 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZLA
- 6/8808 Las Vegas, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 21 nm from the route, 1829 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZLA
- 6/8783 38NM NE BAKERSFIELD, CA, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Friday, October 23, 2026 UTC 3 nm from the route, at the destination end · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 23 October · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at BWI 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC), at BFL 6:23 pm PDT (01:23 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:49 pm PDT (01:49 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BFL is after sunset there (6:25 pm PDT (01:25 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: Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall, Meadows Field.