Plan a flight · Mon 8:16 am EDT (12:16 UTC)

Lovell Field to Sacramento International CHA → SMF

1,750 nautical miles (2,014 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 288°, about 293° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 16 h 50 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 16-knot headwind), arriving about 10:06 pm PDT (05:06 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CHA is low IFR, wind from the west (270°) at 3 knots; SMF is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 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: 2 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

SIGMET W24W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the south at 35 knots, until 9:55 am EDT (13:55 UTC). Over the route from 1392 to 1402 nm out.
as issued
```
WSUS33 KKCI 121155
MKCW WST 121155
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 24W
VALID UNTIL 1355Z
UT NV
FROM 40ESE ELY-50NW BCE-60S ILC-50SW ILC-40ESE ELY
AREA TS MOV FROM 20035KT. TOPS TO FL300.
```
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 first 80 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Near the route, at the departure end.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 378 to 776 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 905 to 1313 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 935 to 984 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 955 to 1134 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1064 to 1541 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). Near the route, 1104 nm along the route.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 1144 to 1561 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 1144 to 1472 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 159 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1680 to 1690 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 CHA.

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

C56X at 1,000 ft, 0 nm west, 7:04 am EDT (11:04 UTC): remarks: during the climb runway 20 departure. At the departure end, 0 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHA UA /OV CHA/TM 1104/FL010/TP C56X/SK TOP010/RM DURC. RY 20 DEPARTURE
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHA
Where
over CHA
Time
11:04 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
C56X
Sky
TOP010
Remarks
during the climb runway 20 departure
CRJ9 at 1,000 ft, 0 nm west, 6:15 am EDT (10:15 UTC): remarks: during the climb runway 20 departure. At the departure end, 0 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHA UA /OV CHA/TM 1015/FL010/TP CRJ9/SK TOP010/RM DURC. RY 20 DEPARTURE
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHA
Where
over CHA
Time
10:15 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
TOP010
Remarks
during the climb runway 20 departure
B38M at 35,000 ft, 29 nm southeast, 6:04 am EDT (10:04 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 39. At the departure end, 29 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV GQO110025/TM 1004/FL350/TP B38M/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 39
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
25 nm east (110°) of GQO
Time
10:04 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
light
Remarks
ztlfd 39
B739 at 36,000 ft, 30 nm north, 7:34 am EDT (11:34 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 36. At the departure end, 30 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV HCH250025/TM 1134/FL360/TP B739/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 36
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
25 nm west (250°) of HCH
Time
11:34 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
light
Remarks
ztlfd 36
CRJ7 at 28,000 ft, 6 nm southwest, 7:25 am EDT (11:25 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: zkc fd dl. 706 nm along the route, 6 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DDC UA /OV DDC090024/TM 1125/FL280/TP CRJ7/TB LGT/RM ZKC FD DL
```
Report
a routine report filed through DDC
Where
24 nm east (090°) of DDC
Time
11:25 UTC
Height
at 28,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Turbulence
light
Remarks
zkc fd dl
B738 at 11,000 ft, 16 nm north, 7:42 am EDT (11:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb. 955 nm along the route, 16 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK172014/TM 1142/FL110/TP B738/TB LGT CHOP/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
14 nm south (172°) of BRK
Time
11:42 UTC
Height
at 11,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
during the climb
B752 at 23,000 ft, 46 nm north, 7:39 am EDT (11:39 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 1014 nm along the route, 46 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN231058/TM 1139/FL230/TP B752/TB NEG/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
58 nm southwest (231°) of DEN
Time
11:39 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
B752
Turbulence
none
Remarks
zdvwc
A359 at 38,000 ft, 25 nm south, 6:13 am EDT (10:13 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-37. 1074 nm along the route, 25 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GUC UA /OV HBU185015/TM 1013/FL380/TP A359/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-37
```
Report
a routine report filed through GUC
Where
15 nm south (185°) of HBU
Time
10:13 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
A359
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-37
PC12 at 5,000 ft, 24 nm north, 7:23 am EDT (11:23 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the descent zdvwc. 1144 nm along the route, 24 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GJT UA /OV GJT/TM 1123/FL050/TP PC12/TB LGT-MOD/IC NEG/RM DURD. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through GJT
Where
over GJT
Time
11:23 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
light to moderate
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent zdvwc

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 (HSV, BNA, MEM, CGI, SGF, TUL, ICT, GCK, PUB, ALS, GJT, BCE, ELY, BIH, RNO, SAC). 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	250° at 21 kt	+17 kt	22 °C	103 kt	16 h 59 min	10:15 pm PDT (05:15 UTC)
6,500 ft	250° at 18 kt	+16 kt	16 °C	104 kt	16 h 50 min	10:06 pm PDT (05:06 UTC)
8,500 ft	240° at 21 kt	+18 kt	10 °C	102 kt	17 h 09 min	10:25 pm PDT (05:25 UTC)
10,500 ft	240° at 23 kt	+18 kt	5 °C	102 kt	17 h 09 min	10:25 pm PDT (05:25 UTC)
12,500 ft	240° at 25 kt	+19 kt	1 °C	101 kt	17 h 20 min	10:36 pm PDT (05:36 UTC)
14,500 ft	240° at 27 kt	+21 kt	-3 °C	99 kt	17 h 41 min	10:57 pm PDT (05:57 UTC)
16,500 ft	240° at 29 kt	+23 kt	-7 °C	97 kt	18 h 02 min	11:18 pm PDT (06:18 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	240° at 30 kt	+24 kt	-10 °C	96 kt	18 h 14 min	11:30 pm PDT (06:30 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 35 kt	+28 kt	-20 °C	92 kt	19 h 01 min	12:17 am PDT (07:17 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 52 kt	+48 kt	-30 °C	72 kt	24 h 18 min	5:34 am PDT (12:34 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 54 kt	+52 kt	-37 °C	68 kt	25 h 44 min	7:00 am PDT (14:00 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 48 kt	+47 kt	-47 °C	73 kt	23 h 58 min	5:14 am PDT (12:14 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
HSV	used from 0 nm out; 62 nm from the line	300/20	310/14 16°	310/18 10°	310/15 4°	320/19 -5°	290/16 -18°	320/36 -32°	320/47 -41°	330/42 -50°
BNA	used from 50 nm out; 43 nm from the line	300/20	300/14 15°	300/14 10°	300/13 4°	310/22 -5°	280/24 -18°	310/37 -33°	310/50 -41°	320/49 -51°
MEM	used from 149 nm out; 84 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°
CGI	used from 199 nm out; 67 nm from the line	260/22	250/15 15°	250/13 11°	250/16 6°	270/29 -7°	280/30 -18°	290/40 -31°	290/55 -40°	300/51 -51°
SGF	used from 298 nm out; 97 nm from the line	230/37	260/20 15°	250/16 13°	250/15 8°	260/28 -7°	250/31 -17°	280/59 -31°	280/59 -39°	290/55 -50°
TUL	used from 497 nm out; 67 nm from the line	230/42	250/23 17°	220/16 14°	240/10 8°	240/20 -6°	260/28 -17°	270/61 -29°	280/52 -38°	290/46 -50°
ICT	used from 547 nm out; 40 nm from the line	230/45	240/33 21°	230/23 14°	230/22 7°	240/29 -7°	240/36 -20°	260/78 -29°	270/69 -36°	270/56 -49°
GCK	used from 696 nm out; 48 nm from the line		240/40 22°	240/40 14°	240/38 7°	230/39 -7°	230/45 -20°	250/73 -28°	260/74 -36°	260/64 -49°
PUB	used from 845 nm out; 78 nm from the line			260/45 11°	240/38 6°	230/47 -8°	230/51 -19°	240/74 -29°	240/82 -35°	250/72 -48°
ALS	used from 994 nm out; 67 nm from the line				240/35 3°	230/54 -9°	240/66 -19°	230/85 -26°	240/87 -34°	240/70 -47°
GJT	used from 1044 nm out; 75 nm from the line			220/26 6°	230/39 0°	220/55 -13°	230/60 -23°	230/78 -31°	230/80 -35°	230/74 -44°
BCE	used from 1243 nm out; 79 nm from the line				200/32 -2°	210/57 -15°	220/71 -22°	220/69 -30°	220/64 -38°	220/67 -44°
ELY	used from 1342 nm out; 71 nm from the line			210/34 1°	220/40 -4°	220/39 -17°	210/51 -24°	220/65 -30°	220/60 -37°	220/56 -44°
BIH	used from 1541 nm out; 95 nm from the line		L/V	020/6 0°	140/7 -7°	210/31 -16°	230/34 -26°	220/43 -30°	220/52 -36°	220/46 -43°
RNO	used from 1591 nm out; 63 nm from the line		010/6	270/12 -3°	220/26 -10°	280/13 -19°	350/44 -24°	320/30 -32°	260/22 -36°	240/24 -42°
SAC	used from 1690 nm out; 33 nm from the line	L/V	L/V 4°	340/9 -4°	340/22 -8°	360/71 -12°	360/82 -23°	350/58 -37°	310/30 -40°	270/25 -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
CHA Chattanooga, TN	departure	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog	from the west (270°) at 3 knots	0.13 mi	200 ft	682 ft	7:53 am EDT (11:53 UTC)
MRC Columbia/Mount Pleasant, TN	99 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	681 ft	11:50 UTC
MKL Jackson, TN	179 nm out, 21 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	434 ft	11:53 UTC
JLN Joplin, MO	467 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 14 knots	10+ mi	none	977 ft	11:53 UTC
ICT Wichita, KS	607 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 18,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	1,332 ft	11:53 UTC
GCK Garden City, KS	766 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 20 knots, gusting to 31	10+ mi	none	2,890 ft	11:54 UTC
PUB Pueblo, CO	945 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the northwest (310°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	4,729 ft	11:53 UTC
GJT Grand Junction, CO	1144 nm out, 24 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,500 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet	from the east (080°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	7,500 ft	4,861 ft	11:53 UTC
FOM Fillmore, UT	1323 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,100 feet, scattered clouds at 4,100 feet, overcast at 7,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots, gusting to 14	10+ mi	7,000 ft	4,984 ft	11:55 UTC
ELY Ely, NV	1432 nm out, 25 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,500 feet	from the south (180°) at 9 knots, gusting to 18	10+ mi	none	6,259 ft	11:53 UTC
PVF Placerville, CA	1710 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line	reported, no category	calm	10+ mi	none	2,585 ft	11:55 UTC
SMF Sacramento, CA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	26 ft	4:53 am PDT (11:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,259 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SMF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:06 pm PDT (05:06 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for SMF

From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 10:00 pm PDT (05:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for CHA, the departure

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility ¼ mile, fog, sky obscured at 200 feet
At times between Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC) and 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Tue 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 3 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 24 nm from the route, 994 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV
6/3475 BEALE AFB, CA, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 16 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 1 November · ZOA

Daylight

Sunset at CHA 7:10 pm EDT (23:10 UTC), at SMF 6:31 pm PDT (01:31 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:57 pm PDT (01:57 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SMF is after sunset there (6:32 pm PDT (01:32 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 lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

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

Radar now, the southern Plains · 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: Lovell Field, Sacramento International.