Plan a flight · Mon 4:42 am EDT (08:42 UTC)

Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport to Sacramento International CHO → SMF

2,010 nautical miles (2,314 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 285°, about 293° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8W). At 120 knots that is 19 h 31 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 17-knot headwind), arriving about 9:13 pm PDT (04:13 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CHO is VFR, wind calm; SMF is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 4 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 W17W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 5:55 am EDT (09:55 UTC). Over the route from 1632 to 1702 nm out.

as issued

WSUS33 KKCI 120755
MKCW WST 120755
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 17W
VALID UNTIL 0955Z
AZ UT NV
FROM 20WNW BVL-30N BCE-60SSW BCE-50NNE LAS-60NNW ELY-20WNW BVL
AREA TS MOV FROM 24020KT. 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, fog). Over the first 348 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the first 80 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 20 to 169 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 607 to 1085 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 1164 to 1682 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 42,000 ft. Over the route from 1174 to 1553 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 1234 to 1383 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1284 to 1801 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 1304 to 1831 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 119 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 CHO.

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

B737 at 18,000 ft, 11 nm north, 3:24 am EDT (07:24 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: FL180-130. 1244 nm along the route, 11 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN330050/TM 0724/FL180/TP B737/TB MOD/RM FL180-130
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
50 nm northwest (330°) of DEN
Time
07:24 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
FL180-130
B763 at 200 ft, 14 nm south, 4:05 am EDT (08:05 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: during the climb. 299 nm along the route, 14 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG270001/TM 0805/FL002/TP B763/SK VV002/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
1 nm west (270°) of CVG
Time
08:05 UTC
Height
at 200 ft
Aircraft
B763
Sky
sky obscured from 200 ft
Remarks
during the climb
B752 climbing, 15 nm southwest, 3:37 am EDT (07:37 UTC): overcast. 299 nm along the route, 15 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV 5 W CVG/TM 0737/FLDURC/TP B752/SK B001 OVC T015
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
5 west cvg
Time
07:37 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B752
Sky
B001 overcast T015
B737 descending, 37 nm south, 4:10 am EDT (08:10 UTC): light chop turbulence. 1224 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0810/FLDURD/TP B737/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
08:10 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light chop
B737 descending, 37 nm south, 3:10 am EDT (07:10 UTC): remarks: smooth. 1224 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0710/FLDURD/TP B737/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
07:10 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Remarks
smooth
B738 descending, 37 nm south, 2:15 am EDT (06:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. 1224 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0615/FLDURD/TP B738/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
06:15 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
light chop
A20N at 25,000 ft, 45 nm south, 2:19 am EDT (06:19 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 26,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-06. 1264 nm along the route, 45 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN250045/TM 0619/FL250/TP A20N/TB OCNL LGT CHOP BLO 260/RM DURC. ZDVWC-06
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
45 nm west (250°) of DEN
Time
06:19 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
A20N
Turbulence
occasional light chop below 26,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-06

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 18 forecast points nearest it (EKN, CRW, CMH, CVG, IND, SPI, BRL, MKC, OMA, GRI, GLD, DEN, GJT, SLC, ELY, BAM, 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	260° at 19 kt	+19 kt	18 °C	101 kt	19 h 54 min	9:36 pm PDT (04:36 UTC)
6,500 ft	270° at 17 kt	+17 kt	15 °C	103 kt	19 h 31 min	9:13 pm PDT (04:13 UTC)
8,500 ft	260° at 16 kt	+17 kt	8 °C	103 kt	19 h 31 min	9:13 pm PDT (04:13 UTC)
10,500 ft	250° at 17 kt	+18 kt	5 °C	102 kt	19 h 42 min	9:24 pm PDT (04:24 UTC)
12,500 ft	250° at 19 kt	+19 kt	1 °C	101 kt	19 h 54 min	9:36 pm PDT (04:36 UTC)
14,500 ft	250° at 21 kt	+22 kt	-3 °C	98 kt	20 h 31 min	10:13 pm PDT (05:13 UTC)
16,500 ft	250° at 23 kt	+24 kt	-7 °C	96 kt	20 h 56 min	10:38 pm PDT (05:38 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	250° at 25 kt	+25 kt	-10 °C	95 kt	21 h 09 min	10:51 pm PDT (05:51 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	250° at 31 kt	+31 kt	-21 °C	89 kt	22 h 35 min	12:17 am PDT (07:17 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	260° at 42 kt	+44 kt	-32 °C	76 kt	26 h 27 min	4:09 am PDT (11:09 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 50 kt	+53 kt	-38 °C	67 kt	30 h	7:42 am PDT (14:42 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 48 kt	+50 kt	-47 °C	70 kt	28 h 43 min	6:25 am PDT (13:25 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
EKN	used from 0 nm out; 57 nm from the line		330/20 10°	350/29 7°	340/32 2°	340/44 -8°	350/50 -21°	350/63 -35°	340/69 -40°	330/42 -50°
CRW	used from 100 nm out; 31 nm from the line	320/17	340/23 12°	340/32 8°	340/35 4°	330/40 -7°	340/45 -20°	340/57 -34°	340/64 -42°	320/38 -50°
CMH	used from 199 nm out; 61 nm from the line	320/12	340/26 15°	340/22 9°	320/24 3°	320/32 -7°	320/36 -20°	330/42 -35°	320/59 -44°	320/57 -50°
CVG	used from 249 nm out; 25 nm from the line	300/19	310/23 15°	320/20 9°	310/18 3°	300/26 -6°	290/36 -19°	310/32 -34°	310/53 -43°	310/61 -51°
IND	used from 348 nm out; 16 nm from the line	270/22	290/19 15°	270/19 8°	270/18 4°	290/28 -7°	280/35 -20°	270/37 -34°	300/51 -42°	300/61 -51°
SPI	used from 448 nm out; 61 nm from the line	260/28	250/22 15°	250/14 9°	260/20 6°	280/27 -7°	280/34 -19°	280/48 -32°	280/59 -41°	300/60 -49°
BRL	used from 597 nm out; 49 nm from the line	250/32	250/19 17°	260/15 11°	270/16 3°	290/23 -7°	260/42 -20°	270/52 -34°	280/63 -39°	290/64 -48°
MKC	used from 697 nm out; 76 nm from the line	240/49	240/21 20°	220/19 13°	230/21 6°	260/26 -7°	250/37 -19°	270/66 -31°	270/65 -38°	280/60 -48°
OMA	used from 796 nm out; 58 nm from the line	230/47	240/33 21°	230/22 13°	220/27 5°	240/35 -8°	250/43 -21°	260/47 -33°	260/59 -36°	270/58 -46°
GRI	used from 846 nm out; 69 nm from the line		230/39 23°	230/32 15°	210/29 7°	230/31 -8°	230/43 -21°	250/52 -31°	260/59 -35°	260/59 -46°
GLD	used from 995 nm out; 93 nm from the line		260/37	260/25 14°	250/27 8°	230/36 -8°	230/49 -21°	250/71 -30°	260/82 -36°	250/73 -48°
DEN	used from 1145 nm out; 63 nm from the line			270/24 11°	230/13 5°	230/48 -8°	230/46 -20°	230/63 -30°	240/78 -36°	240/78 -48°
GJT	used from 1344 nm out; 76 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°
SLC	used from 1493 nm out; 59 nm from the line		200/16	210/23 4°	220/34 -3°	210/40 -16°	220/66 -23°	220/64 -31°	220/57 -36°	220/50 -43°
ELY	used from 1592 nm out; 80 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°
BAM	used from 1742 nm out; 69 nm from the line			280/9 -2°	260/18 -8°	190/47 -19°	200/50 -29°	210/56 -29°	220/54 -34°	220/45 -42°
RNO	used from 1841 nm out; 59 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 1941 nm out; 44 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
CHO Charlottesville, VA	departure	VFR Sky: overcast at 9,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	9,000 ft	640 ft	3:53 am EDT (07:53 UTC)
CRW Charleston, WV	149 nm out, 21 nm south of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet Weather: light rain, mist	variable at 4 knots	6 mi	800 ft	947 ft	07:54 UTC
LUK Cincinnati, OH	289 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog	calm	0.25 mi	200 ft	481 ft	07:53 UTC
DEC Decatur, IL	498 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	681 ft	07:54 UTC
IRK Kirksville, MO	667 nm out, 2 nm south of the line	reported, no category	from the south (190°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	966 ft	07:55 UTC
HDE Holdrege, NE	975 nm out, 3 nm west of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	2,313 ft	08:35 UTC
IML Imperial, NE	1085 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	3,276 ft	07:53 UTC
FNL Fort Collins/Loveland, CO	1234 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	5,020 ft	07:56 UTC
PVU Provo, UT	1543 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,500 feet, overcast at 12,000 feet	from the east (090°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	7,500 ft	4,496 ft	07:56 UTC
TMT Austin, NV	1801 nm out, 5 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,700 feet, a broken layer at 7,500 feet, overcast at 8,500 feet	from the southeast (140°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	7,500 ft	5,735 ft	08:35 UTC
TRK Truckee, CA	1941 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	5,904 ft	08:35 UTC
SMF Sacramento, CA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet	from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	26 ft	12:53 am PDT (07:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 5,904 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, 9:13 pm PDT (04:13 UTC)

Wind from the north-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for SMF

From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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

The forecast for CHO, the departure

From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet and more above
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet

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

6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 6 nm from the route, 299 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
6/3475 BEALE AFB, CA, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 14 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 1 November · ZOA

Daylight

Sunset at CHO 6:40 pm EDT (22:40 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 Southeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Northeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · 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: Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport, Sacramento International.