The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Mon 9:10 am EDT (13:10 UTC)

Charleston Afb/Intl Airport to San Francisco International CHS → SFO

2,077 nautical miles (2,390 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 290°, about 297° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 19 h 58 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 16-knot headwind), arriving about 2:08 am PDT (09:08 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: 2 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The return flight

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 W26W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the south at 35 knots, until 10:55 am EDT (14:55 UTC). Over the route from 1718 to 1748 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 121255
    MKCW WST 121255
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 26W
    VALID UNTIL 1455Z
    NV
    FROM 40WNW ILC-ILC-60N LAS-60NE BTY-40WNW ILC
    AREA TS MOV FROM 20035KT. TOPS TO FL300.
  • AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 30,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Over the first 80 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 190 to 190 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 210 to 240 nm out.
  • 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 240 to 340 nm out.
  • 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 689 to 1059 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 1188 to 1618 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 1218 to 1288 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 1238 to 1438 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1398 to 1738 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 1448 to 1818 nm out.
  • AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 1568 to 1758 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 180 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1927 to 1987 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 CHS.

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 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 22 forecast points nearest it (CHS, CAE, ATL, HSV, MEM, LIT, SGF, FSM, TUL, ICT, GAG, GCK, PUB, ALS, FMN, GJT, BCE, ELY, BIH, FAT, SAC, SFO). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
4,500 ft260° at 17 kt+17 kt22 °C103 kt20 h 10 min2:20 am PDT (09:20 UTC)
6,500 ft270° at 15 kt+16 kt15 °C104 kt19 h 58 min2:08 am PDT (09:08 UTC)
8,500 ft260° at 16 kt+16 kt10 °C104 kt19 h 58 min2:08 am PDT (09:08 UTC)
10,500 ft250° at 17 kt+16 kt5 °C104 kt19 h 58 min2:08 am PDT (09:08 UTC)
12,500 ft250° at 19 kt+17 kt2 °C103 kt20 h 10 min2:20 am PDT (09:20 UTC)
14,500 ft250° at 21 kt+19 kt-2 °C101 kt20 h 34 min2:44 am PDT (09:44 UTC)
16,500 ft240° at 23 kt+21 kt-6 °C99 kt20 h 59 min3:09 am PDT (10:09 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180240° at 25 kt+22 kt-9 °C98 kt21 h 12 min3:22 am PDT (10:22 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240250° at 31 kt+29 kt-20 °C91 kt22 h 49 min4:59 am PDT (11:59 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300260° at 45 kt+45 kt-30 °C75 kt27 h 42 min9:52 am PDT (16:52 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340260° at 46 kt+47 kt-38 °C73 kt28 h 27 min10:37 am PDT (17:37 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390260° at 41 kt+42 kt-48 °C78 kt26 h 38 min8:48 am PDT (15:48 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
CHSused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line330/14300/17 14°320/21 9°310/26 6°310/32 -6°280/34 -19°260/37 -32°280/30 -39°310/30 -50°
CAEused from 50 nm out; 41 nm from the line340/17330/15 12°320/22 9°320/31 5°330/35 -7°320/33 -19°340/40 -32°350/43 -39°320/35 -49°
ATLused from 150 nm out; 56 nm from the line330/32340/36 17°350/34 10°340/25 6°330/27 -6°350/35 -18°330/49 -32°340/47 -41°340/27 -51°
HSVused from 300 nm out; 28 nm from the line300/20310/14 16°310/18 10°310/15 4°320/19 -5°290/16 -18°320/36 -32°320/47 -41°330/42 -50°
MEMused from 449 nm out; 43 nm from the line250/19260/19 17°270/20 12°270/16 6°270/21 -6°290/27 -17°300/37 -30°300/49 -40°310/40 -51°
LITused from 599 nm out; 69 nm from the line250/22250/25 18°240/23 12°240/20 7°250/17 -6°260/25 -17°300/45 -29°300/49 -40°310/43 -51°
SGFused from 649 nm out; 72 nm from the line230/37260/20 15°250/16 13°250/15 8°260/28 -7°250/31 -17°280/59 -31°280/59 -39°290/55 -50°
FSMused from 699 nm out; 56 nm from the line230/33260/23 15°240/23 11°230/18 8°230/20 -8°250/31 -17°280/51 -30°280/52 -39°300/47 -51°
TULused from 749 nm out; 39 nm from the line230/42250/23 17°220/16 14°240/10 8°240/20 -6°260/28 -17°270/61 -29°280/52 -38°290/46 -50°
ICTused from 849 nm out; 57 nm from the line230/45240/33 21°230/23 14°230/22 7°240/29 -7°240/36 -20°260/78 -29°270/69 -36°270/56 -49°
GAGused from 949 nm out; 50 nm from the line240/35 22°240/27 14°230/25 6°240/38 -7°230/44 -19°250/73 -28°270/66 -37°270/58 -49°
GCKused from 999 nm out; 53 nm from the line240/40 22°240/40 14°240/38 7°230/39 -7°230/45 -20°250/73 -28°260/74 -36°260/64 -49°
PUBused from 1148 nm out; 74 nm from the line260/45 11°240/38 6°230/47 -8°230/51 -19°240/74 -29°240/82 -35°250/72 -48°
ALSused from 1248 nm out; 23 nm from the line240/35 3°230/54 -9°240/66 -19°230/85 -26°240/87 -34°240/70 -47°
FMNused from 1348 nm out; 69 nm from the line220/16 6°220/39 1°220/50 -10°230/67 -23°230/94 -29°230/102 -35°230/90 -46°
GJTused from 1448 nm out; 93 nm from the line220/26 6°230/39 0°220/55 -13°230/60 -23°230/78 -31°230/80 -35°230/74 -44°
BCEused from 1498 nm out; 69 nm from the line200/32 -2°210/57 -15°220/71 -22°220/69 -30°220/64 -38°220/67 -44°
ELYused from 1698 nm out; 83 nm from the line210/34 1°220/40 -4°220/39 -17°210/51 -24°220/65 -30°220/60 -37°220/56 -44°
BIHused from 1798 nm out; 71 nm from the lineL/V020/6 0°140/7 -7°210/31 -16°230/34 -26°220/43 -30°220/52 -36°220/46 -43°
FATused from 1947 nm out; 63 nm from the line140/11180/15 3°150/14 -3°200/14 -6°240/17 -16°320/25 -23°270/22 -31°240/29 -37°230/36 -44°
SACused from 1997 nm out; 51 nm from the lineL/VL/V 4°340/9 -4°340/22 -8°360/71 -12°360/82 -23°350/58 -37°310/30 -40°270/25 -44°
SFOused from 2047 nm out; 15 nm from the line090/9050/12 4°010/17 -2°350/34 -3°360/70 -11°360/75 -22°350/57 -38°330/37 -42°280/25 -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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
CHS Charleston, SC departure no report just now 46 ft
AGS Augusta, GA 100 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower no report just now 145 ft
LZU Lawrenceville, GA 210 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower no report just now 1,061 ft
NQA Millington, TN 509 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower no report just now 322 ft
XNA Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers, AR 729 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower no report just now 1,288 ft
PNC Ponca City, OK 869 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line no report just now 1,008 ft
HQG Hugoton, KS 1079 nm out, 6 nm south of the line no report just now 3,134 ft
RCV Del Norte, CO 1318 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line no report just now 7,955 ft
CDC Cedar City, UT 1638 nm out, 13 nm south of the line no report just now 5,622 ft
TPH Tonopah, NV 1828 nm out, 11 nm north of the line no report just now 5,430 ft
LVK Livermore, CA 2047 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower no report just now 399 ft
SFO San Francisco, CA destination no report just now 13 ft

The highest airport on this list sits at 7,955 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, 2:08 am PDT (09:08 UTC)

SFO has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.

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

  • 6/8928 Atlanta, GA, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 24 nm from the route, 220 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZTL
  • 6/7094 45NM NE MERCED, CA, Sunday, October 4, 2026 through Tuesday, October 20, 2026 UTC 4 nm from the route, 1937 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 20 October · ZOA

Daylight

Sunset at CHS 6:50 pm EDT (22:50 UTC), at SFO 6:35 pm PDT (01:35 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm PDT (02:01 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SFO is before sunrise there (7:15 am PDT (14:15 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
Radar now, the Southeast · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley
Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the southern Plains
Radar now, the southern Plains · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
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: Charleston Afb/Intl Airport, San Francisco International.