Charleston Afb/Intl Airport to Sacramento International CHS → SMF
2,035 nautical miles (2,342 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 292°, about 299° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 19 h 23 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 15-knot headwind), arriving about 7:22 pm PDT (02:22 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CHS is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots; SMF is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) 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: 1 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 TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 150 to 229 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 279 to 369 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 728 to 1167 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 1157 to 1766 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Near the route, 1187 nm along the route.
- 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 1227 to 1407 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1417 to 1836 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 1487 to 1826 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 80 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 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 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 19 forecast points nearest it (CHS, CAE, ATL, HSV, MEM, LIT, SGF, TUL, ICT, GAG, 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 17 kt | +15 kt | 20 °C | 105 kt | 19 h 23 min | 7:22 pm PDT (02:22 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 260° at 17 kt | +17 kt | 15 °C | 103 kt | 19 h 45 min | 7:44 pm PDT (02:44 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 18 kt | +17 kt | 11 °C | 103 kt | 19 h 45 min | 7:44 pm PDT (02:44 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | +18 kt | 6 °C | 102 kt | 19 h 57 min | 7:56 pm PDT (02:56 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 250° at 20 kt | +18 kt | 2 °C | 102 kt | 19 h 57 min | 7:56 pm PDT (02:56 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | +19 kt | -2 °C | 101 kt | 20 h 09 min | 8:08 pm PDT (03:08 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | +20 kt | -6 °C | 100 kt | 20 h 21 min | 8:20 pm PDT (03:20 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 26 kt | +21 kt | -9 °C | 99 kt | 20 h 33 min | 8:32 pm PDT (03:32 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 33 kt | +29 kt | -20 °C | 91 kt | 22 h 22 min | 10:21 pm PDT (05:21 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 43 kt | +40 kt | -30 °C | 80 kt | 25 h 26 min | 1:25 am PDT (08:25 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 44 kt | +42 kt | -37 °C | 78 kt | 26 h 05 min | 2:04 am PDT (09:04 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 39 kt | +38 kt | -47 °C | 82 kt | 24 h 49 min | 12:48 am PDT (07:48 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHS | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 280/21 | 270/23 12° | 280/28 11° | 260/35 6° | 250/41 -5° | 250/45 -16° | 230/59 -32° | 220/74 -40° | 230/67 -52° |
| CAE | used from 50 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 330/15 | 330/13 12° | 330/22 9° | 300/26 6° | 280/33 -7° | 270/38 -18° | 250/45 -33° | 240/46 -40° | 270/38 -49° |
| ATL | used from 150 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 320/30 | 330/37 16° | 340/44 11° | 330/35 7° | 310/33 -6° | 300/38 -18° | 330/58 -33° | 330/48 -40° | 320/34 -49° |
| HSV | used from 299 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 310/20 | 330/20 16° | 320/27 11° | 340/23 5° | 320/23 -7° | 340/30 -17° | 320/50 -33° | 330/61 -41° | 340/41 -50° |
| MEM | used from 449 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 230/19 | 260/16 15° | 270/17 12° | 300/13 6° | 300/15 -5° | 300/26 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/41 -40° | 310/46 -52° |
| LIT | used from 599 nm out; 89 nm from the line | 220/21 | 230/17 16° | 250/24 12° | 260/15 7° | 260/13 -5° | 280/25 -16° | 290/35 -30° | 300/42 -40° | 300/40 -52° |
| SGF | used from 649 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 230/33 | 230/28 15° | 250/20 13° | 240/18 7° | 250/20 -6° | 250/24 -17° | 280/42 -31° | 280/49 -40° | 290/46 -51° |
| TUL | used from 748 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 210/37 | 240/29 17° | 260/15 14° | 260/11 7° | 240/22 -6° | 250/29 -16° | 270/45 -29° | 270/47 -40° | 280/44 -50° |
| ICT | used from 848 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 200/48 | 230/39 19° | 240/24 14° | 240/20 8° | 240/22 -6° | 250/31 -18° | 250/61 -29° | 260/58 -38° | 270/54 -49° |
| GAG | used from 948 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 220/40 19° | 230/28 14° | 240/23 8° | 230/21 -6° | 240/31 -19° | 250/66 -29° | 260/58 -38° | 260/47 -49° | |
| GCK | used from 998 nm out; 33 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 1147 nm out; 61 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 1297 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 230/37 4° | 220/54 -9° | 230/62 -22° | 240/77 -26° | 240/74 -33° | 230/59 -45° | |||
| GJT | used from 1347 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 210/43 7° | 230/45 1° | 220/49 -12° | 220/62 -22° | 220/59 -28° | 230/60 -33° | 220/55 -45° | ||
| BCE | used from 1497 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° | |||
| ELY | used from 1646 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 200/39 3° | 210/27 -2° | 210/45 -15° | 220/56 -24° | 210/60 -28° | 210/63 -34° | 220/61 -43° | ||
| BIH | used from 1846 nm out; 86 nm from the line | L/V | 240/7 1° | 190/13 -3° | 200/26 -16° | 210/43 -26° | 220/54 -28° | 220/51 -35° | 220/47 -43° | |
| RNO | used from 1896 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 010/9 | 320/10 -2° | 210/23 -9° | 210/34 -19° | 220/36 -25° | 230/31 -29° | 230/41 -33° | 230/38 -42° | |
| SAC | used from 1996 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 110/6 | L/V 4° | 010/11 -2° | 350/11 -7° | 340/24 -16° | 360/44 -23° | 330/24 -30° | 270/21 -35° | 230/23 -43° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHS Charleston, SC | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 46 ft | 2:56 am EDT (06:56 UTC) |
| AHN Athens, GA | 180 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (270°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 812 ft | 06:51 UTC |
| LZU Lawrenceville, GA | 210 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (270°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,061 ft | 06:56 UTC |
| MKL Jackson, TN | 469 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 434 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| BBG Branson, MO | 688 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,302 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| ICT Wichita, KS | 898 nm out, 24 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,332 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| GCK Garden City, KS | 1058 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 20 knots, gusting to 32 | 10+ mi | none | 2,890 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| PUB Pueblo, CO | 1237 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,729 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| RIF Richfield, UT | 1586 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 12,000 feet | from the north (360°) at 2 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,318 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| MLF Milford, UT | 1636 nm out, 20 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 10,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 15 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 5,042 ft | 06:52 UTC |
| PVF Placerville, CA | 1996 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line | reported, no category | calm | 10+ mi | none | 2,585 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| SMF Sacramento, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 11,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 26 ft | 11:53 pm PDT (06:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,318 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, 7:22 pm PDT (02:22 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 CHS, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 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 CHS 6:50 pm EDT (22:50 UTC), at SMF 6:32 pm PDT (01:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm PDT (01:59 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
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, Sacramento International.