The Eastern Iowa Airport to Sacramento Mather Airport CID → MHR
1,364 nautical miles (1,570 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 271°, about 269° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2E). At 120 knots that is 12 h 31 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 11-knot headwind), arriving about 12:32 pm PDT (19:32 UTC). Right now CID is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 6 knots; MHR is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 6 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 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 first 508 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 349 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 488 to 886 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 538 to 1055 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 607 to 777 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 667 to 1155 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 707 to 1185 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 707 to 777 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 CID.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B38M at 21,500 ft, 45 nm south, 11:33 pm CDT (04:33 UTC): light turbulence up to 25,000 ft, remarks: during the descent flati star ZDVWC-13. 637 nm along the route, 45 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN305065/TM 0433/FL215/TP B38M/TB LGT BLO 250/RM DURD FLATI STAR. ZDVWC-13
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 65 nm northwest (305°) of DEN
- Time
- 04:33 UTC
- Height
- at 21,500 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- light below 25,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent flati star ZDVWC-13
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 10 forecast points nearest it (DSM, OMA, ONL, BFF, RKS, 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 | 210° at 19 kt | +11 kt | 20 °C | 109 kt | 12 h 31 min | 12:32 pm PDT (19:32 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 220° at 17 kt | +12 kt | 17 °C | 108 kt | 12 h 38 min | 12:39 pm PDT (19:39 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 21 kt | +15 kt | 9 °C | 105 kt | 12 h 59 min | 1:00 pm PDT (20:00 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 22 kt | +17 kt | 4 °C | 103 kt | 13 h 15 min | 1:16 pm PDT (20:16 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 25 kt | +19 kt | 0 °C | 101 kt | 13 h 30 min | 1:31 pm PDT (20:31 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | +21 kt | -4 °C | 99 kt | 13 h 47 min | 1:48 pm PDT (20:48 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 29 kt | +23 kt | -8 °C | 97 kt | 14 h 04 min | 2:05 pm PDT (21:05 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 31 kt | +25 kt | -12 °C | 95 kt | 14 h 21 min | 2:22 pm PDT (21:22 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 37 kt | +29 kt | -23 °C | 91 kt | 14 h 59 min | 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 45 kt | +37 kt | -31 °C | 83 kt | 16 h 26 min | 4:27 pm PDT (23:27 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 52 kt | +48 kt | -36 °C | 72 kt | 18 h 57 min | 6:58 pm PDT (01:58 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 53 kt | +51 kt | -45 °C | 69 kt | 19 h 46 min | 7:47 pm PDT (02:47 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSM | used from 0 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 230/40 | 250/33 17° | 250/18 12° | 240/17 5° | 260/28 -8° | 270/34 -19° | 260/41 -33° | 260/55 -41° | 270/62 -51° |
| OMA | used from 149 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 220/47 | 240/33 19° | 250/18 11° | 230/17 6° | 260/29 -8° | 250/33 -19° | 250/51 -33° | 260/61 -40° | 270/62 -49° |
| ONL | used from 249 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 210/31 20° | 230/27 13° | 230/18 7° | 220/19 -8° | 240/26 -20° | 250/44 -35° | 270/52 -39° | 260/57 -47° | |
| BFF | used from 398 nm out; 110 nm from the line | 180/28 | 220/33 15° | 210/31 7° | 230/32 -9° | 220/41 -21° | 220/40 -33° | 240/47 -36° | 250/54 -46° | |
| RKS | used from 647 nm out; 111 nm from the line | 200/41 | 220/44 1° | 220/35 -11° | 220/46 -24° | 210/53 -27° | 220/62 -35° | 230/61 -44° | ||
| SLC | used from 846 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 200/5 | 230/8 2° | 220/20 -2° | 210/40 -12° | 190/53 -25° | 210/62 -30° | 220/69 -34° | 220/64 -43° | |
| ELY | used from 996 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° | ||
| BAM | used from 1095 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 310/7 0° | 270/19 -7° | 200/38 -17° | 190/49 -28° | 220/69 -29° | 220/63 -33° | 230/48 -41° | ||
| RNO | used from 1195 nm out; 68 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 1344 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CID Cedar Rapids, IA | departure | VFR | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 869 ft | 9:52 pm CDT (02:52 UTC) |
| DSM Des Moines, IA | 90 nm out, 22 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 21,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 957 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| TQE Tekamah, NE | 199 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,026 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| BUB Burwell, NE | 329 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | no report just now | 2,183 ft | ||||
| OKS Oshkosh, NE | 478 nm out, 12 nm south of the line | no report just now | 3,394 ft | ||||
| CYS Cheyenne, WY | 587 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 21 knots, gusting to 31 | 10+ mi | none | 6,159 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| DWX Dixon, WY | 707 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 11,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 13 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | none | 6,548 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| PVU Provo, UT | 906 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 4,900 feet | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 4,900 ft | 4,496 ft | 06:56 UTC |
| TMT Austin, NV | 1165 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 5,735 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| PVF Placerville, CA | 1334 nm out, 3 nm west of the line | reported, no category | calm | 10+ mi | none | 2,585 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| MHR Sacramento, CA | destination | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 98 ft | 11:15 pm PDT (06:15 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,548 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MHR when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:32 pm PDT (19:32 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MHR
- 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 6:00 am PDT (13:00 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 CID, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at CID 6:30 pm CDT (23:30 UTC), at MHR 6:30 pm PDT (01:30 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:56 pm PDT (01:56 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: The Eastern Iowa Airport, Sacramento Mather Airport.