Cavern City Air Trml Airport to Albuquerque International Sunport CNM → ABQ
200 nautical miles (230 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 325°, about 315° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10E). At 120 knots that is 1 h 26 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 19-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:36 pm MDT (01:36 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CNM is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 14 knots, gusting to 22; ABQ is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 14 knots, gusting to 26. 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: 994 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 W69W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 7:55 pm MDT (01:55 UTC). Near the route, 143 nm along the route.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 112355 MKCW WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 69W VALID UNTIL 0155Z TX NM AZ FROM 50ENE PGS-60SE ABQ-20ENE ELP-70SSW SSO-50SE BZA-50ENE PGS AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- SIGMET W68W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 36,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 7:55 pm MDT (01:55 UTC). Over the last 48 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 112355 MKCW WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 68W VALID UNTIL 0155Z CO NM AZ UT FROM 30W CHE-20NNW TBE-60SE ABQ-40N SJN-30SW MTU-30W CHE AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL360.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the last 105 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 95 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 CNM.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- CRJ7 at 10,000 ft, 43 nm northeast, 5:49 pm MDT (23:49 UTC): remarks: light turbulence, bases above 10,000 ft, vsby 3 miles continuously, during the descent rnav RY20 KSAF. At the destination end, 43 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
SAF UA /OV KSAF/TM 2349/FL100 /TP CRJ7/RM LIGHT TURBULENCE, BASES ABOVE 100, VSBY 3 MILES CONTINUOUSLY, DURD RNAV RY20 KSAF
- Report
- a routine report filed through SAF
- Where
- over KSAF
- Time
- 23:49 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Remarks
- light turbulence, bases above 10,000 ft, vsby 3 miles continuously, during the descent rnav RY20 KSAF
- HDJT at 18,000 ft, 25 nm west, 4:38 pm MDT (22:38 UTC): light rime icing from 16,000 ft to 17,500 ft, -9 °C, remarks: during the climb out of abq zab/fd. At the destination end, 25 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
ABQ UA /OV ABQ285015/TM 2238/FL180/TP HDJT/TA M09/IC LGT RIME 160-175/RM DURC OUT OF ABQ - ZAB/FD
- Report
- a routine report filed through ABQ
- Where
- 15 nm west (285°) of ABQ
- Time
- 22:38 UTC
- Height
- at 18,000 ft
- Aircraft
- HDJT
- Temperature
- −9 °C
- Icing
- light rime from 16,000 ft to 17,500 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb out of abq zab/fd
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 2 forecast points nearest it (ROW, ABQ). 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 | 180° at 23 kt | −19 kt | 139 kt | 1 h 26 min | 7:36 pm MDT (01:36 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 180° at 23 kt | −18 kt | 138 kt | 1 h 27 min | 7:37 pm MDT (01:37 UTC) | |
| 8,500 ft | 190° at 25 kt | −17 kt | 13 °C | 137 kt | 1 h 28 min | 7:38 pm MDT (01:38 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 200° at 26 kt | −14 kt | 10 °C | 134 kt | 1 h 30 min | 7:40 pm MDT (01:40 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 210° at 28 kt | −11 kt | 5 °C | 131 kt | 1 h 32 min | 7:42 pm MDT (01:42 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 31 kt | −9 kt | 1 °C | 129 kt | 1 h 33 min | 7:43 pm MDT (01:43 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 34 kt | −8 kt | -3 °C | 128 kt | 1 h 34 min | 7:44 pm MDT (01:44 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 37 kt | −7 kt | -6 °C | 127 kt | 1 h 34 min | 7:44 pm MDT (01:44 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 51 kt | +3 kt | -18 °C | 117 kt | 1 h 43 min | 7:53 pm MDT (01:53 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 67 kt | +3 kt | -27 °C | 117 kt | 1 h 43 min | 7:53 pm MDT (01:53 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 67 kt | +14 kt | -37 °C | 106 kt | 1 h 53 min | 8:03 pm MDT (02:03 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 59 kt | +20 kt | -49 °C | 100 kt | 2 h | 8:10 pm MDT (02:10 UTC) |
Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROW | used from 0 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 180/23 | 190/24 15° | 210/27 7° | 230/35 -6° | 240/53 -17° | 240/62 -27° | 250/64 -38° | 260/60 -50° | |
| ABQ | used from 143 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 200/28 13° | 210/28 5° | 210/44 -7° | 230/46 -20° | 230/80 -28° | 240/74 -35° | 240/58 -47° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNM Carlsbad, NM | departure | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 14 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 3,294 ft | 5:53 pm MDT (23:53 UTC) |
| ATS Artesia, NM | 29 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,544 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| ROW Roswell, NM | 57 nm out, 23 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 9,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,671 ft | 23:51 UTC |
| SRR Ruidoso, NM | 95 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,813 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| ABQ Albuquerque, NM | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,500 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 14 knots, gusting to 26 | 10+ mi | 9,500 ft | 5,354 ft | 5:52 pm MDT (23:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,813 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ABQ when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:36 pm MDT (01:36 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 22 knots, gusting to 35, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet VFR
At times between Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind variable at 25 knots, gusting to 40, light thunderstorms with rain, a broken layer at 6,000 feet (thunderheads) VFR
The whole forecast for ABQ
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 22 knots, gusting to 35, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- At times between Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind variable at 25 knots, gusting to 40, light thunderstorms with rain, a broken layer at 6,000 feet (thunderheads)
- From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
The forecast for CNM, the departure
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8722 ALAMOGORDO, NM, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local on the route, 105 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZAB
Daylight
Sunset at CNM 6:28 pm MDT (00:28 UTC), at ABQ 6:35 pm MDT (00:35 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm MDT (01:01 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ABQ is after sunset there (6:36 pm MDT (00:36 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: Cavern City Air Trml Airport, Albuquerque International Sunport.