The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Mon 12:14 am CDT (05:14 UTC)

Dallas Love Field to Sacramento International DAL → SMF

1,251 nautical miles (1,440 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 293°, about 290° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 10 h 42 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 3-knot headwind), arriving about 8:56 am PDT (15:56 UTC). Right now DAL is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots; SMF is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 7 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: 1,311 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 7C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 1:55 am CDT (06:55 UTC). Over the route from 347 to 506 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS32 KKCI 120455
    MKCC WST 120455
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 7C
    VALID UNTIL 0655Z
    TX OK CO NM
    FROM 40NNW PUB-70WSW LBL-40NE CME-40ESE RSK-30ENE HBU-40NNW PUB
    AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
  • SIGMET W14W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 28,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 1:55 am CDT (06:55 UTC). Over the route from 1042 to 1102 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 120455
    MKCW WST 120455
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 14W
    VALID UNTIL 0655Z
    NV
    FROM 40NW BVL-20WNW ELY-20SSE OAL-40WNW OAL-50NE BAM-40NW BVL
    AREA TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL280.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 387 to 1003 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 407 to 725 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 685 to 1042 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 735 to 794 nm out.
  • AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 774 to 963 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 784 nm along the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 69 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 DAL.

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

  • PC12 at 17,000 ft, 11 nm southwest, 11:52 pm CDT (04:52 UTC): moderate turbulence, moderate rime icing, -15 °C, remarks: entered by zoa fdcs. 1062 nm along the route, 11 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    TPH UA /OV OAL/TM 0452/FL 170/TP PC12/TA M15/TB MOD/IC MOD RIME/RM ENTERED BY ZOA FDCS AWC-WEB
    Report
    a routine report filed through TPH
    Where
    over OAL
    Time
    04:52 UTC
    Height
    at 17,000 ft
    Aircraft
    PC12
    Temperature
    −15 °C
    Turbulence
    moderate
    Icing
    moderate rime
    Remarks
    entered by zoa fdcs
  • B738 at 36,000 ft, 32 nm south, 10:11 pm CDT (03:11 UTC): -40 °C, wind 245° at 69 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. 417 nm along the route, 32 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    SXU UA /OV ACH146017 /TM 0311 /FL360 /TP B738 /TA M40 /WV 24569KT /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
    Report
    a routine report filed through SXU
    Where
    17 nm southeast (146°) of ACH
    Time
    03:11 UTC
    Height
    at 36,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B738
    Temperature
    −40 °C
    Wind
    from 245° at 69 knots
    Remarks
    produced by skypath
  • PC12 at 16,400 ft, 48 nm north, 10:15 pm CDT (03:15 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 16,000 ft, clear from 16,400 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-36. 606 nm along the route, 48 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    DRO UA /OV DRO230013/TM 0315/FL164/TP PC12/SK SKC/TB CONS LGT CHOP BLO 160/RM DURC ZDVWC-36
    Report
    a routine report filed through DRO
    Where
    13 nm southwest (230°) of DRO
    Time
    03:15 UTC
    Height
    at 16,400 ft
    Aircraft
    PC12
    Sky
    clear
    Turbulence
    continuous light chop below 16,000 ft
    Remarks
    during the climb ZDVWC-36

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 13 forecast points nearest it (DAL, SPS, LBB, AMA, TCC, ABQ, FMN, BCE, LAS, ELY, BIH, RNO, SAC). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
4,500 ft210° at 22 kt+3 kt14 °C117 kt10 h 42 min8:56 am PDT (15:56 UTC)
6,500 ft220° at 20 kt+5 kt13 °C115 kt10 h 53 min9:07 am PDT (16:07 UTC)
8,500 ft220° at 21 kt+9 kt10 °C111 kt11 h 16 min9:30 am PDT (16:30 UTC)
10,500 ft220° at 23 kt+10 kt4 °C110 kt11 h 22 min9:36 am PDT (16:36 UTC)
12,500 ft220° at 24 kt+10 kt1 °C110 kt11 h 22 min9:36 am PDT (16:36 UTC)
14,500 ft220° at 27 kt+11 kt-3 °C109 kt11 h 29 min9:43 am PDT (16:43 UTC)
16,500 ft220° at 30 kt+11 kt-7 °C109 kt11 h 29 min9:43 am PDT (16:43 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180220° at 32 kt+12 kt-10 °C108 kt11 h 35 min9:49 am PDT (16:49 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240230° at 42 kt+21 kt-20 °C99 kt12 h 38 min10:52 am PDT (17:52 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300230° at 56 kt+35 kt-28 °C85 kt14 h 43 min12:57 pm PDT (19:57 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340240° at 56 kt+38 kt-36 °C82 kt15 h 15 min1:29 pm PDT (20:29 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390240° at 47 kt+32 kt-46 °C88 kt14 h 13 min12:27 pm PDT (19:27 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
DALused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line190/29220/23 17°220/17 13°250/18 8°230/18 -5°240/18 -15°270/34 -29°280/33 -39°300/36 -51°
SPSused from 50 nm out; 42 nm from the line200/39220/28 17°230/27 12°240/15 9°250/15 -4°250/24 -15°260/45 -28°270/43 -39°280/45 -51°
LBBused from 199 nm out; 54 nm from the line200/36 18°220/19 15°240/20 8°230/24 -4°240/37 -16°250/57 -28°250/51 -38°270/47 -50°
AMAused from 248 nm out; 42 nm from the line210/38230/29 14°240/29 7°220/27 -5°240/37 -18°240/66 -28°250/59 -37°260/47 -49°
TCCused from 298 nm out; 42 nm from the line210/42230/33 14°230/32 6°220/35 -6°230/49 -19°240/72 -27°250/62 -36°250/52 -48°
ABQused from 447 nm out; 56 nm from the line220/27 11°210/35 5°220/46 -9°230/62 -20°240/78 -25°240/80 -35°240/56 -47°
FMNused from 546 nm out; 45 nm from the line220/28 9°220/40 2°220/53 -10°220/62 -22°230/79 -28°240/91 -34°230/71 -45°
BCEused from 695 nm out; 89 nm from the line220/27 -1°210/40 -13°220/54 -21°220/64 -30°220/64 -34°220/52 -44°
LASused from 894 nm out; 97 nm from the line210/21 10°200/18 5°200/23 -2°210/49 -14°210/63 -21°220/58 -30°220/61 -35°210/56 -44°
ELYused from 943 nm out; 97 nm from the line200/39 3°210/27 -2°210/45 -15°220/56 -24°210/60 -28°210/63 -34°220/61 -43°
BIHused from 993 nm out; 87 nm from the lineL/V240/7 1°190/13 -3°200/26 -16°210/43 -26°220/54 -28°220/51 -35°220/47 -43°
RNOused from 1142 nm out; 62 nm from the line010/9320/10 -2°210/23 -9°210/34 -19°220/36 -25°230/31 -29°230/41 -33°230/38 -42°
SACused from 1191 nm out; 30 nm from the line110/6L/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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
DAL Dallas, TX departure VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots 10+ mi none 486 ft 11:53 pm CDT (04:53 UTC)
AFW Fort Worth, TX 30 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower VFR from the south-southeast (160°) at 12 knots, gusting to 20 10+ mi none 723 ft 04:53 UTC
CDS Childress, TX 199 nm out, 23 nm northeast of the line VFR from the south (190°) at 17 knots, gusting to 26 10+ mi none 1,953 ft 04:53 UTC
TCC Tucumcari, NM 367 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line VFR from the west-southwest (240°) at 20 knots, gusting to 34 10+ mi none 4,064 ft 04:53 UTC
SAF Santa Fe, NM 486 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots 10+ mi none 6,348 ft 04:53 UTC
PGA Page, AZ 755 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line VFR calm 10+ mi none 4,316 ft 04:53 UTC
TPH Tonopah, NV 1033 nm out, 3 nm west of the line marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,400 feet, overcast at 6,500 feet from the southeast (140°) at 6 knots 10+ mi 2,400 ft 5,430 ft 05:04 UTC
MHR Sacramento, CA 1231 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line, tower VFR from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots 10+ mi none 98 ft 03:15 UTC
SMF Sacramento, CA destination VFR from the south (190°) at 7 knots 10+ mi none 26 ft 9:53 pm PDT (04:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,348 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, 8:56 am PDT (15:56 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for SMF
  • From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • 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
The forecast for DAL, the departure
  • From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet

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

  • 9/2934 DALLAS, TX 2 nm from the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · ZFW
  • 6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 9 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Thursday 15 October · ZFW
  • 6/3475 BEALE AFB, CA, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 17 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 1 November · ZOA

Daylight

Sunset at DAL 6:58 pm CDT (23:58 UTC), at SMF 6:32 pm PDT (01:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm PDT (01:59 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 southern Plains
Radar now, the southern Plains · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the southern Rockies
Radar now, the southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the Pacific Southwest
Radar now, the Pacific Southwest · 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: Dallas Love Field, Sacramento International.