Fairbanks International to Seattle-Tacoma International FAI → SEA
1,329 nautical miles (1,529 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 129°, about 114° magnetic at the departure end (variation 15E). At 120 knots that is 8 h 41 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 33-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:23 am PDT (14:23 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now FAI is IFR, wind from the south (190°) at 3 knots; SEA is VFR, wind from the east (090°) 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: 4,541 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 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 FAI.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- urgent B737 descending, 3 nm southwest, 7:53 pm AKDT (03:53 UTC): remarks: during the descent runway 8 low-level wind shear a 10-knot loss of airspeed jnut akfss. 540 nm along the route, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
JNU UUA /OV JNU /TM 0353 /FLUNKN /TP B737 /RM DURD RY8 LLWS +/-10KTS JNUT AKFSS
- Report
- an urgent report filed through JNU
- Where
- over JNU
- Time
- 03:53 UTC
- Height
- height not given
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 8 low-level wind shear a 10-knot loss of airspeed jnut akfss
- BE20 at 1,200 ft, 2 nm southwest, 7:42 pm AKDT (03:42 UTC): remarks: on final runway 20R ais 2SM fai atct akfss. At the departure end, 2 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
FAI UA /OV PAFA200002 /TM 0342 /FL012 /TP BE20 /RM ON FINAL RWY 20R AIS 2SM FAI ATCT AKFSS
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAI
- Where
- 2 nm south (200°) of PAFA
- Time
- 03:42 UTC
- Height
- at 1,200 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Remarks
- on final runway 20R ais 2SM fai atct akfss
- B737 descending, 3 nm southwest, 8:53 pm AKDT (04:53 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the descent runway 8 akfss. 540 nm along the route, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
JNU UA /OV JNU /TM 0453 /FLUNKN /TP B737 /TB LGT CHOP /RM DURD RY8 AKFSS
- Report
- a routine report filed through JNU
- Where
- over JNU
- Time
- 04:53 UTC
- Height
- height not given
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 8 akfss
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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 5 forecast points nearest it (FAI, ORT, YAK, JNU, ANN). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 200° at 13 kt | +7 kt | 113 kt | 11 h 46 min | 10:28 am PDT (17:28 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 230° at 17 kt | 0 | -4 °C | 120 kt | 11 h 04 min | 9:46 am PDT (16:46 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | −1 kt | -2 °C | 121 kt | 10 h 59 min | 9:41 am PDT (16:41 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | −1 kt | -5 °C | 121 kt | 10 h 59 min | 9:41 am PDT (16:41 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | −1 kt | -9 °C | 121 kt | 10 h 59 min | 9:41 am PDT (16:41 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 28 kt | −3 kt | -13 °C | 123 kt | 10 h 48 min | 9:30 am PDT (16:30 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 31 kt | −4 kt | -16 °C | 124 kt | 10 h 43 min | 9:25 am PDT (16:25 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 34 kt | −6 kt | -20 °C | 126 kt | 10 h 33 min | 9:15 am PDT (16:15 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 35 kt | −7 kt | -21 °C | 127 kt | 10 h 28 min | 9:10 am PDT (16:10 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 45 kt | −8 kt | -32 °C | 128 kt | 10 h 23 min | 9:05 am PDT (16:05 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 54 kt | −21 kt | -45 °C | 141 kt | 9 h 26 min | 8:08 am PDT (15:08 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 61 kt | −33 kt | -50 °C | 153 kt | 8 h 41 min | 7:23 am PDT (14:23 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 53 kt | −27 kt | -52 °C | 147 kt | 9 h 02 min | 7:44 am PDT (14:44 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAI | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 270/11 | 280/15 -5° | 270/15 -11° | 290/10 -18° | L/V -30° | 230/6 -43° | 300/15 -54° | 280/18 -53° | 240/26 -48° |
| ORT | used from 100 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 280/10 -4° | 260/14 -10° | 260/16 -17° | 220/15 -30° | 210/30 -44° | 240/41 -51° | 240/43 -49° | 240/45 -46° | |
| YAK | used from 300 nm out; 97 nm from the line | 210/8 | 240/15 -5° | 250/20 -11° | 250/25 -18° | 240/49 -27° | 240/60 -35° | 240/78 -45° | 240/74 -47° | 240/68 -46° |
| JNU | used from 450 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 180/24 | 230/31 0° | 230/32 -6° | 230/41 -12° | 240/62 -21° | 240/73 -32° | 240/94 -45° | 250/94 -50° | 250/78 -50° |
| ANN | used from 650 nm out; 96 nm from the line | 180/12 | 230/21 4° | 230/24 0° | 230/29 -4° | 250/35 -15° | 250/46 -27° | 270/51 -41° | 280/67 -51° | 280/54 -57° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAI Fairbanks, AK | departure | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,800 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet Weather: mist | from the south (190°) at 3 knots | 6 mi | 800 ft | 439 ft | 9:29 pm AKDT (05:29 UTC) |
| 6K8 Tok, AK | 160 nm out, 19 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 9,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 1,642 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| CYDB Burwash, | 320 nm out, 14 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 6 knots | 9 mi | none | 2,645 ft | 05:00 UTC |
| HNS Haines, AK | 480 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the east (080°) at 12 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 29 ft | 05:31 UTC |
| JNU Juneau, AK | 540 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,900 feet, overcast at 2,600 feet Weather: light rain | from the east-southeast (120°) at 14 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | 1,900 ft | 25 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| WRG Wrangell, AK | 670 nm out, 17 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,400 feet Weather: light rain | from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 knots | 9 mi | 3,400 ft | 44 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| CYXT Terrace, | 849 nm out, 19 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 7,500 feet | from the east (080°) at 2 knots | 20 mi | 7,500 ft | 713 ft | 05:00 UTC |
| CYBD Bella Coola, | 989 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 26,000 feet | calm | 12 mi | none | 117 ft | 01:00 UTC |
| CYPW Powell River, | 1159 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 3 knots | 20 mi | none | 425 ft | 02:00 UTC |
| CYYJ Victoria, | 1249 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (270°) at 7 knots | 30 mi | none | 64 ft | 05:00 UTC |
| SEA Seattle, WA | destination | VFR | from the east (090°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 432 ft | 9:53 pm PDT (04:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,645 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SEA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:23 am PDT (14:23 UTC)
Wind from the southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, patches of fog, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for SEA
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, patches of fog, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 am PDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for FAI, the departure
- From Sun 10:00 pm AKDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am AKDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the south at 2 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- At times between Mon 6:00 am AKDT (14:00 UTC) and 10:00 am AKDT (18:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 700 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 FAI 6:39 pm AKDT (02:39 UTC), at SEA 6:27 pm PDT (01:27 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm PDT (01:58 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SEA is before sunrise there (7:23 am PDT (14:23 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: Fairbanks International, Seattle-Tacoma International.





