Hector International to Abilene Regional FAR → ABI
881 nautical miles (1,014 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 190°, about 186° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 8 h 19 min at the quickest height in today's winds (18,000 ft, a 14-knot headwind), arriving about 4:07 am CDT (09:07 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now FAR is IFR, wind from the north (010°) at 15 knots; ABI is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 16 knots, gusting to 25. 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: 3 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 SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 49 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 4C: moderate icing up to 20,000 ft. Near the route, at the departure end.
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 FAR.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- C56X at 1,300 ft, 0 nm southwest, 6:17 pm CDT (23:17 UTC): overcast above 1,300 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
FAR UA /OV KFAR/TM 2317/FL013/TP C56X/SK OVC013
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAR
- Where
- over KFAR
- Time
- 23:17 UTC
- Height
- at 1,300 ft
- Aircraft
- C56X
- Sky
- overcast from 1,300 ft
- E170 at 6,000 ft, 0 nm southeast, 5:18 pm CDT (22:18 UTC): remarks: during the descent runway 36. At the departure end, 0 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
FAR UA /OV FAR/TM 2218/FL060/TP E170/SK TOP060-OVC014/RM DURD RWY 36
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAR
- Where
- over FAR
- Time
- 22:18 UTC
- Height
- at 6,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Sky
- TOP060-OVC014
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 36
- P28S at 1,500 ft, 50 nm west, 4:52 pm CDT (21:52 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 99 nm along the route, 50 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
ABR UA /OV ABR/TM 2152/FL015/TP P28S/SK BASE025-TOP033/TB NEG/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through ABR
- Where
- over ABR
- Time
- 21:52 UTC
- Height
- at 1,500 ft
- Aircraft
- P28S
- Sky
- BASE025-TOP033
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- BE20 at 14,000 ft, 22 nm east, 7:20 pm CDT (00:20 UTC): light turbulence. 158 nm along the route, 22 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
FSD UA /OV FSD340035/TM 0020/FL140/TP BE20/TB CONS LGT/ NEG 120
- Report
- a routine report filed through FSD
- Where
- 35 nm north (340°) of FSD
- Time
- 00:20 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Turbulence
- continuous light no at 12,000 ft
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 10 forecast points nearest it (AXN, ABR, FSD, ONL, GRI, SLN, ICT, GAG, SPS, ABI). 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 | 200° at 23 kt | +23 kt | 19 °C | 97 kt | 9 h 05 min | 4:53 am CDT (09:53 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 210° at 25 kt | +23 kt | 17 °C | 97 kt | 9 h 05 min | 4:53 am CDT (09:53 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | +18 kt | 14 °C | 102 kt | 8 h 38 min | 4:26 am CDT (09:26 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | +16 kt | 10 °C | 104 kt | 8 h 28 min | 4:16 am CDT (09:16 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | +15 kt | 6 °C | 105 kt | 8 h 23 min | 4:11 am CDT (09:11 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | +15 kt | 1 °C | 105 kt | 8 h 23 min | 4:11 am CDT (09:11 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | +15 kt | -4 °C | 105 kt | 8 h 23 min | 4:11 am CDT (09:11 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 27 kt | +14 kt | -7 °C | 106 kt | 8 h 19 min | 4:07 am CDT (09:07 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 31 kt | +16 kt | -18 °C | 104 kt | 8 h 28 min | 4:16 am CDT (09:16 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 43 kt | +21 kt | -31 °C | 99 kt | 8 h 54 min | 4:42 am CDT (09:42 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 49 kt | +21 kt | -41 °C | 99 kt | 8 h 54 min | 4:42 am CDT (09:42 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 55 kt | +16 kt | -51 °C | 104 kt | 8 h 28 min | 4:16 am CDT (09:16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AXN | used from 0 nm out; 74 nm from the line | L/V | 220/23 17° | 230/24 12° | 240/25 5° | 260/32 -11° | 260/40 -21° | 270/50 -35° | 270/57 -45° | 270/81 -55° |
| ABR | used from 49 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 030/24 | 220/5 16° | 230/18 12° | 230/32 5° | 240/38 -10° | 250/37 -20° | 240/40 -35° | 240/56 -44° | 250/72 -52° |
| FSD | used from 148 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 200/16 | 220/20 17° | 240/26 13° | 230/19 6° | 240/25 -9° | 240/28 -20° | 250/39 -33° | 250/44 -43° | 260/63 -52° |
| ONL | used from 247 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 200/20 17° | 230/26 14° | 240/21 7° | 250/27 -9° | 260/32 -19° | 240/44 -34° | 240/56 -41° | 250/62 -51° | |
| GRI | used from 297 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 210/31 19° | 240/21 14° | 240/17 6° | 260/27 -7° | 260/34 -18° | 240/45 -32° | 250/56 -40° | 260/62 -51° | |
| SLN | used from 445 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 190/37 | 220/39 20° | 240/31 14° | 250/24 7° | 260/25 -7° | 250/26 -17° | 250/44 -31° | 260/47 -40° | 260/47 -50° |
| ICT | used from 544 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 190/34 | 210/34 18° | 240/28 13° | 260/23 7° | 250/23 -6° | 240/29 -17° | 260/40 -30° | 260/47 -40° | 270/42 -51° |
| GAG | used from 594 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 190/34 19° | 240/27 14° | 240/26 8° | 240/24 -6° | 240/29 -16° | 250/50 -28° | 250/50 -39° | 260/46 -50° | |
| SPS | used from 742 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 180/26 | 200/25 16° | 220/19 13° | 220/20 9° | 230/26 -5° | 230/34 -15° | 260/37 -28° | 270/42 -39° | 280/40 -51° |
| ABI | used from 841 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 180/26 17° | 220/18 12° | 230/25 8° | 230/28 -5° | 240/29 -14° | 250/35 -28° | 270/37 -39° | 280/37 -51° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAR Fargo, ND | departure | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | from the north (010°) at 15 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 901 ft | 6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC) |
| BWP Wahpeton, ND | 40 nm out, 15 nm east of the line | VFR | from the north (360°) at 16 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 968 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| ATY Watertown, SD | 119 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 1,749 ft | 00:34 UTC |
| YKN Yankton, SD | 238 nm out, 16 nm east of the line | VFR | from the west-northwest (290°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,305 ft | 23:56 UTC |
| BVN Albion, NE | 317 nm out, 3 nm west of the line | VFR | calm | 7 mi | none | 1,806 ft | 00:35 UTC |
| GRI Grand Island, NE | 366 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,847 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| GBD Great Bend, KS | 525 nm out, 10 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 16 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,886 ft | 23:56 UTC |
| PTT Pratt, KS | 564 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,952 ft | 00:35 UTC |
| CSM Burns Flat, OK | 703 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 15 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 1,922 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| AXS Altus, OK | 742 nm out, 2 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 14 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 1,433 ft | 00:32 UTC |
| ABI Abilene, TX | destination | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 16 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 1,790 ft | 6:52 pm CDT (23:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,952 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ABI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:07 am CDT (09:07 UTC)
Wind from the south at 15 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for ABI
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 20 knots, gusting to 29, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Sun 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 12:00 am CDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
The forecast for FAR, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 14 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC) and 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): light rain showers
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 FAR 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC), at ABI 7:09 pm CDT (00:09 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:34 pm CDT (00:34 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ABI is before sunrise there (7:40 am CDT (12:40 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: Hector International, Abilene Regional.