Great Falls International to Albuquerque International Sunport GTF → ABQ
777 nautical miles (894 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 162°, about 149° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 45 min at the quickest height in today's winds (7,500 ft, a 5-knot headwind), arriving about 11:48 am MDT (17:48 UTC). Right now GTF is IFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 5 knots; ABQ is VFR, wind calm. 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 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 219 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 130 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 10 to 588 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 149 to 528 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the last 418 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 408 to 478 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 428 to 538 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 498 to 747 nm out.
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 GTF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A359 at 38,000 ft, 23 nm east, 4:13 am MDT (10:13 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-37. 588 nm along the route, 23 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
GUC UA /OV HBU185015/TM 1013/FL380/TP A359/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-37
- Report
- a routine report filed through GUC
- Where
- 15 nm south (185°) of HBU
- Time
- 10:13 UTC
- Height
- at 38,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A359
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-37
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 7 forecast points nearest it (GTF, BIL, LND, RKS, GJT, FMN, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7,500 ft | 230° at 13 kt | +5 kt | 6 °C | 115 kt | 6 h 45 min | 11:48 am MDT (17:48 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 16 kt | +6 kt | 2 °C | 114 kt | 6 h 49 min | 11:52 am MDT (17:52 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | +9 kt | 0 °C | 111 kt | 7 h | 12:03 pm MDT (18:03 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | +13 kt | -4 °C | 107 kt | 7 h 16 min | 12:19 pm MDT (18:19 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 37 kt | +18 kt | -8 °C | 102 kt | 7 h 37 min | 12:40 pm MDT (18:40 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 42 kt | +22 kt | -11 °C | 98 kt | 7 h 56 min | 12:59 pm MDT (18:59 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 43 kt | +23 kt | -12 °C | 97 kt | 8 h 01 min | 1:04 pm MDT (19:04 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 55 kt | +24 kt | -23 °C | 96 kt | 8 h 06 min | 1:09 pm MDT (19:09 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 66 kt | +33 kt | -32 °C | 87 kt | 8 h 56 min | 1:59 pm MDT (19:59 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 71 kt | +36 kt | -36 °C | 84 kt | 9 h 15 min | 2:18 pm MDT (20:18 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 69 kt | +33 kt | -45 °C | 87 kt | 8 h 56 min | 1:59 pm MDT (19:59 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GTF | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | L/V | L/V -7° | 240/8 -8° | 240/30 -14° | 240/40 -28° | 210/52 -38° | 210/76 -38° | 220/72 -43° | |
| BIL | used from 100 nm out; 83 nm from the line | 300/14 | 270/19 -2° | 260/26 -2° | 220/28 -13° | 210/51 -25° | 220/56 -33° | 220/61 -39° | 220/72 -45° | |
| LND | used from 199 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 240/10 3° | 240/30 0° | 220/42 -13° | 230/52 -23° | 220/54 -33° | 220/52 -36° | 220/53 -44° | ||
| RKS | used from 349 nm out; 10 nm from the line | 250/9 | 230/21 -1° | 210/43 -14° | 220/59 -23° | 220/55 -32° | 220/53 -35° | 220/48 -44° | ||
| GJT | used from 448 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 220/26 6° | 230/39 0° | 220/55 -13° | 230/60 -23° | 230/78 -31° | 230/80 -35° | 230/74 -44° | ||
| FMN | used from 598 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 220/16 6° | 220/39 1° | 220/50 -10° | 230/67 -23° | 230/94 -29° | 230/102 -35° | 230/90 -46° | ||
| ABQ | used from 697 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 220/19 9° | 220/35 3° | 230/50 -8° | 240/64 -19° | 230/83 -26° | 230/85 -36° | 230/80 -48° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GTF Great Falls, MT | departure | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light snow, mist | from the northwest (320°) at 5 knots | 2 mi | 500 ft | 3,680 ft | 4:53 am MDT (10:53 UTC) |
| BZN Bozeman, MT | 100 nm out, 22 nm west of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet, scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 2,400 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 2,400 ft | 4,473 ft | 10:56 UTC |
| DUB Dubois, WY | 249 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,900 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 8 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | none | 7,298 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| RKS Rock Springs, WY | 369 nm out, 8 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 4,200 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 4,200 ft | 6,764 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| GJT Grand Junction, CO | 518 nm out, 25 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 7,500 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 15 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 4,861 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| MTJ Montrose, CO | 558 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 10,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,758 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| PSO Pagosa Springs, CO | 638 nm out, 14 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,100 feet, a few clouds at 3,700 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 7,663 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| ABQ Albuquerque, NM | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 5,354 ft | 4:52 am MDT (10:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,663 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, 11:48 am MDT (17:48 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ABQ
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 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 10,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
The forecast for GTF, the departure
- From Mon 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet
- At times between Mon 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC) and 7:00 am MDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 1½ miles, light snow, overcast at 300 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 1,000 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 GTF 6:41 pm MDT (00:41 UTC), at ABQ 6:34 pm MDT (00:34 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm MDT (00:59 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
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: Great Falls International, Albuquerque International Sunport.