Homer Airport to Valdez Pioneer Field HOM → VDZ
179 nautical miles (206 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 058°, about 041° magnetic at the departure end (variation 17E). At 120 knots that is 1 h 05 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 44-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:40 pm AKDT (04:40 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now HOM is marginal VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots; VDZ 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: 2 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
No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.
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 HOM.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- C208 climbing, 42 nm northwest, 5:00 pm AKDT (01:00 UTC): light chop turbulence. 30 nm along the route, 42 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ENA UA /OV 5S ENA/TM 0100/FLDURC/TP C208/TB LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through ENA
- Where
- 5S ena
- Time
- 01:00 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- C208
- Turbulence
- light chop
- C208 at 2,000 ft, 45 nm northwest, 4:55 pm AKDT (00:55 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, a broken layer above 2,000 ft, remarks: during the climb zan. 40 nm along the route, 45 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ENA UA /OV ENA/TM 0055/FL020/TP C208/SK BKN020/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURC /ZAN/
- Report
- a routine report filed through ENA
- Where
- over ENA
- Time
- 00:55 UTC
- Height
- at 2,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C208
- Sky
- a broken layer from 2,000 ft
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the climb zan
- MU2 at 7,000 ft, 44 nm northwest, 5:16 pm AKDT (01:16 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the climb. 70 nm along the route, 44 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ANC UA /OV TED190020/TM 0116/FL070/TP MU2/SK BASES 040 TOPS 050 CLR ABV/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ANC
- Where
- 20 nm south (190°) of TED
- Time
- 01:16 UTC
- Height
- at 7,000 ft
- Aircraft
- MU2
- Sky
- bases 4,000 ft tops 5,000 ft clear above
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the climb
- B738 at 9,000 ft, 45 nm northwest, 5:22 pm AKDT (01:22 UTC): light turbulence from 5,000 ft to 8,500 ft, light rime icing from 5,000 ft to 8,500 ft, -5 °C, remarks: icing and turbulence in clouds during climb clear above. 80 nm along the route, 45 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ANC UA /OV TED150010/TM 0122/FL090/TP B738/SK BASES 050 TOPS 085/TA M05/TB LGT 050-085/IC LGT RIME 050-085/RM ICING AND TURBULENCE IN CLOUDS DURING CLIMB. CLEAR ABOVE
- Report
- a routine report filed through ANC
- Where
- 10 nm southeast (150°) of TED
- Time
- 01:22 UTC
- Height
- at 9,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- bases 5,000 ft tops 8,500 ft
- Temperature
- −5 °C
- Turbulence
- light from 5,000 ft to 8,500 ft
- Icing
- light rime from 5,000 ft to 8,500 ft
- Remarks
- icing and turbulence in clouds during climb clear above
- B747 at 9,000 ft, 45 nm northwest, 6:26 pm AKDT (02:26 UTC): light rime icing up to 9,000 ft, remarks: during the descent witti arrival. 90 nm along the route, 45 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ANC UA /OV TED120010/TM 0226/FL090/TP B747/IC LGT RIM BLO 090/RM DURD WITTI ARR
- Report
- a routine report filed through ANC
- Where
- 10 nm southeast (120°) of TED
- Time
- 02:26 UTC
- Height
- at 9,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B747
- Icing
- light rim below 9,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent witti arrival
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 3 forecast points nearest it (HOM, ANC, GKN). 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 | 210° at 9 kt | −7 kt | 127 kt | 1 h 25 min | 9:00 pm AKDT (05:00 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 220° at 10 kt | −9 kt | 129 kt | 1 h 23 min | 8:58 pm AKDT (04:58 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 220° at 9 kt | −8 kt | -8 °C | 128 kt | 1 h 24 min | 8:59 pm AKDT (04:59 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 8 kt | −7 kt | -13 °C | 127 kt | 1 h 25 min | 9:00 pm AKDT (05:00 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 7 kt | −7 kt | -17 °C | 127 kt | 1 h 25 min | 9:00 pm AKDT (05:00 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 7 kt | −7 kt | -21 °C | 127 kt | 1 h 25 min | 9:00 pm AKDT (05:00 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 7 kt | −7 kt | -26 °C | 127 kt | 1 h 25 min | 9:00 pm AKDT (05:00 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 7 kt | −7 kt | -30 °C | 127 kt | 1 h 25 min | 9:00 pm AKDT (05:00 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 7 kt | −7 kt | -31 °C | 127 kt | 1 h 25 min | 9:00 pm AKDT (05:00 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 10 kt | −10 kt | -41 °C | 130 kt | 1 h 23 min | 8:58 pm AKDT (04:58 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 19 kt | −19 kt | -51 °C | 139 kt | 1 h 17 min | 8:52 pm AKDT (04:52 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 34 kt | −34 kt | -49 °C | 154 kt | 1 h 10 min | 8:45 pm AKDT (04:45 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 44 kt | −44 kt | -46 °C | 164 kt | 1 h 05 min | 8:40 pm AKDT (04:40 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOM | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 210/14 | 230/14 -5° | 230/10 -12° | 240/5 -18° | L/V -31° | 200/9 -42° | 240/31 -47° | 240/39 -48° | 240/48 -47° |
| ANC | used from 50 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 200/5 | 220/9 -5° | 210/8 -12° | 210/7 -18° | 220/8 -31° | 240/9 -41° | 210/12 -52° | 240/30 -49° | 240/42 -46° |
| GKN | used from 149 nm out; 77 nm from the line | 190/14 | 190/9 -5° | 210/6 -11° | 220/11 -18° | 240/17 -31° | 260/18 -42° | 240/25 -53° | 230/38 -49° | 240/42 -46° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOM Homer, AK | departure | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,400 feet, overcast at 2,800 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 2,800 ft | 84 ft | 6:53 pm AKDT (02:53 UTC) |
| SWD Seward, AK | 70 nm out, 8 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,800 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 3,800 ft | 27 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| IEM Whittier, AK | 109 nm out, 16 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 39 ft | ||||
| 7KA Tatitlek, AK | 159 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 61 ft | ||||
| VDZ Valdez, AK | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet, a few clouds at 4,800 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 128 ft | 6:56 pm AKDT (02:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 128 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At VDZ when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:40 pm AKDT (04:40 UTC)
Wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain, overcast at 2,500 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for VDZ
- From Sun 4:00 pm AKDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain, a few clouds at 1,000 feet, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet and more above
- From Sun 6:00 pm AKDT (02:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am AKDT (13:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm AKDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a few clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
The forecast for HOM, the departure
- From Sun 4:00 pm AKDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet
- From Sun 7:00 pm AKDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 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 HOM 7:06 pm AKDT (03:06 UTC), at VDZ 6:42 pm AKDT (02:42 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:25 pm AKDT (03:25 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at VDZ is after sunset there (6:45 pm AKDT (02:45 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: Homer Airport, Valdez Pioneer Field.