The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Mon 6:29 am CDT (11:29 UTC)

William P Hobby Airport to Los Angeles International HOU → LAX

1,205 nautical miles (1,387 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 288°, about 285° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 10 h 18 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 3-knot headwind), arriving about 2:47 pm PDT (21:47 UTC). Right now HOU is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 6 knots; LAX is marginal VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) 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: 2,408 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

  • AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 787 to 857 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 1046 to 1156 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 90 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 HOU.

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

  • A320 at 21,000 ft, 41 nm south, 5:45 am CDT (10:45 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 100 nm along the route, 41 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    SAT UA /OV SAT090060/TM 1045/FL210/TP A320/TB OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZHU
    Report
    a routine report filed through SAT
    Where
    60 nm east (090°) of SAT
    Time
    10:45 UTC
    Height
    at 21,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A320
    Turbulence
    occasional moderate chop
    Remarks
    zhu
  • SF30 at 21,000 ft, 17 nm north, 4:35 am CDT (09:35 UTC): light rime icing, -10 °C, remarks: zhu. At the departure end, 17 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    IAH UA /OV DAS02002/TM 0935/FL210/TP SF30/TA M10/IC LGT RIME/RM ZHU
    Report
    a routine report filed through IAH
    Where
    DAS02002
    Time
    09:35 UTC
    Height
    at 21,000 ft
    Aircraft
    SF30
    Temperature
    −10 °C
    Icing
    light rime
    Remarks
    zhu
  • B737 at 38,000 ft, 23 nm north, 6:05 am CDT (11:05 UTC): light chop turbulence, wind 306° at 27 knots. 219 nm along the route, 23 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    BWD UA /OV SJT094066/TM 1105/FL380/TP B737/WV 306027KT/TB LGT CHOP CONS/RM AWC-WEB
    Report
    a routine report filed through BWD
    Where
    66 nm east (094°) of SJT
    Time
    11:05 UTC
    Height
    at 38,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B737
    Wind
    from 306° at 27 knots
    Turbulence
    light chop continuous
    Remarks
  • A333 descending, 11 nm north, 6:05 am CDT (11:05 UTC): overcast from 1,500 ft to 7,000 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 26R. At the destination end, 11 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    ONT UA /OV ONT080/TM 1105/FLUNKN/TP A333/SK OVC015 - TOP070/RM DURD RY26R
    Report
    a routine report filed through ONT
    Where
    ONT080
    Time
    11:05 UTC
    Height
    height not given
    Aircraft
    A333
    Sky
    overcast from 1,500 ft, tops 7,000 ft
    Remarks
    during the descent runway 26R
  • B744 at 1,700 ft, 0 nm east, 4:24 am CDT (09:24 UTC): a few clouds above 1,700 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 25L lax. At the destination end, 0 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    LAX UA /OV KLAX/TM 0924/FL017/TP B744/SK FEW017/RM DURD RY25L LAX
    Report
    a routine report filed through LAX
    Where
    over KLAX
    Time
    09:24 UTC
    Height
    at 1,700 ft
    Aircraft
    B744
    Sky
    a few clouds from 1,700 ft
    Remarks
    during the descent runway 25L lax

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 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 (HOU, CLL, SAT, ABI, INK, ELP, TUS, PHX, BLH, ONT). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
4,500 ft210° at 14 kt+3 kt18 °C117 kt10 h 18 min2:47 pm PDT (21:47 UTC)
6,500 ft200° at 16 kt+3 kt14 °C117 kt10 h 18 min2:47 pm PDT (21:47 UTC)
8,500 ft200° at 19 kt+4 kt10 °C116 kt10 h 23 min2:52 pm PDT (21:52 UTC)
10,500 ft210° at 22 kt+6 kt7 °C114 kt10 h 34 min3:03 pm PDT (22:03 UTC)
12,500 ft210° at 25 kt+9 kt3 °C111 kt10 h 51 min3:20 pm PDT (22:20 UTC)
14,500 ft220° at 29 kt+13 kt-1 °C107 kt11 h 16 min3:45 pm PDT (22:45 UTC)
16,500 ft220° at 34 kt+18 kt-4 °C102 kt11 h 49 min4:18 pm PDT (23:18 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180230° at 38 kt+21 kt-7 °C99 kt12 h 10 min4:39 pm PDT (23:39 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240230° at 47 kt+28 kt-16 °C92 kt13 h 06 min5:35 pm PDT (00:35 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300230° at 53 kt+30 kt-28 °C90 kt13 h 23 min5:52 pm PDT (00:52 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340230° at 52 kt+35 kt-38 °C85 kt14 h 11 min6:40 pm PDT (01:40 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390230° at 46 kt+32 kt-49 °C88 kt13 h 42 min6:11 pm PDT (01:11 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
HOUused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line180/22180/20 16°170/7 15°L/V 8°220/11 -6°260/15 -13°310/20 -30°320/20 -40°350/32 -51°
CLLused from 50 nm out; 37 nm from the line180/24170/21 19°180/10 14°230/7 8°230/16 -6°260/20 -13°290/23 -29°320/21 -39°340/35 -51°
SATused from 149 nm out; 59 nm from the line160/18180/22 17°190/16 14°210/16 9°220/16 -5°200/11 -14°250/8 -29°330/8 -40°020/26 -51°
ABIused from 249 nm out; 92 nm from the line200/30 19°220/12 16°220/11 9°230/15 -5°250/26 -15°250/39 -28°270/36 -38°280/30 -51°
INKused from 299 nm out; 105 nm from the line220/17 21°230/12 14°210/13 7°220/29 -5°240/41 -14°230/43 -28°250/41 -38°250/33 -51°
ELPused from 498 nm out; 69 nm from the line300/8210/14 12°210/28 6°230/47 -6°230/56 -14°220/58 -27°230/60 -38°230/56 -50°
TUSused from 697 nm out; 111 nm from the line200/12 13°200/34 7°210/41 4°230/53 -7°220/69 -19°220/84 -27°220/88 -36°220/83 -48°
PHXused from 847 nm out; 18 nm from the line190/15210/25 12°200/34 4°200/34 2°220/58 -9°220/75 -19°220/91 -28°220/100 -35°220/95 -47°
BLHused from 946 nm out; 49 nm from the line240/19210/20 10°200/27 4°210/34 -2°220/59 -10°220/67 -20°220/75 -29°230/78 -38°220/90 -47°
ONTused from 1096 nm out; 47 nm from the line250/11200/20 4°210/27 3°220/26 -4°240/32 -13°220/52 -21°220/67 -30°220/72 -37°220/65 -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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
HOU Houston, TX departure VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,300 feet, overcast at 23,000 feet from the southeast (130°) at 6 knots 10+ mi 23,000 ft 46 ft 5:53 am CDT (10:53 UTC)
TME Houston, TX 30 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,500 feet calm 10+ mi 2,500 ft 165 ft 07:35 UTC
AUS Austin, TX 130 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,700 feet, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet from the east (090°) at 3 knots 9 mi none 541 ft 10:53 UTC
SJT San Angelo, TX 289 nm out, 19 nm north of the line, tower VFR from the south (170°) at 7 knots 10+ mi none 1,918 ft 10:51 UTC
INK Wink, TX 428 nm out, 8 nm north of the line reported, no category from the southeast (140°) at 15 knots 10,000 ft 2,821 ft 10:53 UTC
SVC Silver City, NM 687 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,000 feet from the west (280°) at 6 knots 10+ mi 7,000 ft 5,445 ft 11:15 UTC
SAD Safford, AZ 757 nm out, 4 nm west of the line VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 feet calm 10+ mi none 3,178 ft 10:51 UTC
CHD Chandler, AZ 877 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower VFR Sky: a few clouds at 9,000 feet from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots 10+ mi none 1,243 ft 11:15 UTC
BLH Blythe, CA 1016 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots 10+ mi 7,000 ft 399 ft 10:52 UTC
FUL Fullerton, CA 1186 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 600 feet, a broken layer at 1,900 feet, overcast at 2,600 feet Weather: light rain, mist from the northwest (320°) at 3 knots 3 mi 1,900 ft 96 ft 10:59 UTC
LAX Los Angeles, CA destination marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,800 feet, a broken layer at 2,200 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet from the northwest (320°) at 6 knots 7 mi 2,200 ft 127 ft 3:53 am PDT (10:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 5,445 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At LAX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:47 pm PDT (21:47 UTC)

Wind from the west-southwest at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet VFR

The whole forecast for LAX
  • From Mon 1:00 am PDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain, overcast at 2,500 feet
  • From Mon 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
  • At times between Mon 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC) and 7:00 am PDT (14:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain, overcast at 2,500 feet
  • From Mon 10:00 am PDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
  • From Mon 6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
The forecast for HOU, the departure
  • From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 13 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
  • 30% chance between Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC) and 3:00 pm CDT (20:00 UTC): light rain showers
  • From Mon 3:00 pm CDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
  • From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet

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

  • 6/4240 SAN ANGELO, TX, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 12 nm from the route, 279 nm along the route · security · until 1 November · ZFW
  • 4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 5 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZLA

Daylight

Sunset at HOU 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC), at LAX 6:22 pm PDT (01:22 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:47 pm PDT (01:47 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: William P Hobby Airport, Los Angeles International.