George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport to Northwest Arkansas Ntl Airport IAH → XNA
382 nautical miles (439 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 008°, about 005° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 47 min at the quickest height in today's winds (7,500 ft, a 17-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:47 pm CDT (04:47 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now IAH is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 8 knots; XNA is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 4 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: 2,786 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 IAH.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B39M at 27,000 ft, 2 nm south, 7:42 pm CDT (00:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. At the departure end, 2 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAH UA /OV IH340035/TM 0042/FL270/TP B39M/TB LT CHOP DURC/RM ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAH
- Where
- IH340035
- Time
- 00:42 UTC
- Height
- at 27,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- lt chop during the climb
- Remarks
- zhu
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 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 4 forecast points nearest it (HOU, CLL, SHV, FSM). 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 | 190° at 15 kt | −15 kt | 135 kt | 2 h 50 min | 11:50 pm CDT (04:50 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 210° at 16 kt | −15 kt | 135 kt | 2 h 50 min | 11:50 pm CDT (04:50 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 220° at 19 kt | −17 kt | 14 °C | 137 kt | 2 h 47 min | 11:47 pm CDT (04:47 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 20 kt | −16 kt | 11 °C | 136 kt | 2 h 49 min | 11:49 pm CDT (04:49 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 15 kt | −9 kt | 8 °C | 129 kt | 2 h 58 min | 11:58 pm CDT (04:58 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 250° at 15 kt | −6 kt | 4 °C | 126 kt | 3 h 02 min | 12:02 am CDT (05:02 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 260° at 16 kt | −4 kt | 1 °C | 124 kt | 3 h 05 min | 12:05 am CDT (05:05 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 270° at 17 kt | −2 kt | -3 °C | 122 kt | 3 h 08 min | 12:08 am CDT (05:08 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 17 kt | −2 kt | -4 °C | 122 kt | 3 h 08 min | 12:08 am CDT (05:08 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 19 kt | +1 kt | -15 °C | 119 kt | 3 h 13 min | 12:13 am CDT (05:13 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 32 kt | +8 kt | -30 °C | 112 kt | 3 h 25 min | 12:25 am CDT (05:25 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 33 kt | +10 kt | -40 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 28 min | 12:28 am CDT (05:28 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 36 kt | +17 kt | -52 °C | 103 kt | 3 h 43 min | 12:43 am CDT (05:43 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOU | used from 0 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 160/18 | 160/14 17° | 180/19 12° | 190/11 8° | 260/12 -4° | 260/14 -13° | 310/26 -30° | 310/30 -40° | 320/21 -52° |
| CLL | used from 49 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 160/18 | 190/18 16° | 200/19 12° | 220/14 7° | 260/18 -5° | 250/20 -13° | 290/29 -29° | 290/31 -40° | 300/22 -53° |
| SHV | used from 98 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 190/11 | 230/19 17° | 230/26 12° | 260/15 7° | 280/16 -4° | 300/17 -15° | 300/34 -30° | 300/31 -41° | 310/42 -52° |
| FSM | used from 245 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 200/18 | 210/19 15° | 230/22 13° | 250/18 7° | 270/20 -5° | 280/24 -16° | 280/35 -30° | 290/37 -40° | 300/40 -52° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IAH Houston, TX | departure | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 95 ft | 8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC) |
| CXO Houston, TX | 20 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 244 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| DKR Crockett, TX | 78 nm out, 14 nm west of the line | no report just now | 348 ft | ||||
| RFI Henderson, TX | 127 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots | 9 mi | none | 441 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| GGG Longview, TX | 147 nm out, 13 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 365 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| OSA Mount Pleasant, TX | 186 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,400 feet, overcast at 2,300 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 2,300 ft | 364 ft | 15:10 UTC |
| LBR Clarksville, TX | 215 nm out, 15 nm west of the line | no report just now | 440 ft | ||||
| MEZ Mena, AR | 284 nm out, 20 nm east of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,079 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| FSM Fort Smith, AR | 323 nm out, 6 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 469 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| FYV Fayetteville, AR | 362 nm out, 10 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,252 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| XNA Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers, AR | destination | VFR | from the south (190°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,288 ft | 8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,288 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At XNA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:47 pm CDT (04:47 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for XNA
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for IAH, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 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 IAH 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC), at XNA 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:11 pm CDT (00:11 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at XNA is before sunrise there (7:21 am CDT (12:21 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: George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport, Northwest Arkansas Ntl Airport.