Indianapolis International to Tucson International IND → TUS
1,277 nautical miles (1,470 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 257°, about 262° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 13 h 02 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 22-knot headwind), arriving about 12:43 pm MST (19:43 UTC). Right now IND is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 4 knots; TUS 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: 7 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 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 50 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: 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 319 to 738 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Near the route, 908 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 908 to 1108 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 IND.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- PC12 at 14,000 ft, 23 nm southeast, 2:06 am EDT (06:06 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: zab fdcs. 908 nm along the route, 23 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVN UA /OV TXO260060/TM 0606/FL140/TP PC12/TB MOD/RM ZAB FDCS
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVN
- Where
- 60 nm west (260°) of TXO
- Time
- 06:06 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- zab fdcs
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 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 12 forecast points nearest it (IND, SPI, STL, COU, SGF, ICT, GAG, AMA, TCC, ABQ, ELP, TUS). 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 | 220° at 28 kt | +26 kt | 16 °C | 94 kt | 13 h 35 min | 1:16 pm MST (20:16 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | +25 kt | 15 °C | 95 kt | 13 h 27 min | 1:08 pm MST (20:08 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | +23 kt | 12 °C | 97 kt | 13 h 10 min | 12:51 pm MST (19:51 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | +22 kt | 9 °C | 98 kt | 13 h 02 min | 12:43 pm MST (19:43 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | +22 kt | 5 °C | 98 kt | 13 h 02 min | 12:43 pm MST (19:43 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | +24 kt | 1 °C | 96 kt | 13 h 18 min | 12:59 pm MST (19:59 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | +27 kt | -3 °C | 93 kt | 13 h 44 min | 1:25 pm MST (20:25 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 28 kt | +28 kt | -7 °C | 92 kt | 13 h 53 min | 1:34 pm MST (20:34 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 37 kt | +37 kt | -18 °C | 83 kt | 15 h 23 min | 3:04 pm MST (22:04 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 54 kt | +55 kt | -29 °C | 65 kt | 19 h 39 min | 7:20 pm MST (02:20 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 56 kt | +56 kt | -38 °C | 64 kt | 19 h 57 min | 7:38 pm MST (02:38 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 50 kt | +49 kt | -49 °C | 71 kt | 17 h 59 min | 5:40 pm MST (00:40 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IND | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 290/16 | 310/20 16° | 320/21 10° | 330/13 3° | 300/25 -7° | 320/32 -19° | 330/46 -34° | 320/61 -43° | 320/63 -50° |
| SPI | used from 100 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 220/21 | 250/23 16° | 260/27 9° | 270/14 6° | 270/23 -7° | 270/31 -19° | 270/28 -33° | 290/48 -42° | 300/55 -52° |
| STL | used from 150 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 250/24 | 250/24 16° | 260/23 9° | 270/16 6° | 260/25 -6° | 270/29 -19° | 290/34 -33° | 290/48 -41° | 290/54 -51° |
| COU | used from 249 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 230/31 | 230/30 15° | 260/16 11° | 270/14 6° | 260/24 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 270/37 -32° | 280/49 -41° | 290/56 -51° |
| SGF | used from 349 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 230/33 | 230/28 15° | 250/20 13° | 240/18 7° | 250/20 -6° | 250/24 -17° | 280/42 -31° | 280/49 -40° | 290/46 -51° |
| ICT | used from 449 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 200/48 | 230/39 19° | 240/24 14° | 240/20 8° | 240/22 -6° | 250/31 -18° | 250/61 -29° | 260/58 -38° | 270/54 -49° |
| GAG | used from 599 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 220/40 19° | 230/28 14° | 240/23 8° | 230/21 -6° | 240/31 -19° | 250/66 -29° | 260/58 -38° | 260/47 -49° | |
| AMA | used from 748 nm out; 30 nm from the line | 210/38 | 230/29 14° | 240/29 7° | 220/27 -5° | 240/37 -18° | 240/66 -28° | 250/59 -37° | 260/47 -49° | |
| TCC | used from 798 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 210/42 | 230/33 14° | 230/32 6° | 220/35 -6° | 230/49 -19° | 240/72 -27° | 250/62 -36° | 250/52 -48° | |
| ABQ | used from 948 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 220/27 11° | 210/35 5° | 220/46 -9° | 230/62 -20° | 240/78 -25° | 240/80 -35° | 240/56 -47° | ||
| ELP | used from 1098 nm out; 129 nm from the line | 290/17 | 210/11 13° | 200/18 5° | 220/46 -6° | 230/64 -14° | 230/63 -27° | 240/55 -37° | 240/44 -48° | |
| TUS | used from 1148 nm out; 105 nm from the line | 210/13 13° | 200/35 9° | 210/40 5° | 220/50 -7° | 220/59 -18° | 230/79 -26° | 230/84 -35° | 230/84 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IND Indianapolis, IN | departure | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 4 knots | 8 mi | none | 796 ft | 1:54 am EDT (05:54 UTC) |
| HUF Terre Haute, IN | 50 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | none | 589 ft | 06:34 UTC |
| ALN Alton/St Louis, IL | 180 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 543 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| JEF Jefferson City, MO | 279 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 549 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| CNU Chanute, KS | 449 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,002 ft | 05:52 UTC |
| AVK Alva, OK | 609 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 15 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,476 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| WWR Woodward, OK | 659 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 14 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 2,189 ft | 06:10 UTC |
| TCC Tucumcari, NM | 868 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,500 feet, a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 4,064 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| SXU Santa Rosa, NM | 918 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,791 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| ONM Socorro, NM | 1048 nm out, 11 nm north of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 4,875 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| CFT Clifton/Morenci, AZ | 1177 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | no report just now | 3,797 ft | ||||
| TUS Tucson, AZ | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 2,643 ft | 10:53 pm MST (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,875 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At TUS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:43 pm MST (19:43 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for TUS
- From Sun 11:00 pm MST (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 8,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am MST (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MST (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm MST (03:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet
The forecast for IND, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 1 mile, mist, shallow fog, overcast at 200 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, shallow fog, a few clouds at 200 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8722 ALAMOGORDO, NM, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local on the route, 998 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZAB
Daylight
Sunset at IND 7:10 pm EDT (23:10 UTC), at TUS 5:55 pm MST (00:55 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:19 pm MST (01:19 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: Indianapolis International, Tucson International.