Capital Region International to San Francisco International LAN → SFO
1,745 nautical miles (2,009 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 273°, about 278° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 16 h 09 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 12-knot headwind), arriving about 5:14 pm PDT (00:14 UTC). Right now LAN is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots; SFO 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 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist, fog). Over the first 0 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 190 to 708 nm out.
- 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 route from 638 to 788 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 42,000 ft. Over the route from 848 to 1207 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 858 to 1057 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 868 to 1366 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 967 to 1496 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 997 to 1516 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 997 to 1017 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 160 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 LAN.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 14 forecast points nearest it (MKG, JOT, DBQ, MCW, FSD, ONL, BFF, RKS, SLC, ELY, BAM, RNO, SAC, SFO). 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 16 kt | +12 kt | 20 °C | 108 kt | 16 h 09 min | 5:14 pm PDT (00:14 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 15 kt | +13 kt | 15 °C | 107 kt | 16 h 19 min | 5:24 pm PDT (00:24 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 18 kt | +15 kt | 9 °C | 105 kt | 16 h 37 min | 5:42 pm PDT (00:42 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 19 kt | +16 kt | 4 °C | 104 kt | 16 h 47 min | 5:52 pm PDT (00:52 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 20 kt | +17 kt | 1 °C | 103 kt | 16 h 57 min | 6:02 pm PDT (01:02 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | +19 kt | -4 °C | 101 kt | 17 h 17 min | 6:22 pm PDT (01:22 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 23 kt | +21 kt | -8 °C | 99 kt | 17 h 38 min | 6:43 pm PDT (01:43 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 24 kt | +22 kt | -11 °C | 98 kt | 17 h 48 min | 6:53 pm PDT (01:53 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 29 kt | +27 kt | -22 °C | 93 kt | 18 h 46 min | 7:51 pm PDT (02:51 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 36 kt | +35 kt | -32 °C | 85 kt | 20 h 32 min | 9:37 pm PDT (04:37 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 44 kt | +45 kt | -38 °C | 75 kt | 23 h 16 min | 12:21 am PDT (07:21 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 49 kt | +51 kt | -46 °C | 69 kt | 25 h 17 min | 2:22 am PDT (09:22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKG | used from 0 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 260/22 | 290/16 15° | 300/11 10° | 290/5 3° | 300/26 -9° | 300/32 -20° | 320/48 -36° | 320/61 -45° | 310/74 -53° |
| JOT | used from 150 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 250/23 | 270/22 15° | 250/16 10° | 240/9 4° | 280/22 -7° | 280/29 -19° | 300/29 -34° | 290/50 -43° | 300/64 -52° |
| DBQ | used from 199 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 230/33 | 250/30 16° | 280/15 9° | 260/15 5° | 260/21 -7° | 260/24 -20° | 250/37 -33° | 270/42 -43° | 280/63 -52° |
| MCW | used from 349 nm out; 27 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/30 17° | 230/14 12° | 240/17 6° | 250/22 -8° | 270/29 -20° | 250/34 -34° | 260/52 -43° | 260/59 -51° |
| FSD | used from 449 nm out; 84 nm from the line | 190/9 | 230/30 18° | 240/23 13° | 240/20 6° | 260/22 -9° | 250/31 -21° | 250/43 -36° | 260/49 -43° | 270/53 -47° |
| ONL | used from 549 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 210/31 20° | 230/27 13° | 230/18 7° | 220/19 -8° | 240/26 -20° | 250/44 -35° | 270/52 -39° | 260/57 -47° | |
| BFF | used from 748 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 180/28 | 220/33 15° | 210/31 7° | 230/32 -9° | 220/41 -21° | 220/40 -33° | 240/47 -36° | 250/54 -46° | |
| RKS | used from 948 nm out; 120 nm from the line | 200/41 | 220/44 1° | 220/35 -11° | 220/46 -24° | 210/53 -27° | 220/62 -35° | 230/61 -44° | ||
| SLC | used from 1147 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 200/5 | 230/8 2° | 220/20 -2° | 210/40 -12° | 190/53 -25° | 210/62 -30° | 220/69 -34° | 220/64 -43° | |
| ELY | used from 1297 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 200/39 3° | 210/27 -2° | 210/45 -15° | 220/56 -24° | 210/60 -28° | 210/63 -34° | 220/61 -43° | ||
| BAM | used from 1446 nm out; 83 nm from the line | 310/7 0° | 270/19 -7° | 200/38 -17° | 190/49 -28° | 220/69 -29° | 220/63 -33° | 230/48 -41° | ||
| RNO | used from 1496 nm out; 92 nm from the line | 010/9 | 320/10 -2° | 210/23 -9° | 210/34 -19° | 220/36 -25° | 230/31 -29° | 230/41 -33° | 230/38 -42° | |
| SAC | used from 1646 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 110/6 | L/V 4° | 010/11 -2° | 350/11 -7° | 340/24 -16° | 360/44 -23° | 330/24 -30° | 270/21 -35° | 230/23 -43° |
| SFO | used from 1696 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 120/13 | 090/14 5° | 040/14 -1° | 350/17 -5° | 360/42 -14° | 360/64 -23° | 350/38 -32° | 300/19 -37° | 250/18 -44° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAN Lansing, MI | departure | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 8 mi | none | 860 ft | 3:53 am EDT (07:53 UTC) |
| GRR Grand Rapids, MI | 40 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots | 5 mi | none | 793 ft | 08:01 UTC |
| ALO Waterloo, IA | 349 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 873 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| SUX Sioux City, IA | 519 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,098 ft | 07:52 UTC |
| ONL O'Neill, NE | 618 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 300 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 4 knots | 7 mi | 300 ft | 2,033 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| BFF Scottsbluff, NE | 848 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the north (010°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,967 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| SAA Saratoga, WY | 987 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | reported, no category | from the south (170°) at 19 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | none | 7,014 ft | 07:50 UTC |
| HCR Heber, UT | 1207 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,200 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 4,200 ft | 5,636 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| PVU Provo, UT | 1227 nm out, 14 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,500 feet, overcast at 12,000 feet | from the east (090°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 4,496 ft | 07:56 UTC |
| GAB Gabbs, NV | 1526 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | no report just now | 4,699 ft | ||||
| SCK Stockton, CA | 1686 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 9,500 feet | from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 9,500 ft | 32 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| SFO San Francisco, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 13 ft | 12:56 am PDT (07:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,014 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SFO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:14 pm PDT (00:14 UTC)
Wind from the west at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for SFO
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for LAN, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC) and 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, mist
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet
- From Tue 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet
- 30% chance between Tue 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC) and 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light thunderstorms with rain, mist, overcast at 3,500 feet (thunderheads)
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 LAN 7:01 pm EDT (23:01 UTC), at SFO 6:35 pm PDT (01:35 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm PDT (02:01 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: Capital Region International, San Francisco International.