Plan a flight · Mon 5:55 am PDT (12:55 UTC)

Los Angeles International to Columbia Regional LAX → COU

1,295 nautical miles (1,490 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 069°, about 057° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 41 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 74-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:36 pm CDT (19:36 UTC). Right now LAX is VFR, wind from the north (360°) at 5 knots; COU is VFR, wind from the south (170°) 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: 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 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 80 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 40 to 359 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 229 to 388 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 239 to 349 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). Near the route, 309 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 309 to 747 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 498 to 697 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 647 to 717 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 last 418 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 LAX.

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

urgent B763 at 2,000 ft, 25 nm north, 4:57 am PDT (11:57 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 1135 nm along the route, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FOE UUA /OV 130003/TM 1157/FL020/TP B763/WV LLWS
```
Report
an urgent report filed through FOE
Where
wind from 130° at 3 knots
Time
11:57 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
B763
Wind
low-level wind shear
A333 descending, 8 nm south, 4:05 am PDT (11:05 UTC): overcast from 1,500 ft to 7,000 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 26R. At the departure end, 8 nm south 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
B763 at 2,800 ft, 11 nm south, 5:05 am PDT (12:05 UTC): overcast from 1,500 ft to 6,000 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 26R. At the departure end, 11 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ONT UA /OV ONT080006/TM 1205/FL028/TP B763/SK OVC015-TOP060/RM DURD RY26R
```
Report
a routine report filed through ONT
Where
6 nm east (080°) of ONT
Time
12:05 UTC
Height
at 2,800 ft
Aircraft
B763
Sky
overcast from 1,500 ft, tops 6,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent runway 26R
CRJ7 at 28,000 ft, 18 nm south, 4:25 am PDT (11:25 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: zkc fd dl. 946 nm along the route, 18 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DDC UA /OV DDC090024/TM 1125/FL280/TP CRJ7/TB LGT/RM ZKC FD DL
```
Report
a routine report filed through DDC
Where
24 nm east (090°) of DDC
Time
11:25 UTC
Height
at 28,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Turbulence
light
Remarks
zkc fd dl
PC12 at 22,000 ft, 43 nm north, 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): light rime icing, -9 °C, remarks: no icing at FL200 zkcfdc xj. 1085 nm along the route, 43 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MHK UA /OV MHK/TM 1200/FL220/TP PC12/TA M09/IC LGT RIME/RM NEG ICING AT FL200 /ZKCFDC XJ
```
Report
a routine report filed through MHK
Where
over MHK
Time
12:00 UTC
Height
at 22,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Temperature
−9 °C
Icing
light rime
Remarks
no icing at FL200 zkcfdc xj

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 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 10 forecast points nearest it (ONT, LAS, PRC, FMN, ALS, PUB, GCK, SLN, MKC, COU). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
5,500 ft	230° at 28 kt	−26 kt	16 °C	146 kt	8 h 52 min	4:47 pm CDT (21:47 UTC)
7,500 ft	230° at 26 kt	−23 kt	11 °C	143 kt	9 h 03 min	4:58 pm CDT (21:58 UTC)
9,500 ft	220° at 27 kt	−23 kt	8 °C	143 kt	9 h 03 min	4:58 pm CDT (21:58 UTC)
11,500 ft	220° at 29 kt	−25 kt	4 °C	145 kt	8 h 56 min	4:51 pm CDT (21:51 UTC)
13,500 ft	230° at 33 kt	−28 kt	0 °C	148 kt	8 h 45 min	4:40 pm CDT (21:40 UTC)
15,500 ft	230° at 37 kt	−32 kt	-4 °C	152 kt	8 h 31 min	4:26 pm CDT (21:26 UTC)
17,500 ft	230° at 40 kt	−36 kt	-9 °C	156 kt	8 h 18 min	4:13 pm CDT (21:13 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 41 kt	−37 kt	-10 °C	157 kt	8 h 15 min	4:10 pm CDT (21:10 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 53 kt	−48 kt	-20 °C	168 kt	7 h 42 min	3:37 pm CDT (20:37 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 73 kt	−71 kt	-29 °C	191 kt	6 h 47 min	2:42 pm CDT (19:42 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 75 kt	−74 kt	-36 °C	194 kt	6 h 41 min	2:36 pm CDT (19:36 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 66 kt	−66 kt	-47 °C	186 kt	6 h 58 min	2:53 pm CDT (19:53 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

Point	From	3,000	6,000	9,000	12,000	18,000	24,000	30,000	34,000	39,000
ONT	used from 0 nm out; 17 nm from the line	250/11	200/20 4°	210/27 3°	220/26 -4°	240/32 -13°	220/52 -21°	220/67 -30°	220/72 -37°	220/65 -46°
LAS	used from 149 nm out; 70 nm from the line		210/20 8°	210/29 4°	200/32 -3°	200/51 -15°	210/64 -21°	220/70 -30°	220/66 -38°	220/55 -44°
PRC	used from 249 nm out; 60 nm from the line			200/37 6°	200/35 0°	220/60 -11°	220/71 -20°	220/88 -29°	220/98 -35°	220/94 -45°
FMN	used from 398 nm out; 103 nm from the line			220/16 6°	220/39 1°	220/50 -10°	230/67 -23°	230/94 -29°	230/102 -35°	230/90 -46°
ALS	used from 598 nm out; 31 nm from the line				240/35 3°	230/54 -9°	240/66 -19°	230/85 -26°	240/87 -34°	240/70 -47°
PUB	used from 697 nm out; 56 nm from the line			260/45 11°	240/38 6°	230/47 -8°	230/51 -19°	240/74 -29°	240/82 -35°	250/72 -48°
GCK	used from 797 nm out; 69 nm from the line		240/40 22°	240/40 14°	240/38 7°	230/39 -7°	230/45 -20°	250/73 -28°	260/74 -36°	260/64 -49°
SLN	used from 946 nm out; 76 nm from the line	230/49	240/41 22°	230/26 15°	220/21 7°	240/38 -8°	240/44 -21°	260/77 -29°	270/70 -36°	270/63 -48°
MKC	used from 1095 nm out; 72 nm from the line	240/49	240/21 20°	220/19 13°	230/21 6°	260/26 -7°	250/37 -19°	270/66 -31°	270/65 -38°	280/60 -48°
COU	used from 1245 nm out; 25 nm from the line	250/36	260/14 16°	250/5 12°	260/12 6°	260/24 -7°	260/35 -19°	280/58 -31°	280/62 -40°	290/60 -49°

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
LAX Los Angeles, CA	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,800 feet, scattered clouds at 2,200 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet	from the north (360°) at 5 knots	9 mi	3,500 ft	127 ft	4:53 am PDT (11:53 UTC)
EMT El Monte, CA	20 nm out, 2 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,400 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet	from the south (170°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	5,500 ft	295 ft	02:45 UTC
IFP Bullhead City, AZ	199 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,400 feet, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, overcast at 7,500 feet Weather: light rain	from the south-southeast (150°) at 9 knots	7 mi	7,500 ft	707 ft	12:35 UTC
GCN Grand Canyon, AZ	329 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 4,100 feet Weather: mist	from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots	2.5 mi	4,100 ft	6,608 ft	12:45 UTC
FMN Farmington, NM	528 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the east-northeast (070°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	5,506 ft	11:53 UTC
TAD Trinidad, CO	717 nm out, 6 nm south of the line	VFR	from the west-southwest (250°) at 20 knots, gusting to 27	10+ mi	none	5,761 ft	11:54 UTC
GCK Garden City, KS	886 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 20 knots, gusting to 31	10+ mi	none	2,890 ft	11:54 UTC
HUT Hutchinson, KS	1026 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 10 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	none	1,542 ft	12:52 UTC
FOE Topeka, KS	1135 nm out, 25 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	1,077 ft	11:53 UTC
IXD Olathe, KS	1175 nm out, 14 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	1,087 ft	11:53 UTC
COU Columbia, MO	destination	VFR	from the south (170°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	889 ft	6:54 am CDT (11:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,608 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At COU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:36 pm CDT (19:36 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for COU

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet

The forecast for LAX, the departure

From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
At times between Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC) and 9:00 am PDT (16:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain showers
From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds 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, clear skies
From Tue 1:00 am PDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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

4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 13 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · ZLA
6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, 199 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 19 nm from the route, at the destination end · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC

Daylight

Sunset at LAX 6:22 pm PDT (01:22 UTC), at COU 6:35 pm CDT (23:35 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm CDT (00:01 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

Radar now, the Pacific Southwest · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Plains · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: Los Angeles International, Columbia Regional.