Los Angeles International to Rickenbacker International LAX → LCK
1,728 nautical miles (1,989 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 068°, about 056° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 11 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 68-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:20 pm EDT (21:20 UTC). Right now LAX is VFR, wind from the north (360°) at 5 knots; LCK is marginal 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: 8 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 370 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 230 to 400 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 250 to 350 nm out.
- 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 310 to 759 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 490 to 709 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 649 to 719 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 route from 889 to 1339 nm out.
- 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 last 170 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
Not fetched just now.
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 14 forecast points nearest it (ONT, LAS, PRC, FMN, ALS, PUB, GCK, SLN, MKC, COU, SPI, IND, CVG, CMH). 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 | 250° at 27 kt | −27 kt | 147 kt | 11 h 45 min | 7:54 pm EDT (23:54 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 250° at 23 kt | −23 kt | 16 °C | 143 kt | 12 h 05 min | 8:14 pm EDT (00:14 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | −22 kt | 11 °C | 142 kt | 12 h 10 min | 8:19 pm EDT (00:19 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | −21 kt | 8 °C | 141 kt | 12 h 15 min | 8:24 pm EDT (00:24 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | −23 kt | 4 °C | 143 kt | 12 h 05 min | 8:14 pm EDT (00:14 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | −26 kt | 0 °C | 146 kt | 11 h 50 min | 7:59 pm EDT (23:59 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 31 kt | −30 kt | -4 °C | 150 kt | 11 h 31 min | 7:40 pm EDT (23:40 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 34 kt | −33 kt | -8 °C | 153 kt | 11 h 18 min | 7:27 pm EDT (23:27 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 35 kt | −34 kt | -9 °C | 154 kt | 11 h 13 min | 7:22 pm EDT (23:22 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 46 kt | −45 kt | -20 °C | 165 kt | 10 h 28 min | 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 62 kt | −63 kt | -30 °C | 183 kt | 9 h 27 min | 5:36 pm EDT (21:36 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 65 kt | −68 kt | -38 °C | 188 kt | 9 h 11 min | 5:20 pm EDT (21:20 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 58 kt | −62 kt | -48 °C | 182 kt | 9 h 30 min | 5:39 pm EDT (21:39 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 150 nm out; 65 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 250 nm out; 67 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 400 nm out; 101 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 599 nm out; 22 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 699 nm out; 37 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 799 nm out; 70 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 949 nm out; 68 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 1099 nm out; 63 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 1249 nm out; 40 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° |
| SPI | used from 1349 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 260/28 | 250/22 15° | 250/14 9° | 260/20 6° | 280/27 -7° | 280/34 -19° | 280/48 -32° | 280/59 -41° | 300/60 -49° |
| IND | used from 1499 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 270/22 | 290/19 15° | 270/19 8° | 270/18 4° | 290/28 -7° | 280/35 -20° | 270/37 -34° | 300/51 -42° | 300/61 -51° |
| CVG | used from 1598 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 300/19 | 310/23 15° | 320/20 9° | 310/18 3° | 300/26 -6° | 290/36 -19° | 310/32 -34° | 310/53 -43° | 310/61 -51° |
| CMH | used from 1698 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 320/12 | 340/26 15° | 340/22 9° | 320/24 3° | 320/32 -7° | 320/36 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/59 -44° | 320/57 -50° |
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, 1 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 | 200 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet, scattered clouds at 4,300 feet, overcast at 7,500 feet Weather: light rain | from the southeast (140°) at 8 knots | 7 mi | 7,500 ft | 707 ft | 11:50 UTC |
| FMN Farmington, NM | 529 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the east-northeast (070°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,506 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| LAA Lamar, CO | 799 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,705 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| GCK Garden City, KS | 889 nm out, 24 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 20 knots, gusting to 31 | 10+ mi | none | 2,890 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| TOP Topeka, KS | 1139 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 881 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| MBY Moberly, MO | 1289 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 9 knots, gusting to 15 | 10+ mi | none | 866 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| DEC Decatur, IL | 1459 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 681 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| IND Indianapolis, IN | 1568 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 23,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 23,000 ft | 796 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| LCK Columbus, OH | destination | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 743 ft | 7:55 am EDT (11:55 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,506 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At LCK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:20 pm EDT (21:20 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for LCK
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
- At times between Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC) and 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered 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 14 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · ZLA
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, 200 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
- 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 14 nm from the route, 1299 nm along the route · 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 LCK 6:57 pm EDT (22:57 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 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: Los Angeles International, Rickenbacker International.