Los Angeles International to Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field LAX → MSN
1,463 nautical miles (1,684 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 059°, about 047° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 8 h 16 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 57-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:25 am CDT (09:25 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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: 81 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 6E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 10 to 60 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 20 to 169 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 100 to 448 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 100 to 846 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 179 to 767 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 179 to 657 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 259 to 338 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 458 to 508 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 468 to 637 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 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 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 12 forecast points nearest it (ONT, LAS, BCE, FMN, GJT, DEN, GLD, GRI, OMA, DSM, MCW, DBQ). 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 | 210° at 26 kt | −21 kt | 14 °C | 141 kt | 10 h 23 min | 6:32 am CDT (11:32 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 220° at 26 kt | −23 kt | 12 °C | 143 kt | 10 h 14 min | 6:23 am CDT (11:23 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 25 kt | −23 kt | 10 °C | 143 kt | 10 h 14 min | 6:23 am CDT (11:23 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | −25 kt | 5 °C | 145 kt | 10 h 05 min | 6:14 am CDT (11:14 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | −27 kt | 1 °C | 147 kt | 9 h 57 min | 6:06 am CDT (11:06 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 30 kt | −29 kt | -4 °C | 149 kt | 9 h 49 min | 5:58 am CDT (10:58 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 33 kt | −32 kt | -8 °C | 152 kt | 9 h 38 min | 5:47 am CDT (10:47 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 34 kt | −33 kt | -9 °C | 153 kt | 9 h 34 min | 5:43 am CDT (10:43 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 38 kt | −37 kt | -20 °C | 157 kt | 9 h 19 min | 5:28 am CDT (10:28 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 44 kt | −45 kt | -30 °C | 165 kt | 8 h 52 min | 5:01 am CDT (10:01 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 50 kt | −52 kt | -38 °C | 172 kt | 8 h 30 min | 4:39 am CDT (09:39 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 55 kt | −57 kt | -48 °C | 177 kt | 8 h 16 min | 4:25 am CDT (09:25 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ONT | used from 0 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 230/11 | 200/17 6° | 230/27 4° | 230/32 -2° | 210/39 -12° | 220/51 -20° | 220/48 -29° | 210/51 -34° | 210/52 -44° |
| LAS | used from 100 nm out; 84 nm from the line | 200/25 11° | 230/22 5° | 240/25 -1° | 220/37 -12° | 220/44 -21° | 210/52 -27° | 210/60 -34° | 220/58 -44° | |
| BCE | used from 299 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 210/47 0° | 200/50 -12° | 220/31 -23° | 220/56 -26° | 220/58 -35° | 230/58 -45° | |||
| FMN | used from 448 nm out; 96 nm from the line | 220/25 13° | 220/28 4° | 210/51 -9° | 220/59 -21° | 230/78 -30° | 230/77 -36° | 230/66 -46° | ||
| GJT | used from 498 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 210/40 11° | 210/46 3° | 210/61 -10° | 210/68 -22° | 220/57 -29° | 230/59 -36° | 240/66 -46° | ||
| DEN | used from 647 nm out; 78 nm from the line | 190/31 16° | 210/32 7° | 240/41 -8° | 230/47 -21° | 240/56 -32° | 250/65 -37° | 250/61 -47° | ||
| GLD | used from 796 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 190/29 | 200/30 15° | 240/23 8° | 250/39 -7° | 230/39 -19° | 230/57 -31° | 240/67 -39° | 250/62 -49° | |
| GRI | used from 946 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 210/31 19° | 240/21 14° | 240/17 6° | 260/27 -7° | 260/34 -18° | 240/45 -32° | 250/56 -40° | 260/62 -51° | |
| OMA | used from 1095 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 190/34 | 230/34 19° | 250/25 12° | 250/18 6° | 250/22 -7° | 250/28 -19° | 260/34 -32° | 260/39 -41° | 280/56 -51° |
| DSM | used from 1195 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 200/32 | 240/27 17° | 260/19 10° | 260/16 5° | 260/19 -7° | 240/22 -19° | 270/20 -32° | 270/38 -42° | 290/58 -53° |
| MCW | used from 1244 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 200/35 | 240/33 18° | 250/20 10° | 260/10 6° | 270/18 -8° | 260/28 -19° | 280/30 -34° | 290/49 -43° | 280/70 -54° |
| DBQ | used from 1344 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 220/23 | 240/22 16° | 240/24 10° | 260/18 5° | 270/16 -8° | 290/27 -19° | 310/42 -35° | 320/55 -44° | 300/71 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAX Los Angeles, CA | departure | no report just now | 127 ft | ||||
| EMT El Monte, CA | 20 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 295 ft | ||||
| BVU Boulder City, NV | 209 nm out, 18 nm north of the line | no report just now | 2,203 ft | ||||
| PGA Page, AZ | 388 nm out, 8 nm south of the line | no report just now | 4,316 ft | ||||
| AIB Nucla, CO | 538 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 5,945 ft | ||||
| GUC Gunnison, CO | 617 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 7,679 ft | ||||
| APA Denver, CO | 737 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,884 ft | ||||
| CZD Cozad, NE | 966 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | no report just now | 2,503 ft | ||||
| GRI Grand Island, NE | 1045 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,847 ft | ||||
| IFA Iowa Falls, IA | 1284 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,137 ft | ||||
| ALO Waterloo, IA | 1324 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 873 ft | ||||
| MSN Madison, WI | destination | no report just now | 886 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,679 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MSN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:25 am CDT (09:25 UTC)
MSN has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 17 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · ZLA
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 21 nm from the route, 199 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
- 6/8890 LAS VEGAS, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, 199 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZLA
- 6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 14 nm from the route, 697 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV
- 6/8770 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 21 nm from the route, 717 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 12 October · ZDV
Daylight
Sunset at LAX 6:23 pm PDT (01:23 UTC), at MSN 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:48 pm CDT (23:48 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MSN is before sunrise there (7:07 am CDT (12:07 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, Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field.