Los Angeles International to Friedman Memorial LAX → SUN
605 nautical miles (697 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 017°, about 005° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 27 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 55-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:32 am MDT (06:32 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now LAX is VFR, wind variable at 3 knots; SUN is IFR, wind from the east-southeast (120°) at 8 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: 655 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 TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the first 308 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 6E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 60 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 159 to 169 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 318 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 318 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Near the route, 327 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Near the route, at the destination end.
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 02:00–09:00 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 6 forecast points nearest it (WJF, BIH, ELY, BAM, BOI, PIH). 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 10 kt | −10 kt | 4 °C | 130 kt | 4 h 39 min | 1:44 am MDT (07:44 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 220° at 11 kt | −10 kt | 1 °C | 130 kt | 4 h 39 min | 1:44 am MDT (07:44 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 13 kt | −12 kt | 0 °C | 132 kt | 4 h 35 min | 1:40 am MDT (07:40 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 17 kt | −16 kt | -4 °C | 136 kt | 4 h 27 min | 1:32 am MDT (07:32 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 210° at 22 kt | −22 kt | -8 °C | 142 kt | 4 h 16 min | 1:21 am MDT (07:21 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 210° at 29 kt | −28 kt | -12 °C | 148 kt | 4 h 05 min | 1:10 am MDT (07:10 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 210° at 35 kt | −35 kt | -15 °C | 155 kt | 3 h 54 min | 12:59 am MDT (06:59 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 210° at 37 kt | −36 kt | -16 °C | 156 kt | 3 h 53 min | 12:58 am MDT (06:58 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 210° at 50 kt | −49 kt | -25 °C | 169 kt | 3 h 35 min | 12:40 am MDT (06:40 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 58 kt | −55 kt | -29 °C | 175 kt | 3 h 27 min | 12:32 am MDT (06:32 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 56 kt | −52 kt | -34 °C | 172 kt | 3 h 31 min | 12:36 am MDT (06:36 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 51 kt | −47 kt | -42 °C | 167 kt | 3 h 37 min | 12:42 am MDT (06:42 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WJF | used from 0 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 200/28 6° | 210/28 3° | 210/29 -4° | 210/28 -14° | 220/41 -20° | 220/47 -29° | 220/46 -37° | 220/53 -44° | |
| BIH | used from 149 nm out; 64 nm from the line | L/V | 240/7 1° | 190/13 -3° | 200/26 -16° | 210/43 -26° | 220/54 -28° | 220/51 -35° | 220/47 -43° | |
| ELY | used from 298 nm out; 72 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 347 nm out; 60 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° | ||
| BOI | used from 496 nm out; 100 nm from the line | 300/7 2° | 280/5 -4° | 210/16 -9° | 210/60 -20° | 210/75 -29° | 210/63 -32° | 220/64 -32° | 220/54 -39° | |
| PIH | used from 595 nm out; 82 nm from the line | L/V | 240/13 1° | 240/15 -3° | 210/42 -15° | 200/70 -25° | 220/74 -29° | 220/71 -36° | 220/62 -43° |
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: scattered clouds at 3,600 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | variable at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 127 ft | 7:53 pm PDT (02:53 UTC) |
| BUR Burbank, CA | 20 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 778 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| MHV Mojave, CA | 69 nm out, 8 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 16 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,801 ft | 02:35 UTC |
| BTY Beatty, NV | 189 nm out, 22 nm east of the line | no report just now | 3,169 ft | ||||
| TPH Tonopah, NV | 258 nm out, 14 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 16 knots, gusting to 26 | 10+ mi | none | 5,430 ft | 02:56 UTC |
| EKO Elko, NV | 427 nm out, 11 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,700 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet Weather: rain | from the northwest (320°) at 10 knots, gusting to 16 | 8 mi | 3,700 ft | 5,139 ft | 02:56 UTC |
| TWF Twin Falls, ID | 546 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 4,400 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 4,400 ft | 4,153 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| SUN Hailey, ID | destination | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet Weather: light rain | from the east-southeast (120°) at 8 knots | 3 mi | 700 ft | 5,319 ft | 8:50 pm MDT (02:50 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,430 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SUN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:32 am MDT (06:32 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 2,500 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for SUN
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 6 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm MDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
The forecast for LAX, the departure
- From Sun 6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
- From Sun 9:00 pm PDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet
- 30% chance between Sun 9:00 pm PDT (04:00 UTC) and 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC): light rain showers
- From Mon 4:00 am PDT (11:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 4:00 am PDT (11:00 UTC) and 10:00 am PDT (17:00 UTC): light rain showers
- From Mon 10:00 am PDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 10:00 am PDT (17:00 UTC) and 4:00 pm PDT (23:00 UTC): light rain showers
- From Mon 6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 23 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at LAX 6:23 pm PDT (01:23 UTC), at SUN 6:59 pm MDT (00:59 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:27 pm MDT (01:27 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SUN is before sunrise there (7:47 am MDT (13:47 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, Friedman Memorial.