The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Sun 4:32 pm PDT (23:32 UTC)

Long Beach (Daugherty Field) to Merced Yosemite Regional LGB → MCE

238 nautical miles (274 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 332°, about 318° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14E). At 120 knots that is 1 h 43 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 19-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:15 pm PDT (01:15 UTC). Right now LGB is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 8 knots; MCE is VFR, wind variable at 3 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: 21 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The return flight

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 first 30 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 30 to 30 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 LGB.

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

  • B737 at 14,000 ft, 44 nm east, 2:54 pm PDT (21:54 UTC): moderate turbulence. 20 nm along the route, 44 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    ONT UA /OV 20N ONT/TM 2154/FL140/TP B737/TB MOD
    Report
    a routine report filed through ONT
    Where
    20N ont
    Time
    21:54 UTC
    Height
    at 14,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B737
    Turbulence
    moderate
  • B738 descending, 44 nm northeast, 2:37 pm PDT (21:37 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 20 nm along the route, 44 nm northeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    ONT UA /OV ONT358021/TM 2137/FLDURD/TP B738/TB MODERATE CHOP STARTING AT 130
    Report
    a routine report filed through ONT
    Where
    21 nm north (358°) of ONT
    Time
    21:37 UTC
    Height
    during the descent
    Aircraft
    B738
    Turbulence
    moderate chop starting at at 13,000 ft
  • C172 at 1,400 ft, 6 nm west, 3:53 pm PDT (22:53 UTC): remarks: base 3,400 ft. At the departure end, 6 nm west of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    TOA UA /OV 4 E KTOA/TM 2253/FL014/TP C172/RM BASE 034
    Report
    a routine report filed through TOA
    Where
    4 east KTOA
    Time
    22:53 UTC
    Height
    at 1,400 ft
    Aircraft
    C172
    Remarks
    base 3,400 ft
  • B737 at 5,000 ft, 5 nm south, 3:30 pm PDT (22:30 UTC): a broken layer from 3,300 ft to 5,000 ft. At the departure end, 5 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    LGB UA /OV KLGB180005/TM 2230/FL050/TP B737/SK BKN033-TOPS050
    Report
    a routine report filed through LGB
    Where
    5 nm south (180°) of KLGB
    Time
    22:30 UTC
    Height
    at 5,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B737
    Sky
    a broken layer from 3,300 ft, tops 5,000 ft
  • C172 at 1,900 ft, 6 nm west, 1:39 pm PDT (20:39 UTC): scattered clouds above 2,100 ft. At the departure end, 6 nm west of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    TOA UA /OV 4 E TOA/TM 2039/FL019/TP C172/SK SCT021 /WX 7SM
    Report
    a routine report filed through TOA
    Where
    4 east toa
    Time
    20:39 UTC
    Height
    at 1,900 ft
    Aircraft
    C172
    Sky
    scattered clouds from 2,100 ft
    Weather
    7SM
  • B757 at 4,000 ft, 1 nm southeast, 3:38 pm PDT (22:38 UTC): remarks: reduced visibility below the ceiling ILS25L. 10 nm along the route, 1 nm southeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    LAX UA /OV LAX070010/TM 2238/FL040/TP B757/SK TOPS050 BASES040/RM REDUCED VISIBILITY BELOW THE CEILING. ILS25L
    Report
    a routine report filed through LAX
    Where
    10 nm east (070°) of LAX
    Time
    22:38 UTC
    Height
    at 4,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B757
    Sky
    TOPS050 BASES040
    Remarks
    reduced visibility below the ceiling ILS25L
  • B737 at 4,000 ft, 8 nm west, 3:37 pm PDT (22:37 UTC): a broken layer from 4,000 ft to 5,000 ft. 10 nm along the route, 8 nm west of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    KLAX UA /OV KLAX/TM 2237/FL040/TP B737/SK BKN040-TOP050
    Report
    a routine report filed through KLAX
    Where
    over KLAX
    Time
    22:37 UTC
    Height
    at 4,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B737
    Sky
    a broken layer from 4,000 ft, tops 5,000 ft
  • A320 at 3,500 ft, 9 nm west, 3:13 pm PDT (22:13 UTC): a broken layer above 3,500 ft, remarks: during the descent RY25L. 10 nm along the route, 9 nm west of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    LAX UA /OV LAX/TM 2213/FL035/TP A320/SK BKN-BASE035/RM DURD RY25L
    Report
    a routine report filed through LAX
    Where
    over LAX
    Time
    22:13 UTC
    Height
    at 3,500 ft
    Aircraft
    A320
    Sky
    BKN-BASE035
    Remarks
    during the descent RY25L
  • E75L , 8 nm west, 2:20 pm PDT (21:20 UTC): a broken layer from 3,700 ft to 4,700 ft. 10 nm along the route, 8 nm west of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    KLAX UA /OV KLAX/TM 2120/FL2125/TP E75L/SK BKN037-TOP047
    Report
    a routine report filed through KLAX
    Where
    over KLAX
    Time
    21:20 UTC
    Height
    at 212,500 ft
    Aircraft
    E75L
    Sky
    a broken layer from 3,700 ft, tops 4,700 ft
  • B738 at 3,800 ft, 8 nm west, 1:40 pm PDT (20:40 UTC): a broken layer above 3,800 ft. 10 nm along the route, 8 nm west of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    KLAX UA /OV KLAX/TM 2040/FL038/TP B738/SK BKN038
    Report
    a routine report filed through KLAX
    Where
    over KLAX
    Time
    20:40 UTC
    Height
    at 3,800 ft
    Aircraft
    B738
    Sky
    a broken layer from 3,800 ft
  • M20P at 2,500 ft, 15 nm east, 1:38 pm PDT (20:38 UTC): a broken layer above 5,000 ft. 10 nm along the route, 15 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    EMT UA /OV EMT110004/TM 2038/FL025/TP M20P/SK BKN050
    Report
    a routine report filed through EMT
    Where
    4 nm east (110°) of EMT
    Time
    20:38 UTC
    Height
    at 2,500 ft
    Aircraft
    M20P
    Sky
    a broken layer from 5,000 ft
  • B737 at 3,200 ft, 2 nm southwest, 1:35 pm PDT (20:35 UTC): overcast above 3,200 ft, remarks: 9 mile visibility ils 25L. 10 nm along the route, 2 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    LAX UA /OV LAX070008/TM 2035/FL032/TP B737/SK BASES OVC032/RM 9 MILE VIS / ILS 25L
    Report
    a routine report filed through LAX
    Where
    8 nm east (070°) of LAX
    Time
    20:35 UTC
    Height
    at 3,200 ft
    Aircraft
    B737
    Sky
    bases OVC032
    Remarks
    9 mile visibility ils 25L
  • E55P at 3,000 ft, 0 nm south, 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC): a broken layer from 3,000 ft to 5,000 ft, remarks: during the descent RY21. 20 nm along the route, 0 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    SMO UA /OV SMO030008/TM 2200/FL030/TP E55P/SK BKN030-TOP050/RM DURD RY21
    Report
    a routine report filed through SMO
    Where
    8 nm northeast (030°) of SMO
    Time
    22:00 UTC
    Height
    at 3,000 ft
    Aircraft
    E55P
    Sky
    a broken layer from 3,000 ft, tops 5,000 ft
    Remarks
    during the descent RY21
  • C25M at 3,000 ft, 0 nm south, 1:50 pm PDT (20:50 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft, remarks: during the descent RY21. 20 nm along the route, 0 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    SMO UA /OV SMO030008/TM 2050/FL030/TP C25M/SK BKN030-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RY21
    Report
    a routine report filed through SMO
    Where
    8 nm northeast (030°) of SMO
    Time
    20:50 UTC
    Height
    at 3,000 ft
    Aircraft
    C25M
    Sky
    a broken layer from 3,000 ft, tops unknown
    Remarks
    during the descent RY21

6 more routine reports are on the map.

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 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 2 forecast points nearest it (WJF, FAT). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
4,500 ft210° at 16 kt−9 kt8 °C129 kt1 h 51 min6:23 pm PDT (01:23 UTC)
6,500 ft210° at 17 kt−9 kt7 °C129 kt1 h 51 min6:23 pm PDT (01:23 UTC)
8,500 ft220° at 21 kt−8 kt5 °C128 kt1 h 52 min6:24 pm PDT (01:24 UTC)
10,500 ft220° at 26 kt−9 kt1 °C129 kt1 h 51 min6:23 pm PDT (01:23 UTC)
12,500 ft220° at 29 kt−10 kt-4 °C130 kt1 h 50 min6:22 pm PDT (01:22 UTC)
14,500 ft220° at 29 kt−9 kt-8 °C129 kt1 h 51 min6:23 pm PDT (01:23 UTC)
16,500 ft230° at 29 kt−7 kt-11 °C127 kt1 h 52 min6:24 pm PDT (01:24 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180230° at 29 kt−5 kt-14 °C125 kt1 h 54 min6:26 pm PDT (01:26 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240230° at 42 kt−12 kt-22 °C132 kt1 h 48 min6:20 pm PDT (01:20 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300220° at 53 kt−19 kt-28 °C139 kt1 h 43 min6:15 pm PDT (01:15 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340220° at 44 kt−15 kt-33 °C135 kt1 h 46 min6:18 pm PDT (01:18 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390230° at 45 kt−12 kt-44 °C132 kt1 h 48 min6:20 pm PDT (01:20 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
WJFused from 0 nm out; 35 nm from the line220/30 8°240/28 5°230/34 -2°220/34 -13°220/48 -20°220/47 -29°210/48 -34°220/52 -44°
FATused from 99 nm out; 71 nm from the line180/7170/9 7°200/20 3°210/27 -3°240/27 -14°230/38 -24°220/57 -27°230/42 -33°230/41 -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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
LGB Long Beach, CA departure VFR Sky: overcast at 4,700 feet from the southwest (220°) at 8 knots 10+ mi 4,700 ft 60 ft 3:53 pm PDT (22:53 UTC)
WHP Los Angeles, CA 30 nm out, 1 nm east of the line, tower VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,400 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet from the southeast (140°) at 9 knots, gusting to 16 10+ mi 3,400 ft 1,003 ft 21:55 UTC
WJF Lancaster, CA 50 nm out, 23 nm northeast of the line, tower VFR from the southwest (220°) at 22 knots, gusting to 32 10+ mi none 2,350 ft 22:56 UTC
BFL Bakersfield, CA 109 nm out, 8 nm east of the line, tower VFR from the north-northwest (330°) at 9 knots 10+ mi none 509 ft 22:54 UTC
FAT Fresno, CA 188 nm out, 19 nm northeast of the line, tower VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a few clouds at 13,000 feet, a few clouds at 16,000 feet from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots 10+ mi none 335 ft 22:53 UTC
MAE Madera, CA 208 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line VFR from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots 10+ mi none 255 ft 22:55 UTC
MCE Merced, CA destination VFR variable at 3 knots 10+ mi none 155 ft 3:53 pm PDT (22:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,350 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At MCE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:15 pm PDT (01:15 UTC)

Wind from the west-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for MCE
  • From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Sun 6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for LGB, the departure
  • From Sun 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet
  • From Sun 1:00 pm PDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
  • 30% chance between Sun 1:00 pm PDT (20:00 UTC) and 6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC): light rain showers
  • From Sun 6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet
  • 30% chance between Sun 6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC) and 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): light rain showers
  • From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 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 Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC) and 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): light rain showers
  • From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 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 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC) and 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): light rain showers

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

  • 4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 9 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · ZLA

Daylight

Sunset at LGB 6:22 pm PDT (01:22 UTC), at MCE 6:29 pm PDT (01:29 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:55 pm PDT (01:55 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
Radar now, the Pacific Southwest · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
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: Long Beach (Daugherty Field), Merced Yosemite Regional.