Midland International Air And Space Port to Los Angeles International MAF → LAX
824 nautical miles (949 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 283°, about 274° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 10 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 5-knot headwind), arriving about 7:01 am PDT (14:01 UTC). Right now MAF is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 14 knots; LAX is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 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 TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Near the route, 348 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 397 to 457 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 487 to 745 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 715 to 805 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 MAF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B737 at 14,000 ft, 30 nm north, 12:15 am CDT (05:15 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: during the descent through clouds. 507 nm along the route, 30 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
PHX UA /OV PXR339030/TM 0515/FL140/TP B737/TB OCNL MOD/RM DURD THROUGH CLOUDS
- Report
- a routine report filed through PHX
- Where
- 30 nm north (339°) of PXR
- Time
- 05:15 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- occasional moderate
- Remarks
- during the descent through clouds
- A321 at 3,300 ft, 10 nm north, 11:59 pm CDT (04:59 UTC): a broken layer above 3,300 ft, remarks: during the descent. 775 nm along the route, 10 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ONT UA /OV ONT078008/TM 0459/FL033/TP A321/SK BKN033-TOPUNKN/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through ONT
- Where
- 8 nm east (078°) of ONT
- Time
- 04:59 UTC
- Height
- at 3,300 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Sky
- a broken layer from 3,300 ft, tops unknown
- Remarks
- during the descent
- B38M at 4,500 ft, 11 nm north, 11:15 pm CDT (04:15 UTC): a broken layer above 4,500 ft, remarks: during the descent. 775 nm along the route, 11 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ONT UA /OV ONT078012/TM 0415/FL045/TP B38M/SK BKN045-TOPUNKN/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through ONT
- Where
- 12 nm east (078°) of ONT
- Time
- 04:15 UTC
- Height
- at 4,500 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Sky
- a broken layer from 4,500 ft, tops unknown
- Remarks
- during the descent
- B38M at 3,000 ft, 11 nm northeast, 12:47 am CDT (05:47 UTC): a broken layer from 2,900 ft to 8,000 ft, remarks: BASE030. 785 nm along the route, 11 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ONT UA /OV KONT080005/TM 0547/FL030/TP B38M/SK BKN029-TOP080/RM BASE030
- Report
- a routine report filed through ONT
- Where
- 5 nm east (080°) of KONT
- Time
- 05:47 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Sky
- a broken layer from 2,900 ft, tops 8,000 ft
- Remarks
- BASE030
- GLF5 at 3,500 ft, 17 nm north, 11:54 pm CDT (04:54 UTC): overcast above 3,600 ft. At the destination end, 17 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
VNY UA /OV VNY36006/TM 0454/FL035/TP GLF5/SK OVC036
- Report
- a routine report filed through VNY
- Where
- VNY36006
- Time
- 04:54 UTC
- Height
- at 3,500 ft
- Aircraft
- GLF5
- Sky
- overcast from 3,600 ft
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 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 7 forecast points nearest it (INK, ROW, ELP, TUS, PHX, BLH, ONT). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 210° at 13 kt | +5 kt | 16 °C | 115 kt | 7 h 10 min | 7:01 am PDT (14:01 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 210° at 17 kt | +6 kt | 11 °C | 114 kt | 7 h 14 min | 7:05 am PDT (14:05 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 200° at 21 kt | +6 kt | 8 °C | 114 kt | 7 h 14 min | 7:05 am PDT (14:05 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 210° at 24 kt | +7 kt | 6 °C | 113 kt | 7 h 18 min | 7:09 am PDT (14:09 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 210° at 28 kt | +10 kt | 2 °C | 110 kt | 7 h 29 min | 7:20 am PDT (14:20 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 210° at 34 kt | +15 kt | -2 °C | 105 kt | 7 h 51 min | 7:42 am PDT (14:42 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 41 kt | +20 kt | -5 °C | 100 kt | 8 h 14 min | 8:05 am PDT (15:05 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 46 kt | +23 kt | -8 °C | 97 kt | 8 h 30 min | 8:21 am PDT (15:21 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 57 kt | +33 kt | -17 °C | 87 kt | 9 h 28 min | 9:19 am PDT (16:19 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 66 kt | +40 kt | -27 °C | 80 kt | 10 h 18 min | 10:09 am PDT (17:09 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 67 kt | +46 kt | -36 °C | 74 kt | 11 h 08 min | 10:59 am PDT (17:59 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 59 kt | +42 kt | -47 °C | 78 kt | 10 h 34 min | 10:25 am PDT (17:25 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INK | used from 0 nm out; 31 nm from the line | 190/23 20° | 200/18 15° | 230/18 8° | 240/23 -4° | 240/37 -14° | 240/46 -27° | 250/42 -38° | 260/36 -50° | |
| ROW | used from 99 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 190/33 | 210/27 14° | 220/28 6° | 230/36 -6° | 230/56 -15° | 230/63 -27° | 250/59 -37° | 260/57 -49° | |
| ELP | used from 149 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 290/17 | 210/11 13° | 200/18 5° | 220/46 -6° | 230/64 -14° | 230/63 -27° | 240/55 -37° | 240/44 -48° | |
| TUS | used from 348 nm out; 97 nm from the line | 210/13 13° | 200/35 9° | 210/40 5° | 220/50 -7° | 220/59 -18° | 230/79 -26° | 230/84 -35° | 230/84 -48° | |
| PHX | used from 447 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 150/5 | 200/21 12° | 200/27 6° | 200/35 3° | 220/58 -8° | 220/69 -19° | 220/87 -26° | 230/93 -35° | 230/79 -47° |
| BLH | used from 596 nm out; 19 nm from the line | 210/13 | 200/21 11° | 200/22 5° | 210/25 -1° | 210/51 -10° | 220/61 -20° | 220/81 -29° | 220/92 -34° | 220/79 -45° |
| ONT | used from 695 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 190/8 | 190/19 6° | 210/23 4° | 210/29 -3° | 210/47 -13° | 210/49 -19° | 220/47 -30° | 220/50 -36° | 220/55 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAF Midland, TX | departure | VFR | from the south (170°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,872 ft | 12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC) |
| INK Wink, TX | 50 nm out, 21 nm south of the line | reported, no category | from the south-southeast (150°) at 15 knots | none | 2,821 ft | 05:53 UTC | |
| CNM Carlsbad, NM | 109 nm out, 2 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,294 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| ALM Alamogordo, NM | 199 nm out, 14 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 8,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 4,199 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| SVC Silver City, NM | 308 nm out, 18 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 5,445 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| CFT Clifton/Morenci, AZ | 358 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 3,797 ft | ||||
| IWA Phoenix, AZ | 487 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,384 ft | 05:50 UTC |
| PHX Phoenix, AZ | 507 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,800 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,500 feet | from the east (090°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 9,500 ft | 1,134 ft | 05:51 UTC |
| BLH Blythe, CA | 636 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 399 ft | 05:52 UTC |
| PSP Palm Springs, CA | 725 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 476 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| RIV Riverside, CA | 765 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 800 feet, a few clouds at 2,100 feet, a broken layer at 4,900 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet | from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 4,900 ft | 1,536 ft | 06:14 UTC |
| LAX Los Angeles, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,400 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 3,400 ft | 127 ft | 10:53 pm PDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,445 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At LAX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:01 am PDT (14:01 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet VFR
The whole forecast for LAX
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- 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 3,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
The forecast for MAF, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 13 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8722 ALAMOGORDO, NM, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 19 nm from the route, 209 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZAB
- 6/8887 Indio, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 6 nm from the route, 715 nm along the route · security · until 12 October · ZLA
- 4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 5 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at MAF 7:19 pm CDT (00:19 UTC), at LAX 6:23 pm PDT (01:23 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:48 pm PDT (01:48 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: Midland International Air And Space Port, Los Angeles International.