Midland International Air And Space Port to North Platte Rgnl/Lee Bird Field MAF → LBF
556 nautical miles (640 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 007°, about 358° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 37 min at the quickest height in today's winds (24,000 ft, a 34-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:52 am CDT (15:52 UTC). Right now MAF is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 15 knots; LBF is VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 6 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 2W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Near the route, 507 nm along 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 MAF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- urgent BE20 at 500 ft, 21 nm east, 4:34 am CDT (09:34 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear 500FT a 10-knot loss of airspeed zkc fd dl. 308 nm along the route, 21 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
LBL UUA /OV LBL/TM 0934/FL005/TP BE20/RM LLWS 500FT +/-10KT ZKC FD DL
- Report
- an urgent report filed through LBL
- Where
- over LBL
- Time
- 09:34 UTC
- Height
- at 500 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear 500FT a 10-knot loss of airspeed zkc fd dl
- E170 at 20,000 ft, 47 nm west, 6:49 am CDT (11:49 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZFW82. 50 nm along the route, 47 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
HOB UA /OV HOB030020/TM 1149/FL200/TP E170/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZFW82
- Report
- a routine report filed through HOB
- Where
- 20 nm northeast (030°) of HOB
- Time
- 11:49 UTC
- Height
- at 20,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop
- Remarks
- ZFW82
- CRJ7 at 36,000 ft, 5 nm north, 7:09 am CDT (12:09 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. At the destination end, 5 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
LBF UA /OV LBF/TM 1209/FL360/TP CRJ7/TB LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through LBF
- Where
- over LBF
- Time
- 12:09 UTC
- Height
- at 36,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Remarks
- zdvwc
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 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 6 forecast points nearest it (INK, LBB, AMA, GCK, GLD, GRI). 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 | 240° at 31 kt | −19 kt | 21 °C | 139 kt | 4 h | 11:15 am CDT (16:15 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 30 kt | −19 kt | 20 °C | 139 kt | 4 h | 11:15 am CDT (16:15 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 27 kt | −16 kt | 15 °C | 136 kt | 4 h 05 min | 11:20 am CDT (16:20 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | −17 kt | 10 °C | 137 kt | 4 h 04 min | 11:19 am CDT (16:19 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | −18 kt | 6 °C | 138 kt | 4 h 02 min | 11:17 am CDT (16:17 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 30 kt | −21 kt | 2 °C | 141 kt | 3 h 57 min | 11:12 am CDT (16:12 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 34 kt | −25 kt | -3 °C | 145 kt | 3 h 50 min | 11:05 am CDT (16:05 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 36 kt | −27 kt | -7 °C | 147 kt | 3 h 47 min | 11:02 am CDT (16:02 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 48 kt | −34 kt | -18 °C | 154 kt | 3 h 37 min | 10:52 am CDT (15:52 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 66 kt | −33 kt | -29 °C | 153 kt | 3 h 38 min | 10:53 am CDT (15:53 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 66 kt | −20 kt | -37 °C | 140 kt | 3 h 58 min | 11:13 am CDT (16:13 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 60 kt | −19 kt | -49 °C | 139 kt | 4 h | 11:15 am CDT (16:15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INK | used from 0 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 220/17 21° | 230/12 14° | 210/13 7° | 220/29 -5° | 240/41 -14° | 230/43 -28° | 250/41 -38° | 250/33 -51° | |
| LBB | used from 50 nm out; 31 nm from the line | 220/25 21° | 230/20 15° | 220/20 7° | 230/36 -6° | 240/50 -15° | 240/59 -28° | 260/52 -37° | 260/45 -50° | |
| AMA | used from 149 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 230/32 | 230/28 14° | 230/27 7° | 230/38 -6° | 230/50 -17° | 250/69 -28° | 260/62 -37° | 270/65 -49° | |
| GCK | used from 298 nm out; 50 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° | |
| GLD | used from 397 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 260/37 | 260/25 14° | 250/27 8° | 230/36 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 250/71 -30° | 260/82 -36° | 250/73 -48° | |
| GRI | used from 546 nm out; 108 nm from the line | 230/39 23° | 230/32 15° | 210/29 7° | 230/31 -8° | 230/43 -21° | 250/52 -31° | 260/59 -35° | 260/59 -46° |
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 (180°) at 15 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,872 ft | 6:53 am CDT (11:53 UTC) |
| LUV Lamesa, TX | 50 nm out, 8 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,998 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| LBB Lubbock, TX | 109 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,282 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| PVW Plainview, TX | 139 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,374 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| AMA Amarillo, TX | 199 nm out, 0 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 12,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | 12,000 ft | 3,606 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| BGD Borger, TX | 228 nm out, 11 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 14 knots, gusting to 26 | 10+ mi | none | 3,055 ft | 11:51 UTC |
| GUY Guymon, OK | 288 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,125 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| GCK Garden City, KS | 367 nm out, 25 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 20 knots, gusting to 31 | 10+ mi | none | 2,890 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| OEL Oakley, KS | 437 nm out, 11 nm east of the line | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,045 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| CBK Colby, KS | 457 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,188 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| MCK Mc Cook, NE | 507 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,582 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| LBF North Platte, NE | destination | VFR | from the northwest (320°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,777 ft | 6:53 am CDT (11:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,606 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At LBF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:52 am CDT (15:52 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for LBF
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 14 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Tue 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 25,000 feet
The forecast for MAF, the departure
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 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
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at MAF 7:19 pm CDT (00:19 UTC), at LBF 7:05 pm CDT (00:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:33 pm CDT (00:33 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, North Platte Rgnl/Lee Bird Field.