MC Clellan Airfield to John Wayne/Orange County MCC → SNA
345 nautical miles (397 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 149°, about 132° magnetic at the departure end (variation 17E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 36 min at the quickest height in today's winds (24,000 ft, a 13-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:12 am PDT (14:12 UTC). Right now MCC is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 8 knots; SNA is marginal VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) 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: 2 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 above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 207 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 99 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Near the route, 296 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 MCC.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A35K at 32,000 ft, 48 nm southwest, 1:39 am PDT (08:39 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: fdcs zoa. At the departure end, 48 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
OAK UA /OV OAK348024/TM 0839/FL320/TP A35K/TB MOD CHOP/RM FDCS ZOA
- Report
- a routine report filed through OAK
- Where
- 24 nm north (348°) of OAK
- Time
- 08:39 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A35K
- Turbulence
- moderate chop
- Remarks
- fdcs zoa
- B744 at 1,700 ft, 16 nm southwest, 2:24 am PDT (09:24 UTC): a few clouds above 1,700 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 25L lax. 316 nm along the route, 16 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
LAX UA /OV KLAX/TM 0924/FL017/TP B744/SK FEW017/RM DURD RY25L LAX
- Report
- a routine report filed through LAX
- Where
- over KLAX
- Time
- 09:24 UTC
- Height
- at 1,700 ft
- Aircraft
- B744
- Sky
- a few clouds from 1,700 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 25L lax
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 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 4 forecast points nearest it (SAC, FAT, WJF, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 170° at 7 kt | +7 kt | 113 kt | 3 h 03 min | 7:39 am PDT (14:39 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 200° at 15 kt | +11 kt | 4 °C | 109 kt | 3 h 10 min | 7:46 am PDT (14:46 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 200° at 15 kt | +11 kt | 1 °C | 109 kt | 3 h 10 min | 7:46 am PDT (14:46 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 200° at 14 kt | +10 kt | -2 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 08 min | 7:44 am PDT (14:44 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 14 kt | +5 kt | -5 °C | 115 kt | 3 h | 7:36 am PDT (14:36 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 14 kt | 0 | -7 °C | 120 kt | 2 h 52 min | 7:28 am PDT (14:28 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 250° at 15 kt | −4 kt | -10 °C | 124 kt | 2 h 47 min | 7:23 am PDT (14:23 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 270° at 17 kt | −8 kt | -13 °C | 128 kt | 2 h 42 min | 7:18 am PDT (14:18 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 17 kt | −9 kt | -14 °C | 129 kt | 2 h 40 min | 7:16 am PDT (14:16 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 21 kt | −13 kt | -23 °C | 133 kt | 2 h 36 min | 7:12 am PDT (14:12 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 30 kt | −3 kt | -31 °C | 123 kt | 2 h 48 min | 7:24 am PDT (14:24 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 41 kt | +6 kt | -37 °C | 114 kt | 3 h 02 min | 7:38 am PDT (14:38 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 44 kt | +10 kt | -45 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 08 min | 7:44 am PDT (14:44 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAC | used from 0 nm out; 21 nm from the line | L/V | L/V 4° | 340/9 -4° | 340/22 -8° | 360/71 -12° | 360/82 -23° | 350/58 -37° | 310/30 -40° | 270/25 -44° |
| FAT | used from 49 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 140/11 | 180/15 3° | 150/14 -3° | 200/14 -6° | 240/17 -16° | 320/25 -23° | 270/22 -31° | 240/29 -37° | 230/36 -44° |
| WJF | used from 197 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 210/26 4° | 210/28 2° | 230/23 -4° | 240/28 -13° | 220/47 -23° | 220/57 -30° | 220/65 -37° | 220/59 -45° | |
| ONT | used from 296 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 250/11 | 200/20 4° | 210/27 3° | 220/26 -4° | 240/32 -13° | 220/52 -21° | 220/67 -30° | 220/72 -37° | 220/65 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCC Sacramento, CA | departure | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 11,000 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 76 ft | 3:55 am PDT (10:55 UTC) |
| SCK Stockton, CA | 39 nm out, 18 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the northwest (310°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 32 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| MOD Modesto, CA | 69 nm out, 14 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet | from the west (260°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 99 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| MER Atwater, CA | 89 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 190 ft | 23:55 UTC |
| FAT Fresno, CA | 138 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,000 feet | from the east-southeast (120°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 335 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| DLO Delano, CA | 207 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | reported, no category | calm | 10+ mi | none | 314 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| BFL Bakersfield, CA | 227 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 5,500 feet | from the north (360°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 509 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| WJF Lancaster, CA | 276 nm out, 16 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 3,800 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 3,800 ft | 2,350 ft | 10:56 UTC |
| EMT El Monte, CA | 316 nm out, 6 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,400 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | from the south (170°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 295 ft | 02:45 UTC |
| SNA Santa Ana, CA | destination | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, scattered clouds at 2,400 feet, overcast at 2,800 feet Weather: light rain | from the northwest (320°) at 3 knots | 8 mi | 2,800 ft | 55 ft | 3:53 am PDT (10:53 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 SNA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:12 am PDT (14:12 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SNA
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC) and 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): a broken layer at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
The forecast for MCC, the departure
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 6:00 am PDT (13:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/3475 BEALE AFB, CA, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 18 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 1 November · ZOA
- 4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA on the route, at the destination end · security · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at MCC 6:30 pm PDT (01:30 UTC), at SNA 6:20 pm PDT (01:20 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:45 pm PDT (01:45 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: MC Clellan Airfield, John Wayne/Orange County.