Kansas City International to Albuquerque International Sunport MCI → ABQ
623 nautical miles (717 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 249°, about 247° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 25 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 23-knot headwind), arriving about 2:14 am MDT (08:14 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MCI is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 10 knots; ABQ is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 15 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: 415 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
- SIGMET 1W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 9:55 pm CDT (02:55 UTC). Over the last 79 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120055 MKCW WST 120055 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 1W VALID UNTIL 0255Z CO NM WY AZ UT FROM 40NNW CHE-40WNW TBE-60WNW CME-40N SJN-40ESE MTU-40NNW CHE AREA SEV TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL340. WIND GUSTS TO 60KT POSS.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the first 386 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 178 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the last 129 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 20 nm of 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 MCI.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B38M at 37,000 ft, 25 nm northwest, 5:55 pm CDT (22:55 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zab fdcs. 544 nm along the route, 25 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
AXX UA /OV CIM210040/TM 2255/FL370/TP B38M/TB LGT-CONS MOD CHOP/RM ZAB FDCS
- Report
- a routine report filed through AXX
- Where
- 40 nm southwest (210°) of CIM
- Time
- 22:55 UTC
- Height
- at 37,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- lgt-cons moderate chop
- Remarks
- zab fdcs
- CRJ7 at 10,000 ft, 19 nm northwest, 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC): remarks: light turbulence, bases above 10,000 ft, vsby 3 miles continuously, during the descent rnav RY20 KSAF. 584 nm along the route, 19 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SAF UA /OV KSAF/TM 2349/FL100 /TP CRJ7/RM LIGHT TURBULENCE, BASES ABOVE 100, VSBY 3 MILES CONTINUOUSLY, DURD RNAV RY20 KSAF
- Report
- a routine report filed through SAF
- Where
- over KSAF
- Time
- 23:49 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Remarks
- light turbulence, bases above 10,000 ft, vsby 3 miles continuously, during the descent rnav RY20 KSAF
- B737 at 14,000 ft, 17 nm west, 7:15 pm CDT (00:15 UTC): light turbulence above 14,000 ft. At the destination end, 17 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
ABQ UA /OV ABQ275007/TM 0015/FL140/TP B737/TB LGT ABV 140
- Report
- a routine report filed through ABQ
- Where
- 7 nm west (275°) of ABQ
- Time
- 00:15 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- light above 14,000 ft
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 5 forecast points nearest it (MKC, SLN, GCK, TCC, ABQ). 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 | 200° at 32 kt | +23 kt | 21 °C | 97 kt | 6 h 25 min | 2:14 am MDT (08:14 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 210° at 32 kt | +26 kt | 19 °C | 94 kt | 6 h 38 min | 2:27 am MDT (08:27 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 29 kt | +26 kt | 14 °C | 94 kt | 6 h 38 min | 2:27 am MDT (08:27 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | +25 kt | 10 °C | 95 kt | 6 h 33 min | 2:22 am MDT (08:22 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | +25 kt | 6 °C | 95 kt | 6 h 33 min | 2:22 am MDT (08:22 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | +26 kt | 1 °C | 94 kt | 6 h 38 min | 2:27 am MDT (08:27 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 27 kt | +27 kt | -3 °C | 93 kt | 6 h 42 min | 2:31 am MDT (08:31 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 28 kt | +28 kt | -7 °C | 92 kt | 6 h 46 min | 2:35 am MDT (08:35 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 33 kt | +33 kt | -18 °C | 87 kt | 7 h 10 min | 2:59 am MDT (08:59 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 54 kt | +54 kt | -30 °C | 66 kt | 9 h 26 min | 5:15 am MDT (11:15 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 55 kt | +55 kt | -38 °C | 65 kt | 9 h 35 min | 5:24 am MDT (11:24 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 52 kt | +52 kt | -50 °C | 68 kt | 9 h 10 min | 4:59 am MDT (10:59 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
| Point | From | 3,000 | 6,000 | 9,000 | 12,000 | 18,000 | 24,000 | 30,000 | 34,000 | 39,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKC | used from 0 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 200/28 | 220/30 16° | 270/20 11° | 280/22 7° | 260/27 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 280/38 -32° | 270/38 -40° | 280/50 -52° |
| SLN | used from 49 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 190/37 | 220/39 20° | 240/31 14° | 250/24 7° | 260/25 -7° | 250/26 -17° | 250/44 -31° | 260/47 -40° | 260/47 -50° |
| GCK | used from 198 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 200/35 21° | 220/34 14° | 240/30 8° | 240/27 -6° | 240/31 -17° | 240/53 -30° | 250/55 -39° | 250/60 -50° | |
| TCC | used from 396 nm out; 89 nm from the line | 200/26 | 200/28 14° | 220/25 7° | 230/28 -7° | 240/41 -19° | 240/62 -28° | 250/61 -37° | 250/49 -49° | |
| ABQ | used from 544 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 200/28 13° | 210/28 5° | 210/44 -7° | 230/46 -20° | 230/80 -28° | 240/74 -35° | 240/58 -47° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCI Kansas City, MO | departure | VFR | from the south (180°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,027 ft | 7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC) |
| FOE Topeka, KS | 49 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,077 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| MHK Manhattan, KS | 89 nm out, 24 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,066 ft | 00:52 UTC |
| HUT Hutchinson, KS | 168 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,542 ft | 00:52 UTC |
| LQR Larned, KS | 218 nm out, 16 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 14 knots, gusting to 17 | 10+ mi | none | 2,012 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| DDC Dodge City, KS | 267 nm out, 9 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 17 knots | 7 mi | none | 2,595 ft | 00:52 UTC |
| EHA Elkhart, KS | 366 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,621 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| CAO Clayton, NM | 435 nm out, 1 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 15 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,969 ft | 00:55 UTC |
| LVS Las Vegas, NM | 544 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line | reported, no category | from the south-southeast (150°) at 17 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 6,877 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| SAF Santa Fe, NM | 584 nm out, 19 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,500 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 6,348 ft | 01:28 UTC |
| ABQ Albuquerque, NM | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,500 feet, a broken layer at 9,500 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 15 knots | 10+ mi | 9,500 ft | 5,354 ft | 7:11 pm MDT (01:11 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,877 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ABQ when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:14 am MDT (08:14 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ABQ
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 22 knots, gusting to 35, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- At times between Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind variable at 25 knots, gusting to 40, light thunderstorms with rain, a broken layer at 6,000 feet (thunderheads)
- From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
The forecast for MCI, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 17 knots, gusting to 26, 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 MCI 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC), at ABQ 6:35 pm MDT (00:35 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm MDT (01:01 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ABQ is before sunrise there (7:09 am MDT (13:09 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: Kansas City International, Albuquerque International Sunport.