Kansas City International to Phoenix Sky Harbor International MCI → PHX
905 nautical miles (1,042 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 252°, about 250° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 38 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 26-knot headwind), arriving about 5:44 am MST (12:44 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MCI is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 12 knots; PHX is VFR, wind from the north (360°) at 4 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: 4,948 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 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 488 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 438 to 816 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 468 to 876 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 547 to 756 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 40 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
- B737 at 14,000 ft, 23 nm southeast, 7:15 pm CDT (00:15 UTC): light turbulence above 14,000 ft. 637 nm along the route, 23 nm southeast 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
- A320 at 14,000 ft, 35 nm northwest, 7:39 pm CDT (00:39 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: zab fdcs. 866 nm along the route, 35 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
PHX UA /OV PXR005050/TM 0039/FL140/TP A320/TB LGT-MOD/RM ZAB FDCS
- Report
- a routine report filed through PHX
- Where
- 50 nm north (005°) of PXR
- Time
- 00:39 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- light to moderate
- Remarks
- zab fdcs
- CRJ7 at 15,000 ft, 42 nm west, 8:55 pm CDT (01:55 UTC): light rime icing, -3 °C, remarks: during the descent at 15,000 ft at 13,500 ft. At the destination end, 42 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
PHX UA /OV GEELA/TM 0155/FL150/TP CRJ7/TA -3/IC LT RIME/RM DURD 150 135
- Report
- a routine report filed through PHX
- Where
- geela
- Time
- 01:55 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Temperature
- -3
- Icing
- lt rime
- Remarks
- during the descent at 15,000 ft at 13,500 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 (MKC, SLN, GCK, TCC, ALS, ABQ, PHX). 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 | 220° at 37 kt | +31 kt | 21 °C | 89 kt | 10 h 10 min | 6:16 am MST (13:16 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 220° at 35 kt | +31 kt | 17 °C | 89 kt | 10 h 10 min | 6:16 am MST (13:16 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 29 kt | +27 kt | 12 °C | 93 kt | 9 h 44 min | 5:50 am MST (12:50 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 28 kt | +26 kt | 9 °C | 94 kt | 9 h 38 min | 5:44 am MST (12:44 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 29 kt | +27 kt | 5 °C | 93 kt | 9 h 44 min | 5:50 am MST (12:50 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 33 kt | +31 kt | 0 °C | 89 kt | 10 h 10 min | 6:16 am MST (13:16 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 37 kt | +35 kt | -4 °C | 85 kt | 10 h 39 min | 6:45 am MST (13:45 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 40 kt | +37 kt | -7 °C | 83 kt | 10 h 54 min | 7:00 am MST (14:00 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 50 kt | +48 kt | -20 °C | 72 kt | 12 h 34 min | 8:40 am MST (15:40 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 71 kt | +71 kt | -27 °C | 49 kt | 18 h 28 min | 2:34 pm MST (21:34 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 72 kt | +72 kt | -36 °C | 48 kt | 18 h 51 min | 2:57 pm MST (21:57 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 59 kt | +59 kt | -48 °C | 61 kt | 14 h 50 min | 10:56 am MST (17:56 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKC | used from 0 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/28 18° | 250/18 13° | 240/12 6° | 280/24 -6° | 240/34 -18° | 260/47 -30° | 260/51 -40° | 270/58 -50° |
| SLN | used from 50 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 210/53 | 230/41 20° | 240/26 14° | 230/16 8° | 240/25 -7° | 240/35 -19° | 250/61 -30° | 260/65 -38° | 260/56 -49° |
| GCK | used from 199 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 220/48 21° | 230/37 14° | 250/30 8° | 230/37 -6° | 240/37 -20° | 240/69 -28° | 250/67 -37° | 260/58 -48° | |
| TCC | used from 398 nm out; 104 nm from the line | 210/42 | 230/33 14° | 230/32 6° | 220/35 -6° | 230/49 -19° | 240/72 -27° | 250/62 -36° | 250/52 -48° | |
| ALS | used from 498 nm out; 84 nm from the line | 230/37 4° | 220/54 -9° | 230/62 -22° | 240/77 -26° | 240/74 -33° | 230/59 -45° | |||
| ABQ | used from 547 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 220/27 11° | 210/35 5° | 220/46 -9° | 230/62 -20° | 240/78 -25° | 240/80 -35° | 240/56 -47° | ||
| PHX | used from 746 nm out; 134 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° |
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 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,027 ft | 9:53 pm CDT (02:53 UTC) |
| TOP Topeka, KS | 40 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 881 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| SLN Salina, KS | 139 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 15 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 1,288 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| LQR Larned, KS | 219 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 21 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 2,012 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| GCK Garden City, KS | 289 nm out, 17 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 16 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 2,890 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| EHA Elkhart, KS | 368 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 16 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,621 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| AXX Angel Fire, NM | 527 nm out, 17 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,900 feet, a broken layer at 4,500 feet, overcast at 7,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 4,500 ft | 8,379 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| SAF Santa Fe, NM | 587 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 6,348 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| GNT Grants, NM | 677 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, scattered clouds at 5,500 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,536 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| SOW Show Low, AZ | 796 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | reported, no category | from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,415 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| PHX Phoenix, AZ | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,500 feet, a broken layer at 9,500 feet | from the north (360°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 9,500 ft | 1,134 ft | 7:51 pm MST (02:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 8,379 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PHX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:44 am MST (12:44 UTC)
Wind from the east-southeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for PHX
- From Sun 5:00 pm MST (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 11 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Sun 7:00 pm MST (02:00 UTC): wind from the west at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm MST (05:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am MST (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MST (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MST (20:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm MST (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm MST (05:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 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 PHX 5:58 pm MST (00:58 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:23 pm MST (01:23 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PHX is before sunrise there (6:30 am MST (13:30 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, Phoenix Sky Harbor International.