Kansas City International to Mineta San Jose International MCI → SJC
1,282 nautical miles (1,476 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 273°, about 271° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2E). At 120 knots that is 12 h 13 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 15-knot headwind), arriving about 7:12 am PDT (14:12 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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: 8 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 338 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 398 to 1024 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 408 to 1064 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: 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 route from 497 to 706 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 507 to 567 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 656 to 1083 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 666 to 994 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 706 to 845 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 1034 to 1173 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 10 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
Not fetched just now.
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 10 forecast points nearest it (MKC, SLN, GLD, DEN, GJT, BCE, ELY, BIH, FAT, SFO). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,500 ft | 210° at 25 kt | +15 kt | 10 °C | 105 kt | 12 h 13 min | 7:12 am PDT (14:12 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | +19 kt | 6 °C | 101 kt | 12 h 42 min | 7:41 am PDT (14:41 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 28 kt | +22 kt | 2 °C | 98 kt | 13 h 05 min | 8:04 am PDT (15:04 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 31 kt | +25 kt | -2 °C | 95 kt | 13 h 30 min | 8:29 am PDT (15:29 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 34 kt | +28 kt | -7 °C | 92 kt | 13 h 56 min | 8:55 am PDT (15:55 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 36 kt | +30 kt | -10 °C | 90 kt | 14 h 15 min | 9:14 am PDT (16:14 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 41 kt | +30 kt | -22 °C | 90 kt | 14 h 15 min | 9:14 am PDT (16:14 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 54 kt | +45 kt | -29 °C | 75 kt | 17 h 06 min | 12:05 pm PDT (19:05 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 56 kt | +49 kt | -37 °C | 71 kt | 18 h 03 min | 1:02 pm PDT (20:02 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 55 kt | +51 kt | -47 °C | 69 kt | 18 h 35 min | 1:34 pm PDT (20:34 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; 33 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 50 nm out; 71 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° |
| GLD | used from 248 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 190/29 | 200/30 15° | 240/23 8° | 250/39 -7° | 230/39 -19° | 230/57 -31° | 240/67 -39° | 250/62 -49° | |
| DEN | used from 398 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 190/31 16° | 210/32 7° | 240/41 -8° | 230/47 -21° | 240/56 -32° | 250/65 -37° | 250/61 -47° | ||
| GJT | used from 547 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 210/40 11° | 210/46 3° | 210/61 -10° | 210/68 -22° | 220/57 -29° | 230/59 -36° | 240/66 -46° | ||
| BCE | used from 745 nm out; 83 nm from the line | 210/47 0° | 200/50 -12° | 220/31 -23° | 220/56 -26° | 220/58 -35° | 230/58 -45° | |||
| ELY | used from 845 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 210/20 4° | 240/21 -1° | 230/37 -13° | 200/58 -25° | 220/73 -27° | 220/73 -36° | 220/69 -44° | ||
| BIH | used from 1044 nm out; 60 nm from the line | L/V | 210/14 6° | 210/20 -2° | 230/26 -14° | 220/32 -24° | 220/63 -27° | 220/56 -35° | 230/50 -44° | |
| FAT | used from 1143 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 180/7 | 170/9 7° | 200/20 3° | 210/27 -3° | 240/27 -14° | 230/38 -24° | 220/57 -27° | 230/42 -33° | 230/41 -44° |
| SFO | used from 1242 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 220/11 | L/V 5° | 280/7 1° | 270/15 -3° | 290/23 -14° | 310/29 -24° | 280/26 -28° | 250/30 -34° | 250/36 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCI Kansas City, MO | departure | no report just now | 1,027 ft | ||||
| MHK Manhattan, KS | 89 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,066 ft | ||||
| HLC Hill City, KS | 239 nm out, 3 nm south of the line | no report just now | 2,238 ft | ||||
| CBK Colby, KS | 298 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | no report just now | 3,188 ft | ||||
| APA Denver, CO | 467 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,884 ft | ||||
| ASE Aspen, CO | 567 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower | no report just now | 7,837 ft | ||||
| GJT Grand Junction, CO | 646 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,861 ft | ||||
| RIF Richfield, UT | 815 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 5,318 ft | ||||
| TPH Tonopah, NV | 1044 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 5,430 ft | ||||
| MOD Modesto, CA | 1232 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 99 ft | ||||
| SJC San Jose, CA | destination | no report just now | 62 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,837 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SJC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:12 am PDT (14:12 UTC)
SJC has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8770 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 19 nm from the route, 477 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 12 October · ZDV
- 6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 18 nm from the route, 497 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV
- 6/7094 45NM NE MERCED, CA, Sunday, October 4, 2026 through Tuesday, October 20, 2026 UTC 4 nm from the route, 1173 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 20 October · ZOA
- 6/7231 Santa Clara, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 2 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at MCI 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC), at SJC 6:35 pm PDT (01:35 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm PDT (02:01 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SJC is before sunrise there (7:12 am PDT (14:12 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, Mineta San Jose International.