Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis Airport to Fairbanks International MEM → FAI
2,713 nautical miles (3,122 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 329°, about 330° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1W). At 120 knots that is 21 h 22 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 7-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:55 pm AKDT (00:55 UTC). Right now MEM is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 3 knots; FAI is IFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 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 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 route from 349 to 519 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 648 to 708 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 848 to 987 nm out.
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 MEM.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B789 at 35,000 ft, 44 nm southwest, 8:57 pm CDT (01:57 UTC): light turbulence. 908 nm along the route, 44 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DIK UA /OV DIK040030/TM 0157/FL350/TP B789/TB CONS LGT/ OCNL MOD CHOP/ NEG 370
- Report
- a routine report filed through DIK
- Where
- 30 nm northeast (040°) of DIK
- Time
- 01:57 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B789
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate chop no at 37,000 ft
- PA24 at 6,000 ft, 13 nm southwest, 7:48 pm CDT (00:48 UTC): light rime icing from 5,000 ft to 6,000 ft, 2 °C. 987 nm along the route, 13 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
XWA UA /OV XWA060040/TM 0048/FL060/TP PA24/TA 02/IC LGT RIME 060-050
- Report
- a routine report filed through XWA
- Where
- 40 nm northeast (060°) of XWA
- Time
- 00:48 UTC
- Height
- at 6,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PA24
- Temperature
- 2 °C
- Icing
- light rime from 6,000 ft to 5,000 ft
- C208 at 9,000 ft, 15 nm northwest, 7:35 pm CDT (00:35 UTC): no icing above 9,000 ft, haze, snow, remarks: fai atct akfss. At the destination end, 15 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
FAI UA /OV PAFA315015 /TM 0035 /FL090 /TP C208 /WX HZ SN /IC NEG 090 /RM FAI ATCT AKFSS
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAI
- Where
- 15 nm northwest (315°) of PAFA
- Time
- 00:35 UTC
- Height
- at 9,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C208
- Weather
- haze, snow
- Icing
- no at 9,000 ft
- Remarks
- fai atct akfss
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 13 forecast points nearest it (MEM, CGI, SGF, COU, MKC, DSM, OMA, FSD, ABR, MOT, GGW, GPI, SEA). 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 | 120° at 5 kt | −7 kt | -1 °C | 127 kt | 21 h 22 min | 4:55 pm AKDT (00:55 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 120° at 3 kt | −6 kt | 4 °C | 126 kt | 21 h 32 min | 5:05 pm AKDT (01:05 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 140° at 3 kt | −6 kt | 1 °C | 126 kt | 21 h 32 min | 5:05 pm AKDT (01:05 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | light and variable | −4 kt | -1 °C | 124 kt | 21 h 53 min | 5:26 pm AKDT (01:26 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 330° at 3 kt | −2 kt | -3 °C | 122 kt | 22 h 14 min | 5:47 pm AKDT (01:47 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 8 kt | +2 kt | -6 °C | 118 kt | 22 h 59 min | 6:32 pm AKDT (02:32 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 320° at 12 kt | +5 kt | -10 °C | 115 kt | 23 h 35 min | 7:08 pm AKDT (03:08 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 15 kt | +8 kt | -13 °C | 112 kt | 24 h 13 min | 7:46 pm AKDT (03:46 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 14 kt | +4 kt | -23 °C | 116 kt | 23 h 23 min | 6:56 pm AKDT (02:56 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 23 kt | +10 kt | -38 °C | 110 kt | 24 h 40 min | 8:13 pm AKDT (04:13 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 29 kt | +14 kt | -43 °C | 106 kt | 25 h 36 min | 9:09 pm AKDT (05:09 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 39 kt | +20 kt | -46 °C | 100 kt | 27 h 08 min | 10:41 pm AKDT (06:41 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEM | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 230/19 | 260/16 15° | 270/17 12° | 300/13 6° | 300/15 -5° | 300/26 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/41 -40° | 310/46 -52° |
| CGI | used from 100 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 240/20 | 270/15 15° | 280/15 11° | 300/13 6° | 290/20 -6° | 280/24 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/47 -41° | 310/49 -51° |
| SGF | used from 150 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 230/33 | 230/28 15° | 250/20 13° | 240/18 7° | 250/20 -6° | 250/24 -17° | 280/42 -31° | 280/49 -40° | 290/46 -51° |
| COU | used from 199 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 230/31 | 230/30 15° | 260/16 11° | 270/14 6° | 260/24 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 270/37 -32° | 280/49 -41° | 290/56 -51° |
| MKC | used from 299 nm out; 58 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° |
| DSM | used from 349 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 230/40 | 250/33 17° | 250/18 12° | 240/17 5° | 260/28 -8° | 270/34 -19° | 260/41 -33° | 260/55 -41° | 270/62 -51° |
| OMA | used from 399 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 220/47 | 240/33 19° | 250/18 11° | 230/17 6° | 260/29 -8° | 250/33 -19° | 250/51 -33° | 260/61 -40° | 270/62 -49° |
| FSD | used from 549 nm out; 30 nm from the line | 190/9 | 230/30 18° | 240/23 13° | 240/20 6° | 260/22 -9° | 250/31 -21° | 250/43 -36° | 260/49 -43° | 270/53 -47° |
| ABR | used from 648 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 070/14 | 250/10 17° | 270/16 11° | 260/28 5° | 260/36 -10° | 260/41 -22° | 270/33 -37° | 260/42 -42° | 260/50 -48° |
| MOT | used from 848 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 120/14 5° | 200/20 4° | 230/33 1° | 250/39 -11° | 250/50 -21° | 240/61 -37° | 250/56 -45° | 260/68 -51° | |
| GGW | used from 1097 nm out; 147 nm from the line | 110/23 0° | 130/20 -2° | 170/24 -3° | 230/44 -11° | 220/51 -21° | 210/52 -39° | 220/64 -44° | 240/85 -48° | |
| GPI | used from 1396 nm out; 373 nm from the line | 070/19 -5° | 100/16 -7° | 080/10 -8° | 130/8 -19° | 170/37 -28° | 200/50 -40° | 210/43 -40° | 220/41 -42° | |
| SEA | used from 1945 nm out; 745 nm from the line | 050/7 | 050/11 1° | 050/12 -5° | 030/31 -7° | 010/61 -15° | 010/69 -26° | 360/73 -40° | 360/62 -47° | 330/21 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEM Memphis, TN | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 340 ft | 9:54 pm CDT (02:54 UTC) |
| TBN Fort Leonard Wood, MO | 189 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,159 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| SUX Sioux City, IA | 529 nm out, 16 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northwest (340°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,098 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | 598 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 18,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,430 ft | 02:56 UTC |
| BIS Bismarck, ND | 858 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 1,661 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| CYDM Ross River, | 2264 nm out, 25 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 2,314 ft | ||||
| CKX Chicken, AK | 2553 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | no report just now | 1,640 ft | ||||
| FAI Fairbanks, AK | destination | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, a broken layer at 2,600 feet, overcast at 6,500 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 500 ft | 439 ft | 7:06 pm AKDT (03:06 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,314 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At FAI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:55 pm AKDT (00:55 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for FAI
- From Sun 4:00 pm AKDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Sun 7:00 pm AKDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am AKDT (10:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- At times between Mon 6:00 am AKDT (14:00 UTC) and 10:00 am AKDT (18:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 700 feet
The forecast for MEM, the departure
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 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 MEM 6:29 pm CDT (23:29 UTC), at FAI 6:39 pm AKDT (02:39 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:29 pm AKDT (03:29 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: Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis Airport, Fairbanks International.