Plan a flight · Mon 9:59 am CDT (14:59 UTC)

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 22 h 25 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 1-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:24 am AKDT (13:24 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MEM is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots; FAI is low IFR, wind from the north (360°) 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: 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 2W: 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 199 to 449 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 568 to 1017 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 848 to 997 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 997 to 1007 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

BE33 at 4,500 ft, 41 nm southwest, 8:05 am CDT (13:05 UTC): clear from 4,500 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: ZME65. At the departure end, 41 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
UTA UA /OV UTA180015/TM 1305/FL045/TP BE33/SK SKC/RM ZME65
```
Report
a routine report filed through UTA
Where
15 nm south (180°) of UTA
Time
13:05 UTC
Height
at 4,500 ft
Aircraft
BE33
Sky
clear
Remarks
ZME65
B38M at 18,000 ft, 30 nm southwest, 8:04 am CDT (13:04 UTC): light chop turbulence. 399 nm along the route, 30 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
EVU UA /OV EVU/TM 1304/FL180/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through EVU
Where
over EVU
Time
13:04 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light chop
UAL1095 at 36,000 ft, 13 nm east, 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): no turbulence, -41 °C, wind 253° at 52 knots. 608 nm along the route, 13 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL1095 4338N 09646W 1300 F360 MS41 253/052KT TB NONE SK CLEAR IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
C25A at 7,500 ft, 46 nm northeast, 7:31 am CDT (12:31 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the climb. 678 nm along the route, 46 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATY UA /OV ATY/TM 1231/FL075/TP C25A/SK BASEUNKN/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATY
Where
over ATY
Time
12:31 UTC
Height
at 7,500 ft
Aircraft
C25A
Sky
baseunkn
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
during the climb
A321 at 35,000 ft, 45 nm southwest, 8:38 am CDT (13:38 UTC): no turbulence. 788 nm along the route, 45 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MBG UA /OV MBG/TM 1338/FL350/TP A321/SK TOP310/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through MBG
Where
over MBG
Time
13:38 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Sky
TOP310
Turbulence
none
C414 at 9,000 ft, 16 nm southwest, 9:48 am CDT (14:48 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, 13 °C. 818 nm along the route, 16 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
7L2 UA /OV 7L2/TM 1448/FL090/TP C414/SK BASE100/TA 13/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through 7L2
Where
over 7L2
Time
14:48 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
C414
Sky
BASE100
Temperature
13 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
A21N at 34,000 ft, 10 nm southwest, 9:34 am CDT (14:34 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 818 nm along the route, 10 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BIS UA /OV BIS130040/TM 1434/FL340/TP A21N/SK TOP360
```
Report
a routine report filed through BIS
Where
40 nm southeast (130°) of BIS
Time
14:34 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Sky
TOP360
SR22 at 7,000 ft, 29 nm southwest, 8:37 am CDT (13:37 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 7,000 ft to 60,000 ft. 828 nm along the route, 29 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BIS UA /OV BIS170030/TM 1337/FL070/TP SR22/SK SKC/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through BIS
Where
30 nm south (170°) of BIS
Time
13:37 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
SR22
Sky
clear
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
C525 at 3,500 ft, 11 nm southwest, 8:43 am CDT (13:43 UTC): a trace of rime icing, 3 °C, remarks: during the descent. 858 nm along the route, 11 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BIS UA /OV BIS/TM 1343/FL035/TP C525/SK BASES 020 TOPS 055/TA 03/IC TR RIME/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through BIS
Where
over BIS
Time
13:43 UTC
Height
at 3,500 ft
Aircraft
C525
Sky
bases 2,000 ft tops 5,500 ft
Temperature
3 °C
Icing
tr rime
Remarks
during the descent
PA46 at 7,000 ft, 11 nm southwest, 8:11 am CDT (13:11 UTC): remarks: during the climb. 858 nm along the route, 11 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BIS UA /OV BIS/TM 1311/FL070/TP PA46/SK TOPS 062/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through BIS
Where
over BIS
Time
13:11 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
PA46
Sky
tops 6,200 ft
Remarks
during the climb
P46T descending, 12 nm southwest, 7:41 am CDT (12:41 UTC): overcast from 2,000 ft to 5,600 ft. 858 nm along the route, 12 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BIS UA /OV KBIS/TM 1241/FLDURD/TP P46T/SK OVC020-TOP056
```
Report
a routine report filed through BIS
Where
over KBIS
Time
12:41 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
P46T
Sky
overcast from 2,000 ft, tops 5,600 ft
B38M at 34,000 ft, 31 nm northeast, 9:49 am CDT (14:49 UTC): no turbulence. 908 nm along the route, 31 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MOT UA /OV MOT120035/TM 1449/FL340/TP B38M/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through MOT
Where
35 nm southeast (120°) of MOT
Time
14:49 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
none
B738 at 1,600 ft, 1 nm south, 8:34 am CDT (13:34 UTC): remarks: during the climb base of clouds at 600 ft tops 2,500 ft fai atct akfss. At the destination end, 1 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAI UA /OV PAFA180001 /TM 1334 /FL006-025 /TP B738 /RM DURC BASE OF CLDS 006 TOPS 025 FAI ATCT AKFSS
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAI
Where
1 nm south (180°) of PAFA
Time
13:34 UTC
Height
at 006-025
Aircraft
B738
Remarks
during the climb base of clouds at 600 ft tops 2,500 ft fai atct akfss

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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	250° at 5 kt	+1 kt	-2 °C	119 kt	22 h 48 min	5:47 am AKDT (13:47 UTC)
6,500 ft	250° at 6 kt	+1 kt	4 °C	119 kt	22 h 48 min	5:47 am AKDT (13:47 UTC)
8,500 ft	250° at 5 kt	−1 kt	2 °C	121 kt	22 h 25 min	5:24 am AKDT (13:24 UTC)
10,500 ft	260° at 6 kt	−1 kt	1 °C	121 kt	22 h 25 min	5:24 am AKDT (13:24 UTC)
12,500 ft	270° at 7 kt	0	-2 °C	120 kt	22 h 36 min	5:35 am AKDT (13:35 UTC)
14,500 ft	270° at 9 kt	+2 kt	-6 °C	118 kt	22 h 59 min	5:58 am AKDT (13:58 UTC)
16,500 ft	270° at 12 kt	+3 kt	-10 °C	117 kt	23 h 11 min	6:10 am AKDT (14:10 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	280° at 13 kt	+5 kt	-12 °C	115 kt	23 h 35 min	6:34 am AKDT (14:34 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	280° at 20 kt	+9 kt	-25 °C	111 kt	24 h 26 min	7:25 am AKDT (15:25 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	290° at 25 kt	+14 kt	-36 °C	106 kt	25 h 36 min	8:35 am AKDT (16:35 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	280° at 28 kt	+15 kt	-41 °C	105 kt	25 h 50 min	8:49 am AKDT (16:49 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 34 kt	+19 kt	-47 °C	101 kt	26 h 52 min	9:51 am AKDT (17:51 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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	240/14	260/23 16°	250/22 11°	250/20 7°	270/24 -6°	270/27 -16°	310/49 -30°	310/46 -39°	320/43 -50°
CGI	used from 100 nm out; 86 nm from the line	250/22	250/17 15°	250/25 11°	260/27 7°	270/35 -7°	280/38 -17°	300/63 -31°	300/62 -38°	300/55 -49°
SGF	used from 150 nm out; 76 nm from the line	220/23	240/29 16°	240/21 13°	240/15 7°	270/28 -7°	260/34 -18°	280/67 -29°	290/59 -37°	290/51 -49°
COU	used from 199 nm out; 36 nm from the line	240/28	240/22 17°	250/18 12°	260/22 6°	270/23 -7°	260/39 -19°	290/70 -30°	290/71 -37°	290/58 -48°
MKC	used from 299 nm out; 58 nm from the line	220/35	240/30 21°	240/27 13°	240/31 6°	260/31 -7°	250/43 -21°	270/70 -28°	280/72 -36°	280/59 -49°
DSM	used from 349 nm out; 75 nm from the line	230/34	230/32 20°	220/33 12°	240/35 5°	250/39 -7°	250/43 -21°	280/61 -31°	280/73 -37°	280/67 -47°
OMA	used from 399 nm out; 55 nm from the line	210/23	240/34 20°	230/40 14°	220/43 7°	240/38 -8°	250/47 -21°	270/70 -29°	270/79 -36°	270/68 -48°
FSD	used from 549 nm out; 30 nm from the line	260/9	210/16 18°	220/27 14°	230/28 6°	240/39 -9°	240/48 -22°	260/52 -32°	260/61 -38°	260/60 -46°
ABR	used from 648 nm out; 63 nm from the line	020/9	230/5 12°	190/14 11°	200/25 5°	230/37 -11°	230/50 -23°	240/39 -34°	240/49 -38°	240/55 -46°
MOT	used from 848 nm out; 71 nm from the line		L/V 2°	220/12 2°	220/27 0°	220/36 -12°	230/33 -24°	230/39 -34°	230/50 -39°	250/63 -46°
GGW	used from 1097 nm out; 147 nm from the line		360/9 -3°	L/V -4°	250/12 -4°	250/21 -12°	230/25 -27°	220/53 -34°	230/59 -38°	240/64 -44°
GPI	used from 1396 nm out; 373 nm from the line		L/V -3°	L/V -4°	L/V -6°	210/19 -17°	220/26 -32°	190/23 -40°	220/25 -39°	220/34 -42°
SEA	used from 1945 nm out; 745 nm from the line	L/V	L/V 1°	020/13 -2°	020/27 -4°	010/43 -14°	360/54 -26°	360/63 -40°	010/60 -48°	350/39 -50°

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 southwest (220°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	340 ft	8:54 am CDT (13:54 UTC)
TBN Fort Leonard Wood, MO	189 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 10 knots, gusting to 15	10+ mi	none	1,159 ft	14:55 UTC
SUX Sioux City, IA	529 nm out, 16 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,098 ft	14:52 UTC
FSD Sioux Falls, SD	598 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the northeast (050°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	1,430 ft	13:56 UTC
BIS Bismarck, ND	858 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet	from the north (360°) at 6 knots	8 mi	700 ft	1,661 ft	14:52 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	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist	from the north (360°) at 3 knots	3 mi	300 ft	439 ft	6:53 am AKDT (14:53 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, 5:24 am AKDT (13:24 UTC)

Wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for FAI

From Mon 6:00 am AKDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south at 2 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, showers nearby, overcast at 1,500 feet
At times between Mon 6:00 am AKDT (14:00 UTC) and 9:00 am AKDT (17:00 UTC): visibility 3 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet
From Mon 4:00 pm AKDT (00:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet

The forecast for MEM, the departure

From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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 6:36 pm AKDT (02:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:25 pm AKDT (03:25 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at FAI is before sunrise there (8:37 am AKDT (16:37 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

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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.