MC Allen International to Lincoln Airport MFE → LNK
884 nautical miles (1,017 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 004°, about 000° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 03 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, a 26-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:32 pm CDT (17:32 UTC). Right now MFE is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (120°) at 4 knots; LNK is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 14 knots, gusting to 20. 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 last 378 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 MFE.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A320 at 21,000 ft, 33 nm east, 5:45 am CDT (10:45 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 199 nm along the route, 33 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
SAT UA /OV SAT090060/TM 1045/FL210/TP A320/TB OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through SAT
- Where
- 60 nm east (090°) of SAT
- Time
- 10:45 UTC
- Height
- at 21,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- occasional moderate chop
- Remarks
- zhu
- B737 at 1,800 ft, 28 nm west, 6:18 am CDT (11:18 UTC): remarks: KSAT base 1,800 ft, on top 3,500 ft. 209 nm along the route, 28 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
SAT UA /OV SAT/TM 1118/FL018/TP B737/RM KSAT BASE 018, ON TOP 035
- Report
- a routine report filed through SAT
- Where
- over SAT
- Time
- 11:18 UTC
- Height
- at 1,800 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- KSAT base 1,800 ft, on top 3,500 ft
- A320 at 2,300 ft, 28 nm west, 5:37 am CDT (10:37 UTC): remarks: KSAT base 2,300 ft, on top 4,000 ft. 209 nm along the route, 28 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
SAT UA /OV SAT/TM 1037/FL023/TP A320/RM KSAT BASE 023, ON TOP 040
- Report
- a routine report filed through SAT
- Where
- over SAT
- Time
- 10:37 UTC
- Height
- at 2,300 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Remarks
- KSAT base 2,300 ft, on top 4,000 ft
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed
The eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd 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 (BRO, CRP, SAT, CLL, DAL, SPS, OKC, ICT, SLN, OMA). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 210° at 29 kt | −26 kt | 146 kt | 6 h 03 min | 12:32 pm CDT (17:32 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 210° at 26 kt | −23 kt | 143 kt | 6 h 11 min | 12:40 pm CDT (17:40 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 220° at 20 kt | −17 kt | 16 °C | 137 kt | 6 h 27 min | 12:56 pm CDT (17:56 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 15 kt | −12 kt | 13 °C | 132 kt | 6 h 42 min | 1:11 pm CDT (18:11 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 13 kt | −10 kt | 9 °C | 130 kt | 6 h 48 min | 1:17 pm CDT (18:17 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 15 kt | −10 kt | 4 °C | 130 kt | 6 h 48 min | 1:17 pm CDT (18:17 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 18 kt | −11 kt | 0 °C | 131 kt | 6 h 45 min | 1:14 pm CDT (18:14 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | −12 kt | -5 °C | 132 kt | 6 h 42 min | 1:11 pm CDT (18:11 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 21 kt | −12 kt | -6 °C | 132 kt | 6 h 42 min | 1:11 pm CDT (18:11 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 24 kt | −12 kt | -16 °C | 132 kt | 6 h 42 min | 1:11 pm CDT (18:11 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 40 kt | −9 kt | -29 °C | 129 kt | 6 h 51 min | 1:20 pm CDT (18:20 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 35 kt | +2 kt | -38 °C | 118 kt | 7 h 29 min | 1:58 pm CDT (18:58 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 33 kt | +14 kt | -50 °C | 106 kt | 8 h 20 min | 2:49 pm CDT (19:49 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRO | used from 0 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 160/15 | 160/15 18° | 170/11 14° | 150/7 9° | L/V -4° | 170/6 -15° | 100/15 -29° | 100/14 -41° | 040/26 -51° |
| CRP | used from 50 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 140/21 | 160/22 17° | 180/14 13° | 210/6 9° | 270/10 -5° | 200/8 -13° | L/V -29° | L/V -40° | 030/28 -51° |
| SAT | used from 149 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 160/18 | 180/22 17° | 190/16 14° | 210/16 9° | 220/16 -5° | 200/11 -14° | 250/8 -29° | 330/8 -40° | 020/26 -51° |
| CLL | used from 248 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 180/24 | 170/21 19° | 180/10 14° | 230/7 8° | 230/16 -6° | 260/20 -13° | 290/23 -29° | 320/21 -39° | 340/35 -51° |
| DAL | used from 298 nm out; 91 nm from the line | 190/30 | 200/28 18° | 220/18 13° | 250/13 8° | 240/24 -6° | 270/20 -14° | 270/35 -29° | 290/34 -39° | 310/41 -51° |
| SPS | used from 447 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 220/35 | 220/31 18° | 230/16 14° | 230/10 8° | 250/18 -5° | 250/32 -16° | 260/51 -28° | 280/46 -38° | 300/50 -50° |
| OKC | used from 497 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 220/43 | 230/31 17° | 260/13 16° | 270/11 7° | 240/20 -6° | 250/32 -17° | 260/60 -28° | 280/50 -37° | 290/45 -50° |
| ICT | used from 646 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 230/45 | 240/33 21° | 230/23 14° | 230/22 7° | 240/29 -7° | 240/36 -20° | 260/78 -29° | 270/69 -36° | 270/56 -49° |
| SLN | used from 745 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 230/49 | 240/41 22° | 230/26 15° | 220/21 7° | 240/38 -8° | 240/44 -21° | 260/77 -29° | 270/70 -36° | 270/63 -48° |
| OMA | used from 844 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 230/47 | 240/33 21° | 230/22 13° | 220/27 5° | 240/35 -8° | 250/43 -21° | 260/47 -33° | 260/59 -36° | 270/58 -46° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MFE Mc Allen, TX | departure | VFR | from the east-southeast (120°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 107 ft | 5:59 am CDT (10:59 UTC) |
| BKS Falfurrias, TX | 60 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,400 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 111 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| ALI Alice, TX | 99 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,900 feet, a broken layer at 2,400 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet | from the east-southeast (120°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 2,400 ft | 178 ft | 11:17 UTC |
| HYI Austin, TX | 228 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,900 feet, overcast at 2,400 feet | from the east (090°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 1,900 ft | 594 ft | 10:56 UTC |
| GRK Fort Hood (Killeen), TX | 298 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,400 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 7 knots | 9 mi | 3,000 ft | 1,015 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| FTW Fort Worth, TX | 397 nm out, 14 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 710 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| ADM Ardmore, OK | 487 nm out, 23 nm east of the line, tower | reported, no category | calm | none | 776 ft | 11:15 UTC | |
| OUN Norman, OK | 546 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,181 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| BEC Wichita, KS | 695 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 15 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,408 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| MHK Manhattan, KS | 785 nm out, 14 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,066 ft | 10:52 UTC |
| BIE Beatrice, NE | 854 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 10 knots, gusting to 15 | 10+ mi | none | 1,323 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| LNK Lincoln, NE | destination | VFR | from the south (190°) at 14 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 1,218 ft | 5:54 am CDT (10:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,408 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At LNK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:32 pm CDT (17:32 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 28, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for LNK
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 28, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for MFE, the departure
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm CDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
- From Tue 12:00 am CDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/0543 MCGREGOR, TX 14 nm from the route, 318 nm along the route · security · ZFW
Daylight
Sunset at MFE 7:07 pm CDT (00:07 UTC), at LNK 6:51 pm CDT (23:51 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:19 pm CDT (00:19 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: MC Allen International, Lincoln Airport.