Plan a flight · Mon 10:58 am CDT (15:58 UTC)

Quad Cities International to Albuquerque International Sunport MLI → ABQ

849 nautical miles (977 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 248°, about 247° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 8 h 56 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 25-knot headwind), arriving about 6:54 pm MDT (00:54 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MLI is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 10 knots, gusting to 19; ABQ is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 9 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 80 to 450 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the last 200 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 739 to 799 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 MLI.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

B38M at 18,000 ft, 18 nm northwest, 8:04 am CDT (13:04 UTC): light chop turbulence. 210 nm along the route, 18 nm northwest 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
B737 descending, 42 nm southeast, 9:55 am CDT (14:55 UTC): light turbulence up to 1,500 ft. 230 nm along the route, 42 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MCI UA /OV MCI010002/TM 1455/FLDURD/TP B737/TB LGT TURB 015-SFC
```
Report
a routine report filed through MCI
Where
2 nm north (010°) of MCI
Time
14:55 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light turbulence from 1,500 ft to the surface
GLF4 at 38,000 ft, 23 nm north, 10:30 am CDT (15:30 UTC): light chop turbulence. 250 nm along the route, 23 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AFK UA /OV PWE090025/TM 1530/FL380/TP GLF4/TB CONS LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through AFK
Where
25 nm east (090°) of PWE
Time
15:30 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF4
Turbulence
continuous light chop
P46T at 27,000 ft, 45 nm southeast, 10:38 am CDT (15:38 UTC): light rime icing, -26 °C, remarks: zkcfdc xj. 300 nm along the route, 45 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
EMP UA /OV EMP360030/TM 1538/FL270/TP P46T/TA M26/IC LGT RIME/RM /ZKCFDC XJ
```
Report
a routine report filed through EMP
Where
30 nm north (360°) of EMP
Time
15:38 UTC
Height
at 27,000 ft
Aircraft
P46T
Temperature
−26 °C
Icing
light rime
Remarks
zkcfdc xj
C25B at 18,000 ft, 11 nm southeast, 9:44 am CDT (14:44 UTC): light rime icing from 18,000 ft to 21,000 ft, -5 °C, remarks: zkcfdc xj. 430 nm along the route, 11 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GBD UA /OV GBD/TM 1444/FL180/TP C25B/TA M05/IC LGT RIME 180-210/RM /ZKCFDC XJ
```
Report
a routine report filed through GBD
Where
over GBD
Time
14:44 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
C25B
Temperature
−5 °C
Icing
light rime from 18,000 ft to 21,000 ft
Remarks
zkcfdc xj
BE20 at 16,000 ft, 45 nm southeast, 8:38 am CDT (13:38 UTC): light turbulence, light rime icing, -2 °C, remarks: zkcfdc xj. 520 nm along the route, 45 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LBL UA /OV LBL070035/TM 1338/FL160/TP BE20/TA M02/TB LGT/IC LGT RIME/RM /ZKCFDC XJ
```
Report
a routine report filed through LBL
Where
35 nm east (070°) of LBL
Time
13:38 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Temperature
−2 °C
Turbulence
light
Icing
light rime
Remarks
zkcfdc xj
LJ45 at 43,000 ft, 27 nm northwest, 10:01 am CDT (15:01 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zab fdcs. 659 nm along the route, 27 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TAD UA /OV TBE170015/TM 1501/FL430/TP LJ45/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/ MTN WAVE +/-300FT/RM ZAB FDCS
```
Report
a routine report filed through TAD
Where
15 nm south (170°) of TBE
Time
15:01 UTC
Height
at 43,000 ft
Aircraft
LJ45
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop mountain wave +/-300FT
Remarks
zab fdcs
BE30 at 15,000 ft, 20 nm northwest, 8:27 am CDT (13:27 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zab fdcs. At the destination end, 20 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SAF UA /OV SAF255015/TM 1327/FL150/TP BE30/TB CONS LGT CHOP OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZAB FDCS
```
Report
a routine report filed through SAF
Where
15 nm west (255°) of SAF
Time
13:27 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
BE30
Turbulence
continuous light chop occasional moderate chop
Remarks
zab fdcs
C525 at 12,000 ft, 16 nm southeast, 9:44 am CDT (14:44 UTC): light to moderate turbulence. At the destination end, 16 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ABQ UA /OV ABQ096028/TM 1444/FL120/TP C525/TB LGT-MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through ABQ
Where
28 nm east (096°) of ABQ
Time
14:44 UTC
Height
at 12,000 ft
Aircraft
C525
Turbulence
light to moderate

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 7 forecast points nearest it (BRL, DSM, MKC, SLN, GCK, TCC, ABQ). 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	240° at 26 kt	+25 kt	20 °C	95 kt	8 h 56 min	6:54 pm MDT (00:54 UTC)
6,500 ft	240° at 27 kt	+27 kt	19 °C	93 kt	9 h 08 min	7:06 pm MDT (01:06 UTC)
8,500 ft	230° at 29 kt	+29 kt	13 °C	91 kt	9 h 20 min	7:18 pm MDT (01:18 UTC)
10,500 ft	240° at 33 kt	+33 kt	9 °C	87 kt	9 h 46 min	7:44 pm MDT (01:44 UTC)
12,500 ft	240° at 37 kt	+37 kt	5 °C	83 kt	10 h 14 min	8:12 pm MDT (02:12 UTC)
14,500 ft	240° at 38 kt	+38 kt	0 °C	82 kt	10 h 21 min	8:19 pm MDT (02:19 UTC)
16,500 ft	240° at 39 kt	+39 kt	-4 °C	81 kt	10 h 29 min	8:27 pm MDT (02:27 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	240° at 39 kt	+40 kt	-7 °C	80 kt	10 h 37 min	8:35 pm MDT (02:35 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 46 kt	+46 kt	-20 °C	74 kt	11 h 28 min	9:26 pm MDT (03:26 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 70 kt	+70 kt	-28 °C	50 kt	16 h 59 min	2:57 am MDT (08:57 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 74 kt	+72 kt	-37 °C	48 kt	17 h 41 min	3:39 am MDT (09:39 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 68 kt	+66 kt	-48 °C	54 kt	15 h 43 min	1:41 am MDT (07:41 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
BRL	used from 0 nm out; 31 nm from the line	240/28	240/25 18°	250/26 12°	260/29 5°	260/24 -8°	270/36 -20°	280/57 -33°	290/65 -37°	290/54 -46°
DSM	used from 100 nm out; 60 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°
MKC	used from 200 nm out; 55 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°
SLN	used from 300 nm out; 41 nm from the line	210/26	250/36 22°	240/39 14°	240/38 7°	240/42 -9°	240/49 -20°	260/75 -27°	260/76 -36°	270/71 -48°
GCK	used from 450 nm out; 43 nm from the line		250/23 20°	230/35 13°	240/47 7°	240/42 -7°	250/43 -20°	240/81 -28°	250/87 -37°	250/83 -49°
TCC	used from 649 nm out; 81 nm from the line		230/14	240/29 12°	220/39 6°	230/48 -6°	230/52 -19°	230/77 -27°	240/77 -37°	250/71 -49°
ABQ	used from 749 nm out; 75 nm from the line			200/19 9°	220/32 3°	230/52 -7°	220/67 -20°	230/86 -26°	230/87 -36°	230/87 -49°

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
MLI Moline, IL	departure	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 10 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	none	589 ft	10:52 am CDT (15:52 UTC)
FFL Fairfield, IA	70 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 9 knots, gusting to 18	10+ mi	none	800 ft	15:35 UTC
TVK Centerville, IA	120 nm out, 2 nm east of the line	VFR Weather: haze	from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots	6 mi	none	1,023 ft	15:35 UTC
STJ St Joseph, MO	220 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 17 knots, gusting to 25	10+ mi	none	826 ft	15:53 UTC
MHK Manhattan, KS	310 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 16 knots, gusting to 23	10+ mi	none	1,066 ft	15:52 UTC
SLN Salina, KS	360 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 22 knots, gusting to 28	10+ mi	none	1,288 ft	15:53 UTC
GBD Great Bend, KS	430 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 13 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	none	1,886 ft	15:56 UTC
GCK Garden City, KS	520 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-southwest (250°) at 16 knots	10+ mi	none	2,890 ft	15:54 UTC
CAO Clayton, NM	659 nm out, 14 nm south of the line	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 19 knots, gusting to 29	10+ mi	none	4,969 ft	15:55 UTC
SAF Santa Fe, NM	809 nm out, 16 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	6,348 ft	15:53 UTC
ABQ Albuquerque, NM	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	5,354 ft	9:52 am MDT (15:52 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,348 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At ABQ when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:54 pm MDT (00:54 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for ABQ

From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet

The forecast for MLI, the departure

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
From Tue 2:00 am CDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 11 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 MLI 6:26 pm CDT (23:26 UTC), at ABQ 6:34 pm MDT (00:34 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm MDT (00:59 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ABQ is after sunset there (6:35 pm MDT (00:35 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 upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Plains · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern 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: Quad Cities International, Albuquerque International Sunport.