Quad Cities International to Santa FE Regional MLI → SAF
810 nautical miles (932 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 249°, about 248° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 8 h 32 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 25-knot headwind), arriving about 2:36 pm MDT (20:36 UTC). Right now MLI is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots; SAF is VFR, wind calm. 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 20 to 530 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 140 nm of the route.
- 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). Near the route, 690 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the last 70 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 MLI.
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 08:00–15:00 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 35 kt | +35 kt | 22 °C | 85 kt | 9 h 32 min | 3:36 pm MDT (21:36 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 29 kt | +29 kt | 19 °C | 91 kt | 8 h 54 min | 2:58 pm MDT (20:58 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | +25 kt | 14 °C | 95 kt | 8 h 32 min | 2:36 pm MDT (20:36 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | +26 kt | 9 °C | 94 kt | 8 h 37 min | 2:41 pm MDT (20:41 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 27 kt | +27 kt | 5 °C | 93 kt | 8 h 43 min | 2:47 pm MDT (20:47 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 29 kt | +29 kt | 0 °C | 91 kt | 8 h 54 min | 2:58 pm MDT (20:58 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 31 kt | +32 kt | -4 °C | 88 kt | 9 h 12 min | 3:16 pm MDT (21:16 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 33 kt | +33 kt | -8 °C | 87 kt | 9 h 19 min | 3:23 pm MDT (21:23 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 44 kt | +45 kt | -20 °C | 75 kt | 10 h 48 min | 4:52 pm MDT (22:52 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 66 kt | +66 kt | -30 °C | 54 kt | 15 h | 9:04 pm MDT (03:04 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 67 kt | +64 kt | -37 °C | 56 kt | 14 h 28 min | 8:32 pm MDT (02:32 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 62 kt | +58 kt | -48 °C | 62 kt | 13 h 04 min | 7:08 pm MDT (01:08 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRL | used from 0 nm out; 31 nm from the line | 250/32 | 250/19 17° | 260/15 11° | 270/16 3° | 290/23 -7° | 260/42 -20° | 270/52 -34° | 280/63 -39° | 290/64 -48° |
| DSM | used from 100 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 250/47 | 260/25 20° | 240/19 11° | 240/31 5° | 250/26 -9° | 260/38 -20° | 260/47 -34° | 270/58 -37° | 270/61 -47° |
| MKC | used from 200 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 240/49 | 240/21 20° | 220/19 13° | 230/21 6° | 260/26 -7° | 250/37 -19° | 270/66 -31° | 270/65 -38° | 280/60 -48° |
| SLN | used from 300 nm out; 44 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° |
| GCK | used from 450 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 240/40 22° | 240/40 14° | 240/38 7° | 230/39 -7° | 230/45 -20° | 250/73 -28° | 260/74 -36° | 260/64 -49° | |
| TCC | used from 650 nm out; 93 nm from the line | 240/20 | 230/22 13° | 230/27 6° | 230/40 -7° | 240/55 -18° | 240/74 -27° | 240/68 -37° | 250/64 -49° | |
| ABQ | used from 750 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 220/19 9° | 220/35 3° | 230/50 -8° | 240/64 -19° | 230/83 -26° | 230/85 -36° | 230/80 -48° |
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 Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 6:52 am CDT (11:52 UTC) |
| FFL Fairfield, IA | 70 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 12,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 800 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| TVK Centerville, IA | 120 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 12,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 12,000 ft | 1,023 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| STJ St Joseph, MO | 220 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 826 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| MHK Manhattan, KS | 310 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,066 ft | 11:52 UTC |
| SLN Salina, KS | 360 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 12 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 1,288 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| RSL Russell, KS | 410 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | none | 1,863 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| GCK Garden City, KS | 520 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 20 knots, gusting to 31 | 10+ mi | none | 2,890 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| JHN Johnson City, KS | 570 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 17 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,325 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| RTN Raton, NM | 710 nm out, 20 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the north-northwest (330°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,352 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| LVS Las Vegas, NM | 770 nm out, 21 nm southeast of the line | reported, no category | calm | 10+ mi | none | 6,877 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| SAF Santa Fe, NM | destination | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 6,348 ft | 5:53 am MDT (11:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,877 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SAF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:36 pm MDT (20:36 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SAF
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 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 SAF 6:31 pm MDT (00:31 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:57 pm MDT (00:57 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: Quad Cities International, Santa FE Regional.