Quad Cities International to Tucson International MLI → TUS
1,127 nautical miles (1,297 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 247°, about 246° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 11 h 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 25-knot headwind), arriving about 10:06 am MST (17:06 UTC). Right now MLI is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 10 knots; TUS is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 4 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: 4 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
- SIGMET 7C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 1:55 am CDT (06:55 UTC). Over the route from 628 to 798 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120455 MKCC WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 7C VALID UNTIL 0655Z TX OK CO NM FROM 40NNW PUB-70WSW LBL-40NE CME-40ESE RSK-30ENE HBU-40NNW PUB AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- 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 10 to 668 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 678 to 997 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 738 to 828 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 1027 nm along 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 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 9 forecast points nearest it (BRL, DSM, MKC, SLN, GCK, AMA, TCC, ABQ, TUS). 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 | 220° at 36 kt | +34 kt | 17 °C | 86 kt | 13 h 06 min | 11:20 am MST (18:20 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | +31 kt | 17 °C | 89 kt | 12 h 40 min | 10:54 am MST (17:54 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | +27 kt | 13 °C | 93 kt | 12 h 07 min | 10:21 am MST (17:21 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +25 kt | 9 °C | 95 kt | 11 h 52 min | 10:06 am MST (17:06 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +25 kt | 5 °C | 95 kt | 11 h 52 min | 10:06 am MST (17:06 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | +28 kt | 1 °C | 92 kt | 12 h 15 min | 10:29 am MST (17:29 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 31 kt | +31 kt | -4 °C | 89 kt | 12 h 40 min | 10:54 am MST (17:54 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 33 kt | +33 kt | -7 °C | 87 kt | 12 h 57 min | 11:11 am MST (18:11 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 43 kt | +44 kt | -19 °C | 76 kt | 14 h 50 min | 1:04 pm MST (20:04 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 63 kt | +63 kt | -28 °C | 57 kt | 19 h 46 min | 6:00 pm MST (01:00 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 64 kt | +64 kt | -37 °C | 56 kt | 20 h 08 min | 6:22 pm MST (01:22 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 57 kt | +56 kt | -49 °C | 64 kt | 17 h 37 min | 3:51 pm MST (22:51 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRL | used from 0 nm out; 30 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/29 15° | 290/16 10° | 280/15 4° | 260/23 -7° | 260/32 -19° | 260/36 -33° | 280/48 -41° | 280/59 -52° |
| DSM | used from 100 nm out; 63 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° |
| MKC | used from 150 nm out; 73 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° |
| SLN | used from 299 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 210/53 | 230/41 20° | 240/26 14° | 230/16 8° | 240/25 -7° | 240/35 -19° | 250/61 -30° | 260/65 -38° | 260/56 -49° |
| GCK | used from 449 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 220/48 21° | 230/37 14° | 250/30 8° | 230/37 -6° | 240/37 -20° | 240/69 -28° | 250/67 -37° | 260/58 -48° | |
| AMA | used from 598 nm out; 96 nm from the line | 210/38 | 230/29 14° | 240/29 7° | 220/27 -5° | 240/37 -18° | 240/66 -28° | 250/59 -37° | 260/47 -49° | |
| TCC | used from 648 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 210/42 | 230/33 14° | 230/32 6° | 220/35 -6° | 230/49 -19° | 240/72 -27° | 250/62 -36° | 250/52 -48° | |
| ABQ | used from 798 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 220/27 11° | 210/35 5° | 220/46 -9° | 230/62 -20° | 240/78 -25° | 240/80 -35° | 240/56 -47° | ||
| TUS | used from 997 nm out; 105 nm from the line | 210/13 13° | 200/35 9° | 210/40 5° | 220/50 -7° | 220/59 -18° | 230/79 -26° | 230/84 -35° | 230/84 -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 | from the south (180°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 11:52 pm CDT (04:52 UTC) |
| FFL Fairfield, IA | 70 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | reported, no category | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 800 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| STJ St Joseph, MO | 219 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 826 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| MHK Manhattan, KS | 319 nm out, 7 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 1,066 ft | 04:52 UTC |
| SLN Salina, KS | 369 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 14 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 1,288 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| GCK Garden City, KS | 519 nm out, 22 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 15 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 2,890 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| EHA Elkhart, KS | 588 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 19 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 3,621 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| LVS Las Vegas, NM | 768 nm out, 14 nm northwest of the line | reported, no category | from the south-southeast (160°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,877 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| ABQ Albuquerque, NM | 848 nm out, 22 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,354 ft | 04:52 UTC |
| SAD Safford, AZ | 1047 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 9,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 3,178 ft | 04:51 UTC |
| TUS Tucson, AZ | destination | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,643 ft | 9:53 pm MST (04:53 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 TUS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:06 am MST (17:06 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for TUS
- From Sun 6:00 pm MST (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet
- From Sun 7:00 pm MST (02:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 am MST (07:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am MST (14:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MST (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet
The forecast for MLI, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 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 MLI 6:26 pm CDT (23:26 UTC), at TUS 5:55 pm MST (00:55 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:19 pm MST (01:19 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: Quad Cities International, Tucson International.
