Plan a flight · Sun 4:57 pm AKDT (00:57 UTC)

Merrill Field to Takotna Airport MRI → TCT

204 nautical miles (235 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 304°, about 291° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 1 h 42 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, no wind along the track), arriving about 6:39 pm AKDT (02:39 UTC). Right now MRI is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) 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: 202 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

No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.

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 MRI.

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

BE20 at 2,000 ft, 0 nm south, 4:48 pm AKDT (00:48 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MRI UA /OV MRI/TM 0048/FL020/TP BE20/WX FV20SM/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through MRI
Where
over MRI
Time
00:48 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Weather
flight visibility 20 miles
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
C207 at 1,000 ft, 3 nm west, 3:08 pm AKDT (23:08 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 3 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MRI UA /OV MRI260003/TM 2308/FL010/TP C207/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through MRI
Where
3 nm west (260°) of MRI
Time
23:08 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
C207
Turbulence
none
B747 at 5,800 ft, 17 nm southwest, 2:48 pm AKDT (22:48 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, overcast from 4,000 ft to 5,500 ft; a broken layer above 2,000 ft, -11 °C, remarks: clear between layers, clear above. At the departure end, 17 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ANC UA /OV TED200013/TM 2248/FL058/TP B747/SK BKN020 OVC040 TOP055/WX M11/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM CLEAR BETWEEN LAYERS, CLEAR ABOVE
```
Report
a routine report filed through ANC
Where
13 nm south (200°) of TED
Time
22:48 UTC
Height
at 5,800 ft
Aircraft
B747
Sky
BKN020 OVC040 TOP055
Weather
−11 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
clear between layers, clear above
B737 at 14,000 ft, 13 nm southeast, 2:45 pm AKDT (22:45 UTC): light rime icing up to 14,000 ft, remarks: during the descent peter arrival. At the departure end, 13 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ANC UA /OV TED090015/TM 2245/FL140/TP B737/IC LGT RIME 140 BLO/RM DURD PETER ARR
```
Report
a routine report filed through ANC
Where
15 nm east (090°) of TED
Time
22:45 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Icing
light rime at 14,000 ft below
Remarks
during the descent peter arrival
B737 at 5,000 ft, 13 nm south, 3:30 pm AKDT (23:30 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the descent gasto. 10 nm along the route, 13 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ANC UA /OV TED230010/TM 2330/FL050/TP B737/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD GASTO
```
Report
a routine report filed through ANC
Where
10 nm southwest (230°) of TED
Time
23:30 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent gasto
B777 at 6,400 ft, 15 nm south, 2:17 pm AKDT (22:17 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 10 nm along the route, 15 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ANC UA /OV TED222012/TM 2217/FL064/TP B777/SK TOP065/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through ANC
Where
12 nm southwest (222°) of TED
Time
22:17 UTC
Height
at 6,400 ft
Aircraft
B777
Sky
TOP065
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
PC12 at 4,000 ft, 1 nm northwest, 3:30 pm AKDT (23:30 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the climb northwest bound. 19 nm along the route, 1 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ANC UA /OV TED300020/TM 2330/FL040/TP PC12/SK TOP070/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURC NORTHWEST BOUND
```
Report
a routine report filed through ANC
Where
20 nm northwest (300°) of TED
Time
23:30 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
TOP070
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
during the climb northwest bound
PC12 at 1,600 ft, 4 nm northeast, 4:28 pm AKDT (00:28 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the climb zan. 194 nm along the route, 4 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MCG UA /OV MCG/TM 0028/FL016/TP PC12/SK BASE016/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURC /ZAN/
```
Report
a routine report filed through MCG
Where
over MCG
Time
00:28 UTC
Height
at 1,600 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
BASE016
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
during the climb zan

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 3 forecast points nearest it (ANC, TKA, MCG). 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	210° at 14 kt	0		120 kt	1 h 42 min	6:39 pm AKDT (02:39 UTC)
6,500 ft	220° at 14 kt	+1 kt	-7 °C	119 kt	1 h 43 min	6:40 pm AKDT (02:40 UTC)
8,500 ft	220° at 15 kt	+3 kt	-11 °C	117 kt	1 h 45 min	6:42 pm AKDT (02:42 UTC)
10,500 ft	220° at 15 kt	+3 kt	-15 °C	117 kt	1 h 45 min	6:42 pm AKDT (02:42 UTC)
12,500 ft	220° at 15 kt	+3 kt	-20 °C	117 kt	1 h 45 min	6:42 pm AKDT (02:42 UTC)
14,500 ft	220° at 14 kt	+3 kt	-24 °C	117 kt	1 h 45 min	6:42 pm AKDT (02:42 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 13 kt	+3 kt	-27 °C	117 kt	1 h 45 min	6:42 pm AKDT (02:42 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 12 kt	+3 kt	-30 °C	117 kt	1 h 45 min	6:42 pm AKDT (02:42 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 11 kt	+5 kt	-40 °C	115 kt	1 h 46 min	6:43 pm AKDT (02:43 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 22 kt	+8 kt	-52 °C	112 kt	1 h 49 min	6:46 pm AKDT (02:46 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	220° at 29 kt	+5 kt	-51 °C	115 kt	1 h 46 min	6:43 pm AKDT (02:43 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	230° at 36 kt	+8 kt	-47 °C	112 kt	1 h 49 min	6:46 pm AKDT (02:46 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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
ANC	used from 0 nm out; 22 nm from the line	220/10	220/14 -6°	240/17 -11°	250/18 -18°	270/14 -31°	270/14 -40°	230/28 -51°	230/42 -49°	230/49 -46°
TKA	used from 49 nm out; 59 nm from the line	190/12	190/8 -6°	230/7 -12°	230/9 -18°	270/11 -30°	260/6 -42°	260/24 -51°	230/32 -50°	230/41 -46°
MCG	used from 97 nm out; 71 nm from the line	210/19	220/17 -6°	220/18 -13°	210/19 -19°	200/17 -30°	220/13 -40°	220/21 -53°	210/22 -52°	220/28 -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
MRI Anchorage, AK	departure	VFR Sky: overcast at 4,600 feet	from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	4,600 ft	143 ft	4:53 pm AKDT (00:53 UTC)
UUO Willow, AK	19 nm out, 24 nm northeast of the line	no report just now				215 ft
SKW Skwentna, AK	58 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line	no report just now				148 ft
TNW Farewell Lake, AK	136 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line	no report just now				1,185 ft
FSP Nikolai, AK	165 nm out, 24 nm northeast of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 700 feet, a broken layer at 3,400 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	3,400 ft	447 ft	00:01 UTC
TCT Takotna, AK	destination	no report just now				423 ft

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,185 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At TCT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:39 pm AKDT (02:39 UTC)

TCT has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8772 Anchorage, AK, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local on the route, at the departure end · security · starts tomorrow · ZAN
6/8889 Anchorage, AK, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local on the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZAN

Daylight

Sunset at MRI 6:56 pm AKDT (02:56 UTC), at TCT 7:17 pm AKDT (03:17 UTC) (civil twilight ends 8:03 pm AKDT (04:03 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, Alaska · 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: Merrill Field, Takotna Airport.