Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field to Albuquerque International Sunport MSN → ABQ
938 nautical miles (1,079 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 245°, about 248° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 10 h 12 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 28-knot headwind), arriving about 3:48 pm MDT (21:48 UTC). Right now MSN is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 7 knots; ABQ 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: 2 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 100 to 608 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 180 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, 778 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 838 to 908 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 MSN.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B739 at 34,000 ft, 46 nm east, 5:58 am CDT (10:58 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 46 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
UES UA /OV BAE/TM 1058/FL340/TP B739/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through UES
- Where
- over BAE
- Time
- 10:58 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Turbulence
- none
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 8 forecast points nearest it (DBQ, DSM, OMA, SLN, GCK, PUB, 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 34 kt | +34 kt | 22 °C | 86 kt | 10 h 54 min | 4:30 pm MDT (22:30 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 30 kt | +30 kt | 19 °C | 90 kt | 10 h 25 min | 4:01 pm MDT (22:01 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 28 kt | +28 kt | 13 °C | 92 kt | 10 h 12 min | 3:48 pm MDT (21:48 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 29 kt | +29 kt | 9 °C | 91 kt | 10 h 18 min | 3:54 pm MDT (21:54 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 31 kt | +31 kt | 4 °C | 89 kt | 10 h 32 min | 4:08 pm MDT (22:08 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 32 kt | +32 kt | 0 °C | 88 kt | 10 h 40 min | 4:16 pm MDT (22:16 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 34 kt | +34 kt | -5 °C | 86 kt | 10 h 54 min | 4:30 pm MDT (22:30 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 35 kt | +35 kt | -8 °C | 85 kt | 11 h 02 min | 4:38 pm MDT (22:38 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 44 kt | +44 kt | -20 °C | 76 kt | 12 h 21 min | 5:57 pm MDT (23:57 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 61 kt | +60 kt | -31 °C | 60 kt | 15 h 38 min | 9:14 pm MDT (03:14 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 64 kt | +62 kt | -37 °C | 58 kt | 16 h 10 min | 9:46 pm MDT (03:46 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 62 kt | +57 kt | -48 °C | 63 kt | 14 h 53 min | 8:29 pm MDT (02:29 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DBQ | used from 0 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 250/27 | 260/23 17° | 240/26 10° | 260/30 4° | 280/26 -9° | 280/36 -21° | 270/41 -36° | 280/52 -41° | 290/67 -48° |
| DSM | used from 150 nm out; 40 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° |
| OMA | used from 249 nm out; 51 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° |
| SLN | used from 399 nm out; 60 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 499 nm out; 84 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° | |
| PUB | used from 698 nm out; 101 nm from the line | 260/45 11° | 240/38 6° | 230/47 -8° | 230/51 -19° | 240/74 -29° | 240/82 -35° | 250/72 -48° | ||
| TCC | used from 748 nm out; 88 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 848 nm out; 65 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSN Madison, WI | departure | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 22,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 22,000 ft | 886 ft | 5:53 am CDT (10:53 UTC) |
| DBQ Dubuque, IA | 70 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,076 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| CID Cedar Rapids, IA | 130 nm out, 21 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 869 ft | 10:52 UTC |
| DSM Des Moines, IA | 219 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 11,000 feet, a broken layer at 19,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 957 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| AFK Nebraska City, NE | 329 nm out, 1 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | none | 1,165 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| RPB Belleville, KS | 419 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | no report just now | 1,538 ft | ||||
| HYS Hays, KS | 519 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 15 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,999 ft | 10:56 UTC |
| GCK Garden City, KS | 608 nm out, 19 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 20 knots, gusting to 33 | 10+ mi | none | 2,890 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| JHN Johnson City, KS | 658 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 17 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 3,325 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| RTN Raton, NM | 798 nm out, 23 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,352 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| SAF Santa Fe, NM | 898 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 6,348 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| ABQ Albuquerque, NM | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 5,354 ft | 4:52 am MDT (10:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,352 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, 3:48 pm MDT (21:48 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 MSN, the departure
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest 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 southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Tue 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west 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
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at MSN 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at ABQ 6:34 pm MDT (00:34 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm MDT (00:59 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: Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field, Albuquerque International Sunport.