Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field to Phoenix Sky Harbor International MSN → PHX
1,212 nautical miles (1,394 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 249°, about 252° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 12 h 45 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 25-knot headwind), arriving about 3:03 pm MST (22:03 UTC). Right now MSN is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 5 knots; PHX is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 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: 1,256 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 first 834 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 715 to 1152 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 765 to 963 nm out.
- 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). Over the route from 983 to 1132 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 1063 to 1182 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 1142 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 1152 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 MSN.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A333 at 38,000 ft, 13 nm north, 3:23 am CDT (08:23 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw +/-15KT zdvwc. 814 nm along the route, 13 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ALS UA /OV ALS085025/TM 0823/FL380/TP A333/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-15KT. ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ALS
- Where
- 25 nm east (085°) of ALS
- Time
- 08:23 UTC
- Height
- at 38,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A333
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Remarks
- mtw +/-15KT zdvwc
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 9 forecast points nearest it (DBQ, DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, PUB, ALS, FMN, PHX). 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 31 kt | +32 kt | 23 °C | 88 kt | 13 h 46 min | 4:04 pm MST (23:04 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 28 kt | +29 kt | 17 °C | 91 kt | 13 h 19 min | 3:37 pm MST (22:37 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | +25 kt | 10 °C | 95 kt | 12 h 45 min | 3:03 pm MST (22:03 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | +28 kt | 7 °C | 92 kt | 13 h 10 min | 3:28 pm MST (22:28 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 31 kt | +31 kt | 4 °C | 89 kt | 13 h 37 min | 3:55 pm MST (22:55 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 34 kt | +34 kt | -1 °C | 86 kt | 14 h 06 min | 4:24 pm MST (23:24 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 37 kt | +37 kt | -5 °C | 83 kt | 14 h 36 min | 4:54 pm MST (23:54 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 39 kt | +39 kt | -9 °C | 81 kt | 14 h 58 min | 5:16 pm MST (00:16 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 50 kt | +51 kt | -21 °C | 69 kt | 17 h 34 min | 7:52 pm MST (02:52 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 66 kt | +67 kt | -31 °C | 53 kt | 22 h 52 min | 1:10 am MST (08:10 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 73 kt | +74 kt | -36 °C | 46 kt | 26 h 21 min | 4:39 am MST (11:39 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 68 kt | +69 kt | -47 °C | 51 kt | 23 h 46 min | 2:04 am MST (09:04 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 149 nm out; 43 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 248 nm out; 41 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° |
| GRI | used from 397 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 230/39 23° | 230/32 15° | 210/29 7° | 230/31 -8° | 230/43 -21° | 250/52 -31° | 260/59 -35° | 260/59 -46° | |
| GLD | used from 497 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 260/37 | 260/25 14° | 250/27 8° | 230/36 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 250/71 -30° | 260/82 -36° | 250/73 -48° | |
| PUB | used from 695 nm out; 51 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° | ||
| ALS | used from 794 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 240/35 3° | 230/54 -9° | 240/66 -19° | 230/85 -26° | 240/87 -34° | 240/70 -47° | |||
| FMN | used from 894 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 220/16 6° | 220/39 1° | 220/50 -10° | 230/67 -23° | 230/94 -29° | 230/102 -35° | 230/90 -46° | ||
| PHX | used from 1092 nm out; 94 nm from the line | 190/15 | 210/25 12° | 200/34 4° | 200/34 2° | 220/58 -9° | 220/75 -19° | 220/91 -28° | 220/100 -35° | 220/95 -47° |
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 | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 886 ft | 3:53 am CDT (08:53 UTC) |
| DBQ Dubuque, IA | 70 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,076 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| DSM Des Moines, IA | 218 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 957 ft | 08:54 UTC |
| LNK Lincoln, NE | 357 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,218 ft | 08:54 UTC |
| CEK Crete, NE | 367 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 1,499 ft | ||||
| PHG Phillipsburg, KS | 497 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,910 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| LHX La Junta, CO | 715 nm out, 7 nm north of the line | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,228 ft | 15:53 UTC |
| TAD Trinidad, CO | 775 nm out, 14 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,761 ft | 08:54 UTC |
| SKX Taos, NM | 854 nm out, 22 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 7,094 ft | ||||
| XNI Zuni, NM | 1033 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,700 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 1,700 ft | 6,371 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| TYL Taylor, AZ | 1102 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | reported, no category | from the south-southwest (210°) at 13 knots, gusting to 17 | 10+ mi | none | 5,823 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| PHX Phoenix, AZ | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,134 ft | 1:51 am MST (08:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,094 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PHX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:03 pm MST (22:03 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for PHX
- From Mon 2:00 am MST (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MST (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MST (20:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MST (01:00 UTC): wind from the west at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm MST (05:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
The forecast for MSN, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, 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 PHX 5:57 pm MST (00:57 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:22 pm MST (01:22 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, Phoenix Sky Harbor International.