Pinal Airpark to George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport MZJ → IAH
834 nautical miles (959 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 096°, about 084° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 13 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 40-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:41 am CDT (05:41 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MZJ is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 9 knots, gusting to 14; IAH is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (120°) at 11 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: 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
- SIGMET W69W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 6:55 pm MST (01:55 UTC). Over the first 268 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 112355 MKCW WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 69W VALID UNTIL 0155Z TX NM AZ FROM 50ENE PGS-60SE ABQ-20ENE ELP-70SSW SSO-50SE BZA-50ENE PGS AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 10 to 248 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 30 to 208 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 30 to 179 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 MZJ.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- GLF5 at 10,000 ft, 30 nm north, 3:06 pm MST (22:06 UTC): moderate turbulence. 615 nm along the route, 30 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
TEB UA /OV MUGSY/TM 2206/FL100/TP GLF5/TB MODERATE FROM 100 TO 50
- Report
- a routine report filed through TEB
- Where
- mugsy
- Time
- 22:06 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- GLF5
- Turbulence
- moderate from 10,000 ft to 50
- F2TH descending, 23 nm south, 3:58 pm MST (22:58 UTC): light turbulence. At the departure end, 23 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
TUS UA /OV R22 FINAL/TM 2258/FLDURD/TP F2TH/TB LT TURBULENCE 14000 TO 9000FT
- Report
- a routine report filed through TUS
- Where
- R22 final
- Time
- 22:58 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- F2TH
- Turbulence
- lt turbulence wind from 140° at 0 knots to 9000FT
- A320 at 24,000 ft, 2 nm south, 3:07 pm MST (22:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb zhu. At the destination end, 2 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAH UA /OV IAH/TM 2207/FL240/TP A320/TB OCNL LGT CHOP /RM DURC. ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAH
- Where
- over IAH
- Time
- 22:07 UTC
- Height
- at 24,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
- Remarks
- during the climb zhu
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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd 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 (TUS, ELP, INK, ABI, SAT, CLL, HOU). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 180° at 18 kt | +4 kt | 18 °C | 116 kt | 7 h 11 min | 2:39 am CDT (07:39 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 190° at 19 kt | +1 kt | 14 °C | 119 kt | 7 h 01 min | 2:29 am CDT (07:29 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 200° at 20 kt | −4 kt | 11 °C | 124 kt | 6 h 44 min | 2:12 am CDT (07:12 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 210° at 20 kt | −8 kt | 8 °C | 128 kt | 6 h 31 min | 1:59 am CDT (06:59 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 22 kt | −11 kt | 4 °C | 131 kt | 6 h 22 min | 1:50 am CDT (06:50 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 25 kt | −14 kt | 0 °C | 134 kt | 6 h 13 min | 1:41 am CDT (06:41 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | −17 kt | -4 °C | 137 kt | 6 h 05 min | 1:33 am CDT (06:33 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 29 kt | −18 kt | -5 °C | 138 kt | 6 h 03 min | 1:31 am CDT (06:31 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 37 kt | −28 kt | -15 °C | 148 kt | 5 h 38 min | 1:06 am CDT (06:06 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 45 kt | −32 kt | -28 °C | 152 kt | 5 h 29 min | 12:57 am CDT (05:57 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 46 kt | −39 kt | -39 °C | 159 kt | 5 h 15 min | 12:43 am CDT (05:43 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 42 kt | −40 kt | -50 °C | 160 kt | 5 h 13 min | 12:41 am CDT (05:41 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TUS | used from 0 nm out; 21 nm from the line | 220/17 15° | 210/32 7° | 210/43 5° | 210/49 -7° | 220/64 -18° | 220/83 -26° | 230/81 -36° | 230/72 -48° | |
| ELP | used from 149 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 200/15 | 200/16 15° | 200/17 6° | 220/40 -6° | 240/53 -16° | 230/62 -27° | 240/63 -38° | 250/59 -49° | |
| INK | used from 347 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 160/27 20° | 190/18 13° | 240/19 7° | 250/23 -4° | 250/33 -15° | 230/45 -28° | 250/45 -39° | 270/49 -50° | |
| ABI | used from 546 nm out; 91 nm from the line | 180/26 17° | 220/18 12° | 230/25 8° | 230/28 -5° | 240/29 -14° | 250/35 -28° | 270/37 -39° | 280/37 -51° | |
| SAT | used from 595 nm out; 89 nm from the line | 130/22 | 140/24 18° | 170/19 13° | 190/13 7° | 240/15 -4° | 220/14 -13° | 270/11 -28° | 280/10 -40° | 310/18 -51° |
| CLL | used from 695 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 160/18 | 190/18 16° | 200/19 12° | 220/14 7° | 260/18 -5° | 250/20 -13° | 290/29 -29° | 290/31 -40° | 300/22 -53° |
| HOU | used from 794 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 160/18 | 160/14 17° | 180/19 12° | 190/11 8° | 260/12 -4° | 260/14 -13° | 310/26 -30° | 310/30 -40° | 320/21 -52° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MZJ Marana, AZ | departure | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 9 knots, gusting to 14 | 10+ mi | none | 1,893 ft | 5:10 pm MST (00:10 UTC) |
| TUS Tucson, AZ | 20 nm out, 21 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 12 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 2,643 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| LSB Lordsburg, NM | 129 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 11,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 16 knots, gusting to 28 | 10+ mi | none | 4,287 ft | 00:15 UTC |
| DNA Santa Teresa, NM | 238 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | VFR | from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,112 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| ELP El Paso, TX | 258 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | none | 3,961 ft | 23:51 UTC |
| PEQ Pecos, TX | 407 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 17 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 2,613 ft | 00:15 UTC |
| INK Wink, TX | 417 nm out, 17 nm north of the line | reported, no category | from the south-southeast (150°) at 23 knots, gusting to 29 | none | 2,821 ft | 23:53 UTC | |
| SJT San Angelo, TX | 556 nm out, 19 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 15 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 1,918 ft | 23:51 UTC |
| AQO Llano, TX | 655 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,101 ft | 00:15 UTC |
| EDC Austin, TX | 714 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 620 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| TME Houston, TX | 804 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 165 ft | 22:15 UTC |
| IAH Houston, TX | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the east-southeast (120°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 95 ft | 6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,287 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At IAH when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:41 am CDT (05:41 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for IAH
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC) and 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): light rain showers
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/4240 SAN ANGELO, TX, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 11 nm from the route, 566 nm along the route · security · until 1 November · ZFW
- 6/5849 Austin, TX, Friday, October 2, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 13 nm from the route, 705 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZHU
Daylight
Sunset at MZJ 5:56 pm MST (00:56 UTC), at IAH 6:55 pm CDT (23:55 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:19 pm CDT (00:19 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at IAH is before sunrise there (7:21 am CDT (12:21 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: Pinal Airpark, George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport.