Pinal Airpark to Chicago O'Hare International MZJ → ORD
1,250 nautical miles (1,438 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 056°, about 044° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 62-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:35 am CDT (09:35 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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 7W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 8:55 pm MST (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 50 to 160 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120155 MKCW WST 120155 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 7W VALID UNTIL 0355Z NM AZ FROM 30NW SJN-30W TCS-60SE SSO-50SE TUS-70S INW-30NW SJN DMSHG AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL310.
- SIGMET 6W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 8:55 pm MST (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 210 to 430 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120155 MKCW WST 120155 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 6W VALID UNTIL 0355Z CO NM FROM 50SSW DEN-30NNE TBE-50SSW CME-50E SJN-20NE DVC-50SSW DEN 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 40 to 410 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 80 to 300 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 130 to 460 nm out.
- 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 510 to 980 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
- A321 descending, 32 nm southeast, 5:26 pm MST (00:26 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the departure end, 32 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
TUS UA /OV FINAL RWY 12/TM 0026/FLDURD/TP A321/TB LIGHT CHOP ON FINAL
- Report
- a routine report filed through TUS
- Where
- final runway 12
- Time
- 00:26 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- light chop on final
- B737 at 14,000 ft, 13 nm northwest, 5:15 pm MST (00:15 UTC): light turbulence above 14,000 ft. 270 nm along the route, 13 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ABQ UA /OV ABQ275007/TM 0015/FL140/TP B737/TB LGT ABV 140
- Report
- a routine report filed through ABQ
- Where
- 7 nm west (275°) of ABQ
- Time
- 00:15 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- light above 14,000 ft
- CRJ7 at 10,000 ft, 18 nm northwest, 4:49 pm MST (23:49 UTC): remarks: light turbulence, bases above 10,000 ft, vsby 3 miles continuously, during the descent rnav runway 20 KSAF. 320 nm along the route, 18 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SAF UA /OV KSAF/TM 2349/FL100 /TP CRJ7/RM LIGHT TURBULENCE, BASES ABOVE 100, VSBY 3 MILES CONTINUOUSLY, DURD RNAV RY20 KSAF
- Report
- a routine report filed through SAF
- Where
- over KSAF
- Time
- 23:49 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Remarks
- light turbulence, bases above 10,000 ft, vsby 3 miles continuously, during the descent rnav runway 20 KSAF
- UAL2499 at 28,000 ft, 39 nm northwest, 7:15 pm MST (02:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. 1090 nm along the route, 39 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL2499 4138N 09137W 0215 F280 TB INTMT LGT CHOP IC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
- A321 at 32,000 ft, 24 nm north, 6:56 pm MST (01:56 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: pocket continuous light turbulence. 1180 nm along the route, 24 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
RPJ UA /OV PLL/TM 0156/FL320/TP A321/TB CONS LGT/RM POCKET CONS LGT TB
- Report
- a routine report filed through RPJ
- Where
- over PLL
- Time
- 01:56 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- continuous light
- Remarks
- pocket continuous light turbulence
- B39M at 35,000 ft, 32 nm southeast, 5:29 pm MST (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. At the destination end, 32 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
IKK UA /OV CGT/TM 0029/FL350/TP B39M/TB NEG/RM SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through IKK
- Where
- over CGT
- Time
- 00:29 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- smooth
- CRJ7 at 17,000 ft, 41 nm east, 5:04 pm MST (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. At the destination end, 41 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
BEH UA /OV ELX270040/TM 0004/FL170/TP CRJ7/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through BEH
- Where
- 40 nm west (270°) of ELX
- Time
- 00:04 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Turbulence
- none
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 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 9 forecast points nearest it (TUS, ABQ, TCC, GCK, SLN, MKC, DSM, BRL, JOT). 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 | 230° at 32 kt | −32 kt | 18 °C | 152 kt | 8 h 13 min | 5:56 am CDT (10:56 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | −28 kt | 14 °C | 148 kt | 8 h 27 min | 6:10 am CDT (11:10 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | −25 kt | 11 °C | 145 kt | 8 h 37 min | 6:20 am CDT (11:20 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | −24 kt | 7 °C | 144 kt | 8 h 41 min | 6:24 am CDT (11:24 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | −26 kt | 3 °C | 146 kt | 8 h 34 min | 6:17 am CDT (11:17 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | −29 kt | -2 °C | 149 kt | 8 h 23 min | 6:06 am CDT (11:06 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 31 kt | −32 kt | -6 °C | 152 kt | 8 h 13 min | 5:56 am CDT (10:56 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 32 kt | −32 kt | -7 °C | 152 kt | 8 h 13 min | 5:56 am CDT (10:56 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 42 kt | −42 kt | -19 °C | 162 kt | 7 h 43 min | 5:26 am CDT (10:26 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 59 kt | −60 kt | -29 °C | 180 kt | 6 h 57 min | 4:40 am CDT (09:40 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 62 kt | −62 kt | -38 °C | 182 kt | 6 h 52 min | 4:35 am CDT (09:35 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 57 kt | −56 kt | -49 °C | 176 kt | 7 h 06 min | 4:49 am CDT (09:49 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TUS | used from 0 nm out; 37 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° | |
| ABQ | used from 150 nm out; 105 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° | ||
| TCC | used from 350 nm out; 75 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° | |
| GCK | used from 500 nm out; 89 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° | |
| SLN | used from 700 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° |
| MKC | used from 850 nm out; 55 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° |
| DSM | used from 950 nm out; 73 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° |
| BRL | used from 1000 nm out; 66 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° |
| JOT | used from 1150 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 250/23 | 270/22 15° | 250/16 10° | 240/9 4° | 280/22 -7° | 280/29 -19° | 300/29 -34° | 290/50 -43° | 300/64 -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 | no report just now | 1,893 ft | ||||
| ABQ Albuquerque, NM | 280 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,354 ft | ||||
| CAO Clayton, NM | 470 nm out, 10 nm south of the line | no report just now | 4,969 ft | ||||
| GCK Garden City, KS | 610 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 2,890 ft | ||||
| GBD Great Bend, KS | 700 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 1,886 ft | ||||
| SLN Salina, KS | 770 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,288 ft | ||||
| STJ St Joseph, MO | 910 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 826 ft | ||||
| MPZ Mount Pleasant, IA | 1080 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 730 ft | ||||
| ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL | 1220 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 712 ft | ||||
| ORD Chicago, IL | destination | no report just now | 680 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,354 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ORD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:35 am CDT (09:35 UTC)
ORD has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
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 MZJ 5:56 pm MST (00:56 UTC), at ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:43 pm CDT (23:43 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ORD is before sunrise there (7:00 am CDT (12:00 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, Chicago O'Hare International.