Chicago O'Hare International to Santa FE Regional ORD → SAF
930 nautical miles (1,070 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 252°, about 255° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 9 h 24 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 21-knot headwind), arriving about 6:33 am MDT (12:33 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ORD is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 7 knots; SAF is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) 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: 201 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 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 277 to 831 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 148 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the last 109 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 30 nm of 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 ORD.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B39M at 35,000 ft, 32 nm southeast, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. At the departure 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
- A321 at 32,000 ft, 23 nm north, 8:56 pm CDT (01:56 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: pocket continuous light turbulence. 69 nm along the route, 23 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
- UAL2499 at 28,000 ft, 36 nm north, 9:15 pm CDT (02:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. 168 nm along the route, 36 nm north 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
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 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 (JOT, BRL, DSM, MKC, 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 | 230° at 37 kt | +35 kt | 21 °C | 85 kt | 10 h 56 min | 8:05 am MDT (14:05 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 33 kt | +33 kt | 17 °C | 87 kt | 10 h 41 min | 7:50 am MDT (13:50 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | +26 kt | 13 °C | 94 kt | 9 h 54 min | 7:03 am MDT (13:03 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | +22 kt | 9 °C | 98 kt | 9 h 29 min | 6:38 am MDT (12:38 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | +21 kt | 5 °C | 99 kt | 9 h 24 min | 6:33 am MDT (12:33 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | +24 kt | 1 °C | 96 kt | 9 h 41 min | 6:50 am MDT (12:50 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | +26 kt | -3 °C | 94 kt | 9 h 54 min | 7:03 am MDT (13:03 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 28 kt | +28 kt | -7 °C | 92 kt | 10 h 07 min | 7:16 am MDT (13:16 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 36 kt | +37 kt | -19 °C | 83 kt | 11 h 12 min | 8:21 am MDT (14:21 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 53 kt | +54 kt | -30 °C | 66 kt | 14 h 05 min | 11:14 am MDT (17:14 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 58 kt | +57 kt | -39 °C | 63 kt | 14 h 46 min | 11:55 am MDT (17:55 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 56 kt | +53 kt | -49 °C | 67 kt | 13 h 53 min | 11:02 am MDT (17:02 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOT | used from 0 nm out; 23 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° |
| BRL | used from 99 nm out; 42 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° |
| DSM | used from 247 nm out; 67 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° |
| MKC | used from 297 nm out; 59 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° |
| SLN | used from 396 nm out; 66 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° |
| GCK | used from 544 nm out; 68 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° | |
| PUB | used from 742 nm out; 104 nm from the line | 230/25 13° | 230/32 6° | 220/44 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 240/70 -28° | 240/67 -34° | 240/58 -46° | ||
| TCC | used from 792 nm out; 84 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° | |
| ABQ | used from 890 nm out; 62 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORD Chicago, IL | departure | VFR | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 680 ft | 9:51 pm CDT (02:51 UTC) |
| ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL | 30 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 712 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| MLI Moline, IL | 119 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| TVK Centerville, IA | 237 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,023 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| STJ St Joseph, MO | 346 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 826 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| MHK Manhattan, KS | 435 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,066 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| SLN Salina, KS | 485 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 15 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 1,288 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| GCK Garden City, KS | 633 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 16 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 2,890 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| ULS Ulysses, KS | 673 nm out, 3 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 20 knots, gusting to 26 | 10+ mi | none | 3,071 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| RTN Raton, NM | 831 nm out, 21 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 9,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 6,352 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| LVS Las Vegas, NM | 890 nm out, 21 nm southeast of the line | reported, no category | from the south-southeast (160°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,877 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| SAF Santa Fe, NM | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 6,348 ft | 8:53 pm MDT (02:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,877 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SAF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:33 am MDT (12:33 UTC)
Wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SAF
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet
- 30% chance between Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind variable at 20 knots, gusting to 35, light thunderstorms with rain, a broken layer at 6,000 feet (thunderheads)
- From Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
The forecast for ORD, the departure
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 30,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 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 ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC), at SAF 6:33 pm MDT (00:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm MDT (00:58 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SAF is before sunrise there (7:08 am MDT (13:08 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: Chicago O'Hare International, Santa FE Regional.