Norfolk International to Albuquerque International Sunport ORF → ABQ
1,476 nautical miles (1,698 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 275°, about 284° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 14 h 20 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 17-knot headwind), arriving about 4:03 pm MDT (22:03 UTC). Right now ORF is marginal VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 12 knots, gusting to 17; ABQ is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 6 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
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 40 to 130 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 130 to 249 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 170 to 369 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist), from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 189 to 538 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Near the route, 279 nm along the route.
- 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), from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 857 to 1206 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the last 140 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the last 110 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 ORF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E145 at 800 ft, 33 nm north, 2:07 am EDT (06:07 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 60 nm along the route, 33 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
RIC UA /OV RIC340001/TM 0607/FL008/TP E145
- Report
- a routine report filed through RIC
- Where
- 1 nm north (340°) of RIC
- Time
- 06:07 UTC
- Height
- at 800 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
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 15 forecast points nearest it (ORF, RIC, ROA, TRI, TYS, LOU, EVV, CGI, SGF, TUL, OKC, GAG, AMA, 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 | 250° at 20 kt | +21 kt | 16 °C | 99 kt | 14 h 55 min | 4:38 pm MDT (22:38 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 260° at 18 kt | +19 kt | 14 °C | 101 kt | 14 h 37 min | 4:20 pm MDT (22:20 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 270° at 17 kt | +18 kt | 11 °C | 102 kt | 14 h 28 min | 4:11 pm MDT (22:11 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 270° at 16 kt | +17 kt | 8 °C | 103 kt | 14 h 20 min | 4:03 pm MDT (22:03 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 270° at 16 kt | +17 kt | 5 °C | 103 kt | 14 h 20 min | 4:03 pm MDT (22:03 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 270° at 17 kt | +18 kt | 0 °C | 102 kt | 14 h 28 min | 4:11 pm MDT (22:11 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 270° at 19 kt | +20 kt | -3 °C | 100 kt | 14 h 46 min | 4:29 pm MDT (22:29 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 20 kt | +21 kt | -6 °C | 99 kt | 14 h 55 min | 4:38 pm MDT (22:38 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 27 kt | +28 kt | -19 °C | 92 kt | 16 h 03 min | 5:46 pm MDT (23:46 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 42 kt | +43 kt | -30 °C | 77 kt | 19 h 10 min | 8:53 pm MDT (02:53 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 47 kt | +47 kt | -39 °C | 73 kt | 20 h 13 min | 9:56 pm MDT (03:56 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 40 kt | +40 kt | -49 °C | 80 kt | 18 h 27 min | 8:10 pm MDT (02:10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORF | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 250/24 | 230/32 11° | 220/37 10° | 220/37 6° | 230/47 -5° | 230/62 -17° | 220/89 -30° | 220/93 -40° | 230/77 -51° |
| RIC | used from 50 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 270/23 | 280/19 11° | 270/18 8° | 240/22 4° | 230/39 -7° | 220/55 -18° | 220/75 -30° | 230/83 -39° | 230/64 -50° |
| ROA | used from 100 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 310/29 | 330/31 13° | 340/28 7° | 330/25 3° | 310/32 -8° | 300/32 -22° | 290/32 -31° | 270/35 -38° | 270/32 -47° |
| TRI | used from 249 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 330/22 11° | 330/29 7° | 330/32 3° | 330/36 -8° | 320/34 -19° | 320/36 -34° | 320/43 -39° | 320/46 -47° | |
| TYS | used from 349 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 320/20 | 340/18 11° | 340/32 9° | 340/36 4° | 330/37 -7° | 330/38 -19° | 330/50 -34° | 330/53 -38° | 330/44 -48° |
| LOU | used from 399 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 310/18 | 340/28 16° | 340/29 10° | 350/27 3° | 330/27 -7° | 340/39 -19° | 330/58 -33° | 330/67 -41° | 330/40 -49° |
| EVV | used from 499 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 280/15 | 290/12 17° | 310/16 10° | 320/13 5° | 310/22 -6° | 320/26 -18° | 320/38 -33° | 310/56 -41° | 320/55 -51° |
| CGI | used from 598 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 240/20 | 270/15 15° | 280/15 11° | 300/13 6° | 290/20 -6° | 280/24 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/47 -41° | 310/49 -51° |
| SGF | used from 748 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 230/33 | 230/28 15° | 250/20 13° | 240/18 7° | 250/20 -6° | 250/24 -17° | 280/42 -31° | 280/49 -40° | 290/46 -51° |
| TUL | used from 897 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 210/37 | 240/29 17° | 260/15 14° | 260/11 7° | 240/22 -6° | 250/29 -16° | 270/45 -29° | 270/47 -40° | 280/44 -50° |
| OKC | used from 997 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 200/44 | 230/32 18° | 240/13 15° | 240/10 9° | 240/20 -5° | 250/27 -16° | 260/47 -28° | 270/48 -39° | 270/45 -50° |
| GAG | used from 1047 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 220/40 19° | 230/28 14° | 240/23 8° | 230/21 -6° | 240/31 -19° | 250/66 -29° | 260/58 -38° | 260/47 -49° | |
| AMA | used from 1196 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 210/38 | 230/29 14° | 240/29 7° | 220/27 -5° | 240/37 -18° | 240/66 -28° | 250/59 -37° | 260/47 -49° | |
| TCC | used from 1296 nm out; 25 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 1396 nm out; 55 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORF Norfolk, VA | departure | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,900 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 12 knots, gusting to 17 | 10+ mi | 2,900 ft | 26 ft | 3:10 am EDT (07:10 UTC) |
| BKT Blackstone, VA | 80 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 437 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| ROA Roanoke, VA | 179 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,200 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet | from the west (270°) at 15 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | 3,200 ft | 1,175 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| LOZ London, KY | 379 nm out, 5 nm south of the line | VFR | from the north (010°) at 9 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | none | 1,212 ft | 20:18 UTC |
| GLW Glasgow, KY | 469 nm out, 8 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 716 ft | 07:35 UTC |
| PAH Paducah, KY | 598 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 410 ft | 00:00 UTC |
| BBG Branson, MO | 818 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,302 ft | 07:35 UTC |
| SWO Stillwater, OK | 1007 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,000 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| WDG Enid, OK | 1037 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,167 ft | 07:35 UTC |
| DUX Dumas, TX | 1246 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 18 knots, gusting to 27 | 10+ mi | none | 3,706 ft | 07:35 UTC |
| LVS Las Vegas, NM | 1396 nm out, 20 nm north of the line | reported, no category | from the south-southeast (150°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,877 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| ABQ Albuquerque, NM | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 11,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 5,354 ft | 12:52 am MDT (06:52 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 ABQ when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:03 pm MDT (22:03 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ABQ
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 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, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
The forecast for ORF, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the west at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 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 ORF 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 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: Norfolk International, Albuquerque International Sunport.