Ralph Wien Memorial to Merle K (Mudhole) Smith Airport OTZ → CDV
592 nautical miles (682 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 122°, about 113° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 51 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 2-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:39 pm AKDT (05:39 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now OTZ is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (110°) at 18 knots; CDV is marginal VFR, wind from the east (080°) at 4 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 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
No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.
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 OTZ.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- M20P at 11,000 ft, 7 nm southwest, 3:03 pm AKDT (23:03 UTC): light rime icing from 9,000 ft to 10,000 ft, -9 °C, remarks: during the climb zan. 217 nm along the route, 7 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
GAL UA /OV GAL080030/TM 2303/FL110/TP M20P/SK TOP100/TA M09/IC LGT RIME 090-100/RM DURC/ ZAN
- Report
- a routine report filed through GAL
- Where
- 30 nm east (080°) of GAL
- Time
- 23:03 UTC
- Height
- at 11,000 ft
- Aircraft
- M20P
- Sky
- TOP100
- Temperature
- −9 °C
- Icing
- light rime from 9,000 ft to 10,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb zan
- C172 at 2,500 ft, 46 nm southwest, 1:50 pm AKDT (21:50 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, a broken layer above 2,500 ft, light rain, haze, remarks: akfss. 474 nm along the route, 46 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
BCV UA /OV BCV /TM 2150 /FL025 /TP C172 /SK BKN025 /WX -RA HZ /TB NEG /IC NEG /RM AKFSS
- Report
- a routine report filed through BCV
- Where
- over BCV
- Time
- 21:50 UTC
- Height
- at 2,500 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Sky
- a broken layer from 2,500 ft
- Weather
- light rain, haze
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- akfss
- B737 at 3,500 ft, 0 nm southwest, 3:07 pm AKDT (23:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the climb zan. At the destination end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
CDV UA /OV CDV/TM 2307/FL035/TP B737/SK TOP 035/TB LGT CHOP/IC NEG/RM DURC ZAN
- Report
- a routine report filed through CDV
- Where
- over CDV
- Time
- 23:07 UTC
- Height
- at 3,500 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Sky
- top 3,500 ft
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the climb zan
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 6 forecast points nearest it (OTZ, GAL, MCG, TKA, GKN, MDO). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 180° at 12 kt | +8 kt | 112 kt | 5 h 17 min | 10:05 pm AKDT (06:05 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 190° at 12 kt | +6 kt | 114 kt | 5 h 12 min | 10:00 pm AKDT (06:00 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 200° at 11 kt | +4 kt | -9 °C | 116 kt | 5 h 06 min | 9:54 pm AKDT (05:54 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 200° at 11 kt | +4 kt | -13 °C | 116 kt | 5 h 06 min | 9:54 pm AKDT (05:54 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 200° at 13 kt | +4 kt | -18 °C | 116 kt | 5 h 06 min | 9:54 pm AKDT (05:54 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 200° at 14 kt | +5 kt | -22 °C | 115 kt | 5 h 09 min | 9:57 pm AKDT (05:57 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 200° at 15 kt | +5 kt | -26 °C | 115 kt | 5 h 09 min | 9:57 pm AKDT (05:57 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 200° at 16 kt | +5 kt | -30 °C | 115 kt | 5 h 09 min | 9:57 pm AKDT (05:57 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 200° at 16 kt | +5 kt | -31 °C | 115 kt | 5 h 09 min | 9:57 pm AKDT (05:57 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 210° at 18 kt | +5 kt | -41 °C | 115 kt | 5 h 09 min | 9:57 pm AKDT (05:57 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 26 kt | −2 kt | -52 °C | 122 kt | 4 h 51 min | 9:39 pm AKDT (05:39 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 29 kt | +1 kt | -51 °C | 119 kt | 4 h 58 min | 9:46 pm AKDT (05:46 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 33 kt | −2 kt | -48 °C | 122 kt | 4 h 51 min | 9:39 pm AKDT (05:39 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OTZ | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 150/22 | 150/21 -7° | 150/20 -13° | 160/22 -20° | 160/25 -32° | 160/32 -43° | 160/26 -53° | 180/18 -52° | 210/15 -49° |
| GAL | used from 99 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 170/9 | 190/9 -6° | 200/10 -13° | 190/14 -19° | 190/22 -31° | 210/20 -41° | 220/25 -54° | 210/23 -53° | 210/25 -49° |
| MCG | used from 296 nm out; 97 nm from the line | 210/19 | 220/17 -6° | 220/18 -13° | 210/19 -19° | 200/17 -30° | 220/13 -40° | 220/21 -53° | 210/22 -52° | 220/28 -48° |
| TKA | used from 346 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 190/12 | 190/8 -6° | 230/7 -12° | 230/9 -18° | 270/11 -30° | 260/6 -42° | 260/24 -51° | 230/32 -50° | 230/41 -46° |
| GKN | used from 494 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 160/20 | 220/20 -4° | 230/20 -11° | 230/20 -18° | 200/18 -32° | 210/24 -42° | 240/43 -47° | 230/49 -47° | 230/50 -46° |
| MDO | used from 543 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 240/16 | 240/19 -4° | 240/19 -10° | 240/19 -17° | 240/27 -29° | 230/50 -37° | 230/66 -46° | 230/72 -47° | 240/70 -46° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OTZ Kotzebue, AK | departure | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,700 feet, overcast at 6,500 feet | from the east-southeast (110°) at 18 knots | 10+ mi | 3,700 ft | 15 ft | 3:53 pm AKDT (23:53 UTC) |
| D76 Noorvik, AK | 30 nm out, 17 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,300 feet, a broken layer at 5,500 feet | from the east-northeast (060°) at 8 knots | 7 mi | 5,500 ft | 54 ft | 23:56 UTC |
| RBY Ruby, AK | 217 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the east (090°) at 7 knots | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 657 ft | 23:56 UTC |
| MHM Minchumina, AK | 316 nm out, 11 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,900 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,900 ft | 681 ft | 00:42 UTC |
| TKA Talkeetna, AK | 425 nm out, 18 nm southwest of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north (010°) at 3 knots | 1.5 mi | 800 ft | 365 ft | 00:32 UTC |
| SMU Sheep Mountain, AK | 494 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 2,750 ft | ||||
| 7KA Tatitlek, AK | 553 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 61 ft | ||||
| CDV Cordova, AK | destination | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 2,700 feet, overcast at 4,700 feet | from the east (080°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 2,700 ft | 53 ft | 4:13 pm AKDT (00:13 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,750 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CDV when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:39 pm AKDT (05:39 UTC)
Wind from the east at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 2,000 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet marginal VFR
At times between Sun 8:00 pm AKDT (04:00 UTC) and 12:00 am AKDT (08:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, rain showers, mist, a broken layer at 1,500 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for CDV
- From Sun 4:00 pm AKDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 2,000 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet
- At times between Sun 4:00 pm AKDT (00:00 UTC) and 8:00 pm AKDT (04:00 UTC): visibility 3 miles, rain showers, mist, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- From Sun 8:00 pm AKDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the east at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 2,000 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet
- At times between Sun 8:00 pm AKDT (04:00 UTC) and 12:00 am AKDT (08:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, rain showers, mist, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
The forecast for OTZ, the departure
- From Sun 4:00 pm AKDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 17 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a few clouds at 8,000 feet, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet and more above
- From Sun 11:00 pm AKDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 17 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain, mist, a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am AKDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8889 Anchorage, AK, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 9 nm from the route, 464 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZAN
Daylight
Sunset at OTZ 7:32 pm AKDT (03:32 UTC), at CDV 6:40 pm AKDT (02:40 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:23 pm AKDT (03:23 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CDV is after sunset there (6:43 pm AKDT (02:43 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: Ralph Wien Memorial, Merle K (Mudhole) Smith Airport.