The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Sun 8:38 pm MST (03:38 UTC)

Phoenix Sky Harbor International to Waco Regional PHX → ACT

756 nautical miles (870 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 094°, about 082° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 33 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 46-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:11 am CDT (08:11 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now PHX is VFR, wind from the north (360°) at 4 knots; ACT is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 12 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: 5 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The return flight

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 3C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 30 knots, until 9:55 pm MST (04:55 UTC). Over the route from 288 to 358 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS32 KKCI 120255
    MKCC WST 120255
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 3C
    VALID UNTIL 0455Z
    TX NM
    FROM 50SE CIM-70WNW MRF-30W ELP-10W FTI-50SE CIM
    AREA TS MOV FROM 22030KT. TOPS TO FL300.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 40 nm along the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 50 to 169 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Near the route, 229 nm along 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 PHX.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

  • B737 at 37,000 ft, 43 nm southwest, 8:20 pm MST (03:20 UTC): scattered clouds, -41 °C, wind 220° at 89 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. At the departure end, 43 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    GYR UA /OV GBN112009 /TM 0320 /FL370 /TP B737 /SK FEW-SCT /TA M41 /WV 22089KT /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
    Report
    a routine report filed through GYR
    Where
    9 nm east (112°) of GBN
    Time
    03:20 UTC
    Height
    at 37,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B737
    Sky
    few-sct
    Temperature
    −41 °C
    Wind
    from 220° at 89 knots
    Remarks
    produced by skypath
  • CRJ7 at 15,000 ft, 42 nm west, 6:55 pm MST (01:55 UTC): light rime icing, -3 °C, remarks: during the descent at 15,000 ft at 13,500 ft. At the departure end, 42 nm west of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    PHX UA /OV GEELA/TM 0155/FL150/TP CRJ7/TA -3/IC LT RIME/RM DURD 150 135
    Report
    a routine report filed through PHX
    Where
    geela
    Time
    01:55 UTC
    Height
    at 15,000 ft
    Aircraft
    CRJ7
    Temperature
    -3
    Icing
    lt rime
    Remarks
    during the descent at 15,000 ft at 13,500 ft
  • A320 at 14,000 ft, 49 nm north, 5:39 pm MST (00:39 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: zab fdcs. At the departure end, 49 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    PHX UA /OV PXR005050/TM 0039/FL140/TP A320/TB LGT-MOD/RM ZAB FDCS
    Report
    a routine report filed through PHX
    Where
    50 nm north (005°) of PXR
    Time
    00:39 UTC
    Height
    at 14,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A320
    Turbulence
    light to moderate
    Remarks
    zab fdcs

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 8 forecast points nearest it (PHX, TUS, ELP, ROW, INK, LBB, ABI, DAL). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
5,500 ft200° at 22 kt−6 kt17 °C126 kt6 h4:38 am CDT (09:38 UTC)
7,500 ft210° at 22 kt−7 kt14 °C127 kt5 h 57 min4:35 am CDT (09:35 UTC)
9,500 ft210° at 22 kt−8 kt12 °C128 kt5 h 54 min4:32 am CDT (09:32 UTC)
11,500 ft220° at 23 kt−11 kt7 °C131 kt5 h 46 min4:24 am CDT (09:24 UTC)
13,500 ft220° at 26 kt−14 kt3 °C134 kt5 h 39 min4:17 am CDT (09:17 UTC)
15,500 ft220° at 29 kt−17 kt-1 °C137 kt5 h 31 min4:09 am CDT (09:09 UTC)
17,500 ft230° at 32 kt−21 kt-5 °C141 kt5 h 22 min4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180230° at 33 kt−21 kt-6 °C141 kt5 h 22 min4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240230° at 45 kt−31 kt-16 °C151 kt5 h3:38 am CDT (08:38 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300230° at 57 kt−42 kt-27 °C162 kt4 h 40 min3:18 am CDT (08:18 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340240° at 55 kt−46 kt-37 °C166 kt4 h 33 min3:11 am CDT (08:11 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390250° at 49 kt−45 kt-49 °C165 kt4 h 35 min3:13 am CDT (08:13 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
PHXused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line150/5200/21 12°200/27 6°200/35 3°220/58 -8°220/69 -19°220/87 -26°230/93 -35°230/79 -47°
TUSused from 99 nm out; 98 nm from the line210/13 13°200/35 9°210/40 5°220/50 -7°220/59 -18°230/79 -26°230/84 -35°230/84 -48°
ELPused from 199 nm out; 97 nm from the line290/17210/11 13°200/18 5°220/46 -6°230/64 -14°230/63 -27°240/55 -37°240/44 -48°
ROWused from 298 nm out; 61 nm from the line190/33210/27 14°220/28 6°230/36 -6°230/56 -15°230/63 -27°250/59 -37°260/57 -49°
INKused from 398 nm out; 56 nm from the line190/23 20°200/18 15°230/18 8°240/23 -4°240/37 -14°240/46 -27°250/42 -38°260/36 -50°
LBBused from 497 nm out; 78 nm from the line200/36 18°220/19 15°240/20 8°230/24 -4°240/37 -16°250/57 -28°250/51 -38°270/47 -50°
ABIused from 547 nm out; 56 nm from the line200/31 17°210/21 15°240/15 9°250/14 -4°250/24 -14°250/36 -28°270/35 -38°290/41 -50°
DALused from 696 nm out; 85 nm from the line190/29220/23 17°220/17 13°250/18 8°230/18 -5°240/18 -15°270/34 -29°280/33 -39°300/36 -51°

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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
PHX Phoenix, AZ departure VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,500 feet, a broken layer at 9,500 feet from the north (360°) at 4 knots 10+ mi 9,500 ft 1,134 ft 7:51 pm MST (02:51 UTC)
IWA Phoenix, AZ 20 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower VFR from the north-northwest (330°) at 12 knots 10+ mi none 1,384 ft 02:51 UTC
CFT Clifton/Morenci, AZ 139 nm out, 17 nm south of the line no report just now 3,797 ft
TCS Truth Or Consequences, NM 239 nm out, 11 nm north of the line VFR from the east-southeast (120°) at 3 knots 10+ mi none 4,861 ft 02:53 UTC
ALM Alamogordo, NM 308 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,800 feet, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet from the east-northeast (070°) at 10 knots 10+ mi 10,000 ft 4,199 ft 03:15 UTC
HOB Hobbs, NM 447 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower VFR from the south-southeast (160°) at 19 knots 10+ mi none 3,660 ft 03:35 UTC
GNC Seminole, TX 477 nm out, 12 nm north of the line VFR from the south (170°) at 9 knots, gusting to 14 10+ mi none 3,314 ft 03:10 UTC
BPG Big Spring, TX 537 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line VFR from the south (170°) at 7 knots 10+ mi none 2,572 ft 03:15 UTC
ABI Abilene, TX 626 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower VFR from the south-southeast (160°) at 10 knots 10+ mi none 1,790 ft 02:52 UTC
MKN Comanche, TX 686 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line reported, no category calm 10+ mi none 1,386 ft 03:15 UTC
ACT Waco, TX destination VFR from the south-southeast (160°) at 12 knots 10+ mi none 516 ft 9:51 pm CDT (02:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 4,861 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At ACT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:11 am CDT (08:11 UTC)

Wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for ACT
  • From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,700 feet, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet
  • At times between Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC) and 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): a broken layer at 2,700 feet
  • From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 17,000 feet
The forecast for PHX, the departure
  • From Sun 8:00 pm MST (03:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
  • From Sun 11:00 pm MST (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
  • From Mon 2:00 am MST (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
  • From Mon 9:00 am MST (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
  • From Mon 1:00 pm MST (20:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
  • From Mon 7:00 pm MST (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
  • From Mon 10:00 pm MST (05:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

  • 6/8722 ALAMOGORDO, NM, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 2 nm from the route, 298 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZAB
  • 6/0543 MCGREGOR, TX 14 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZFW

Daylight

Sunset at PHX 5:58 pm MST (00:58 UTC), at ACT 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:24 pm CDT (00:24 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ACT is before sunrise there (7:29 am CDT (12:29 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

Radar now, the southern Rockies
Radar now, the southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the southern Plains
Radar now, the southern Plains · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: Phoenix Sky Harbor International, Waco Regional.