Phoenix Sky Harbor International to Cavern City Air Trml Airport PHX → CNM
396 nautical miles (456 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 097°, about 085° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 18 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 52-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:14 pm MDT (03:14 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now PHX is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 10 knots, gusting to 21; CNM is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 14 knots, gusting to 22. 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: 407 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 W69W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 6:55 pm MST (01:55 UTC). Over the first 307 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 112355 MKCW WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 69W VALID UNTIL 0155Z TX NM AZ FROM 50ENE PGS-60SE ABQ-20ENE ELP-70SSW SSO-50SE BZA-50ENE PGS AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 50 to 277 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 50 to 218 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 69 to 297 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 PHX.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B738 at 17,000 ft, 29 nm north, 4:54 pm MST (23:54 UTC): light rime icing, 9 °C, remarks: during the descent. At the departure end, 29 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
PHX UA /OV PXR330030/TM 2354/FL170/TP B738/TA 09/IC LGT RIME/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through PHX
- Where
- 30 nm northwest (330°) of PXR
- Time
- 23:54 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Temperature
- 9 °C
- Icing
- light rime
- Remarks
- during the descent
- 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
- GLF4 at 45,000 ft, 27 nm north, 4:01 pm MST (23:01 UTC): light to moderate turbulence from 40,000 ft to 45,000 ft, remarks: south zab fdcs. 238 nm along the route, 27 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
TCS UA /OV TCS/TM 2301/FL450/TP GLF4/TB OCNL LGT-MOD 450-400/RM S - ZAB FDCS
- Report
- a routine report filed through TCS
- Where
- over TCS
- Time
- 23:01 UTC
- Height
- at 45,000 ft
- Aircraft
- GLF4
- Turbulence
- occasional light to moderate from 45,000 ft to 40,000 ft
- Remarks
- south zab fdcs
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 4 forecast points nearest it (PHX, TUS, ELP, ROW). 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 | 210° at 17 kt | −5 kt | 15 °C | 125 kt | 3 h 10 min | 10:06 pm MDT (04:06 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 200° at 20 kt | −5 kt | 11 °C | 125 kt | 3 h 10 min | 10:06 pm MDT (04:06 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 200° at 25 kt | −7 kt | 10 °C | 127 kt | 3 h 07 min | 10:03 pm MDT (04:03 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 210° at 30 kt | −9 kt | 6 °C | 129 kt | 3 h 04 min | 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 210° at 34 kt | −13 kt | 2 °C | 133 kt | 2 h 59 min | 9:55 pm MDT (03:55 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 210° at 39 kt | −16 kt | -2 °C | 136 kt | 2 h 55 min | 9:51 pm MDT (03:51 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 44 kt | −20 kt | -6 °C | 140 kt | 2 h 50 min | 9:46 pm MDT (03:46 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 45 kt | −21 kt | -7 °C | 141 kt | 2 h 49 min | 9:45 pm MDT (03:45 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 58 kt | −37 kt | -17 °C | 157 kt | 2 h 31 min | 9:27 pm MDT (03:27 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 72 kt | −43 kt | -26 °C | 163 kt | 2 h 26 min | 9:22 pm MDT (03:22 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 72 kt | −52 kt | -37 °C | 172 kt | 2 h 18 min | 9:14 pm MDT (03:14 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 64 kt | −50 kt | -48 °C | 170 kt | 2 h 20 min | 9:16 pm MDT (03:16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHX | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 210/19 | 210/20 14° | 200/20 6° | 210/40 1° | 220/58 -8° | 220/68 -20° | 220/82 -26° | 230/83 -34° | 230/69 -46° |
| TUS | used from 50 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 220/17 15° | 210/32 7° | 210/43 5° | 210/49 -7° | 220/64 -18° | 220/83 -26° | 230/81 -36° | 230/72 -48° | |
| ELP | used from 198 nm out; 90 nm from the line | 200/15 | 200/16 15° | 200/17 6° | 220/40 -6° | 240/53 -16° | 230/62 -27° | 240/63 -38° | 250/59 -49° | |
| ROW | used from 347 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 180/23 | 190/24 15° | 210/27 7° | 230/35 -6° | 240/53 -17° | 240/62 -27° | 250/64 -38° | 260/60 -50° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHX Phoenix, AZ | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 10 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 1,134 ft | 4:51 pm MST (23:51 UTC) |
| IWA Phoenix, AZ | 20 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,500 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 11 knots, gusting to 15 | 10+ mi | none | 1,384 ft | 23:52 UTC |
| SAD Safford, AZ | 119 nm out, 18 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 11,000 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,178 ft | 23:51 UTC |
| CFT Clifton/Morenci, AZ | 139 nm out, 10 nm south of the line | no report just now | 3,797 ft | ||||
| SVC Silver City, NM | 198 nm out, 19 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,000 feet, overcast at 9,500 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 9 knots, gusting to 17 | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 5,445 ft | 00:35 UTC |
| TCS Truth Or Consequences, NM | 238 nm out, 24 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 9,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,861 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| ALM Alamogordo, NM | 307 nm out, 13 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 4,199 ft | 00:35 UTC |
| CNM Carlsbad, NM | destination | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 14 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 3,294 ft | 5:53 pm MDT (23:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,445 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CNM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:14 pm MDT (03:14 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for CNM
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 25,000 feet
The forecast for PHX, the departure
- From Sun 5:00 pm MST (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 11 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Sun 7:00 pm MST (02:00 UTC): wind from the west at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm MST (05:00 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 18 nm from the route, 297 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZAB
Daylight
Sunset at PHX 5:58 pm MST (00:58 UTC), at CNM 6:28 pm MDT (00:28 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:52 pm MDT (00:52 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CNM is after sunset there (6:29 pm MDT (00:29 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
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, Cavern City Air Trml Airport.