The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Sun 4:30 pm MST (23:30 UTC)

Phoenix Sky Harbor International to EL Paso International PHX → ELP

301 nautical miles (347 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 107°, about 095° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 1 h 51 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 42-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:21 pm MDT (01:21 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now PHX is VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 14 knots; ELP is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 10 knots, gusting to 19. 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: 5,063 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 W64W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 37,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 5:55 pm MST (00:55 UTC). Over the first 291 nm of the route.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 112255
    MKCW WST 112255
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 64W
    VALID UNTIL 0055Z
    TX NM AZ
    FROM 50ENE PGS-60SE ABQ-10W ELP-30E TUS-70SE EED-50ENE PGS
    AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL370.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 58 to 253 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 58 to 223 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 68 to 291 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

  • urgent P32T at 10,000 ft, 19 nm south, 1:40 pm MST (20:40 UTC): remarks: zab fdcs. 78 nm along the route, 19 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    TUS UUA /OV TUS010041/TM 2040/FL100/TP P32T/TB LLWS +/-20KT/RM ZAB FDCS
    Report
    an urgent report filed through TUS
    Where
    41 nm north (010°) of TUS
    Time
    20:40 UTC
    Height
    at 10,000 ft
    Aircraft
    P32T
    Turbulence
    low-level wind shear a 20-knot loss of airspeed
    Remarks
    zab fdcs
  • C68A at 43,000 ft, 12 nm south, 1:42 pm MST (20:42 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zab fdcs. 204 nm along the route, 12 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    LSB UA /OV SSO083052/TM 2042/FL430/TP C68A/TB MOD CHOP/RM ZAB FDCS
    Report
    a routine report filed through LSB
    Where
    52 nm east (083°) of SSO
    Time
    20:42 UTC
    Height
    at 43,000 ft
    Aircraft
    C68A
    Turbulence
    moderate chop
    Remarks
    zab fdcs
  • B38M at 13,000 ft, 20 nm southwest, 2:03 pm MST (21:03 UTC): no icing, overcast up to 13,000 ft, 0 °C, wind 210° at 45 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. At the departure end, 20 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    GYR UA /OV PXR216021 /TM 2103 /FL130 /TP B38M /SK BKN-OVC-TOP130 /TA 00 /WV 21045KT /IC NEG /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
    Report
    a routine report filed through GYR
    Where
    21 nm southwest (216°) of PXR
    Time
    21:03 UTC
    Height
    at 13,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B38M
    Sky
    BKN-OVC-TOP130
    Temperature
    0 °C
    Wind
    from 210° at 45 knots
    Icing
    none
    Remarks
    produced by skypath
  • B739 at 31,000 ft, 17 nm northeast, 1:59 pm MST (20:59 UTC): remarks: zab fdcs. 194 nm along the route, 17 nm northeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    SVC UA /OV SVC/TM 2059/FL310/TP B739/SK TOP310/RM ZAB FDCS
    Report
    a routine report filed through SVC
    Where
    over SVC
    Time
    20:59 UTC
    Height
    at 31,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B739
    Sky
    TOP310
    Remarks
    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 3 forecast points nearest it (PHX, TUS, ELP). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
5,500 ft210° at 17 kt−4 kt15 °C124 kt2 h 26 min7:56 pm MDT (01:56 UTC)
7,500 ft210° at 20 kt−4 kt11 °C124 kt2 h 26 min7:56 pm MDT (01:56 UTC)
9,500 ft210° at 26 kt−4 kt9 °C124 kt2 h 26 min7:56 pm MDT (01:56 UTC)
11,500 ft210° at 32 kt−5 kt6 °C125 kt2 h 24 min7:54 pm MDT (01:54 UTC)
13,500 ft210° at 37 kt−8 kt2 °C128 kt2 h 21 min7:51 pm MDT (01:51 UTC)
15,500 ft210° at 41 kt−10 kt-2 °C130 kt2 h 19 min7:49 pm MDT (01:49 UTC)
17,500 ft210° at 46 kt−13 kt-6 °C133 kt2 h 16 min7:46 pm MDT (01:46 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180210° at 47 kt−13 kt-7 °C133 kt2 h 16 min7:46 pm MDT (01:46 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240230° at 60 kt−28 kt-18 °C148 kt2 h 02 min7:32 pm MDT (01:32 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300220° at 75 kt−31 kt-26 °C151 kt2 h7:30 pm MDT (01:30 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340230° at 75 kt−42 kt-36 °C162 kt1 h 51 min7:21 pm MDT (01:21 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390240° at 66 kt−40 kt-48 °C160 kt1 h 53 min7:23 pm MDT (01:23 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
PHXused from 0 nm out; 24 nm from the line210/19210/20 14°200/20 6°210/40 1°220/58 -8°220/68 -20°220/82 -26°230/83 -34°230/69 -46°
TUSused from 49 nm out; 59 nm from the line220/17 15°210/32 7°210/43 5°210/49 -7°220/64 -18°220/83 -26°230/81 -36°230/72 -48°
ELPused from 194 nm out; 83 nm from the line200/15200/16 15°200/17 6°220/40 -6°240/53 -16°230/62 -27°240/63 -38°250/59 -49°

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: a few clouds at 4,500 feet, a few clouds at 7,500 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet from the west (270°) at 14 knots 10+ mi none 1,134 ft 3:51 pm MST (22:51 UTC)
IWA Phoenix, AZ 19 nm out, 2 nm south of the line, tower VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,500 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet from the west-southwest (250°) at 17 knots, gusting to 20 10+ mi 8,000 ft 1,384 ft 23:27 UTC
SAD Safford, AZ 126 nm out, 4 nm north of the line VFR Sky: a broken layer at 10,000 feet Weather: light rain from the south-southwest (210°) at 17 knots, gusting to 30 10+ mi 10,000 ft 3,178 ft 22:51 UTC
CFT Clifton/Morenci, AZ 146 nm out, 17 nm north of the line no report just now 3,797 ft
LSB Lordsburg, NM 175 nm out, 11 nm south of the line VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 9,500 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet from the south-southwest (200°) at 18 knots, gusting to 29 10+ mi none 4,287 ft 23:15 UTC
DMN Deming, NM 223 nm out, 5 nm east of the line VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet from the southwest (230°) at 14 knots, gusting to 22 10+ mi none 4,314 ft 22:53 UTC
DNA Santa Teresa, NM 282 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,900 feet, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet from the north-northwest (330°) at 10 knots, gusting to 17 9 mi none 4,112 ft 23:15 UTC
ELP El Paso, TX destination VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 feet, a few clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet from the south-southwest (200°) at 10 knots, gusting to 19 10+ mi none 3,961 ft 4:51 pm MDT (22:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 4,314 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At ELP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:21 pm MDT (01:21 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet VFR

At times between Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30

The whole forecast for ELP
  • From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
  • At times between Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30
  • From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for PHX, the departure
  • From Sun 2:00 pm MST (21:00 UTC): wind from the south at 19 knots, gusting to 31, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet and more above
  • From Sun 3:00 pm MST (22:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
  • From Sun 5:00 pm MST (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 9 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, 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 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 2:00 pm MST (21:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 11 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

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at PHX 5:58 pm MST (00:58 UTC), at ELP 6:36 pm MDT (00:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm MDT (01:01 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ELP is after sunset there (6:38 pm MDT (00:38 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, EL Paso International.