Phoenix Sky Harbor International to Blue Grass Airport PHX → LEX
1,359 nautical miles (1,563 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 070°, about 058° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 41 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 57-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:02 pm EDT (16:02 UTC). Right now PHX is VFR, wind from the east (090°) at 3 knots; LEX is low IFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 3 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
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 20 to 100 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 100 to 350 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 42,000 ft. Over the route from 110 to 380 nm out.
- 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). Over the route from 509 to 959 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, fog). Over the last 80 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 PHX.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 12 forecast points nearest it (PHX, ABQ, TCC, AMA, GAG, ICT, TUL, SGF, COU, CGI, EVV, LOU). 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 | 230° at 19 kt | −17 kt | 137 kt | 9 h 55 min | 2:16 pm EDT (18:16 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | −22 kt | 19 °C | 142 kt | 9 h 34 min | 1:55 pm EDT (17:55 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | −21 kt | 13 °C | 141 kt | 9 h 38 min | 1:59 pm EDT (17:59 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | −19 kt | 11 °C | 139 kt | 9 h 47 min | 2:08 pm EDT (18:08 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 18 kt | −18 kt | 7 °C | 138 kt | 9 h 51 min | 2:12 pm EDT (18:12 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | −20 kt | 3 °C | 140 kt | 9 h 42 min | 2:03 pm EDT (18:03 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | −23 kt | -1 °C | 143 kt | 9 h 30 min | 1:51 pm EDT (17:51 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | −25 kt | -6 °C | 145 kt | 9 h 22 min | 1:43 pm EDT (17:43 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 26 kt | −26 kt | -7 °C | 146 kt | 9 h 18 min | 1:39 pm EDT (17:39 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 34 kt | −35 kt | -18 °C | 155 kt | 8 h 46 min | 1:07 pm EDT (17:07 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 51 kt | −53 kt | -29 °C | 173 kt | 7 h 51 min | 12:12 pm EDT (16:12 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 55 kt | −57 kt | -38 °C | 177 kt | 7 h 41 min | 12:02 pm EDT (16:02 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 45 kt | −46 kt | -49 °C | 166 kt | 8 h 11 min | 12:32 pm EDT (16:32 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHX | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 150/5 | 200/21 12° | 200/27 6° | 200/35 3° | 220/58 -8° | 220/69 -19° | 220/87 -26° | 230/93 -35° | 230/79 -47° |
| ABQ | used from 150 nm out; 110 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° | ||
| TCC | used from 350 nm out; 59 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° | |
| AMA | used from 499 nm out; 44 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° | |
| GAG | used from 549 nm out; 52 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° | |
| ICT | used from 699 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 200/48 | 230/39 19° | 240/24 14° | 240/20 8° | 240/22 -6° | 250/31 -18° | 250/61 -29° | 260/58 -38° | 270/54 -49° |
| TUL | used from 749 nm out; 58 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° |
| SGF | used from 849 nm out; 65 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° |
| COU | used from 999 nm out; 84 nm from the line | 230/31 | 230/30 15° | 260/16 11° | 270/14 6° | 260/24 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 270/37 -32° | 280/49 -41° | 290/56 -51° |
| CGI | used from 1049 nm out; 54 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° |
| EVV | used from 1149 nm out; 48 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° |
| LOU | used from 1249 nm out; 39 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° |
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: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 9,500 feet | from the east (090°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,134 ft | 12:51 am MST (07:51 UTC) |
| SOW Show Low, AZ | 110 nm out, 15 nm north of the line | reported, no category | from the south (190°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,415 ft | 08:15 UTC |
| JTC Springerville, AZ | 140 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 21 knots, gusting to 26 | 10+ mi | none | 7,055 ft | 08:15 UTC |
| ABQ Albuquerque, NM | 290 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 11,000 feet | from the east (100°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,354 ft | 07:52 UTC |
| DUX Dumas, TX | 519 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 feet, a few clouds at 11,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 19 knots, gusting to 26 | 10+ mi | none | 3,706 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| WWR Woodward, OK | 639 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,189 ft | 07:50 UTC |
| WDG Enid, OK | 719 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,167 ft | 08:15 UTC |
| SGF Springfield, MO | 939 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,268 ft | 07:52 UTC |
| TBN Fort Leonard Wood, MO | 999 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,159 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| MWA Marion, IL | 1149 nm out, 1 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 471 ft | 08:15 UTC |
| OWB Owensboro, KY | 1239 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 407 ft | 07:56 UTC |
| LEX Lexington, KY | destination | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 979 ft | 3:54 am EDT (07:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,055 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At LEX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:02 pm EDT (16:02 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for LEX
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility ½ mile, fog, clear skies
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ¼ mile, fog, overcast at 100 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for PHX, the departure
- From Sun 11:00 pm MST (06:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 7 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 southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MST (01:00 UTC): wind from the west at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, 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
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at PHX 5:57 pm MST (00:57 UTC), at LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 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, Blue Grass Airport.