Phoenix Sky Harbor International to Kansas City International PHX → MCI
905 nautical miles (1,042 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 062°, about 050° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 58 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 62-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:47 am CDT (05:47 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now PHX is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 10 knots, gusting to 21; MCI is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 9 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: 4,948 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 199 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.
- SIGMET W68W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 36,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 6:55 pm MST (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 199 to 398 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 112355 MKCW WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 68W VALID UNTIL 0155Z CO NM AZ UT FROM 30W CHE-20NNW TBE-60SE ABQ-40N SJN-30SW MTU-30W CHE AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL360.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 40 to 438 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 40 to 239 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Near the route, 249 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
- B738 at 17,000 ft, 29 nm northwest, 4:54 pm MST (23:54 UTC): light rime icing, 9 °C, remarks: during the descent. At the departure end, 29 nm northwest 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, 35 nm northwest, 5:39 pm MST (00:39 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: zab fdcs. 40 nm along the route, 35 nm northwest 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
- B737 at 14,000 ft, 23 nm southeast, 5:15 pm MST (00:15 UTC): light turbulence above 14,000 ft. 269 nm along the route, 23 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ABQ UA /OV ABQ275007/TM 0015/FL140/TP B737/TB LGT ABV 140
- Report
- a routine report filed through ABQ
- Where
- 7 nm west (275°) of ABQ
- Time
- 00:15 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- light above 14,000 ft
- HDJT at 18,000 ft, 16 nm south, 3:38 pm MST (22:38 UTC): light rime icing from 16,000 ft to 17,500 ft, -9 °C, remarks: during the climb out of abq zab/fd. 269 nm along the route, 16 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ABQ UA /OV ABQ285015/TM 2238/FL180/TP HDJT/TA M09/IC LGT RIME 160-175/RM DURC OUT OF ABQ - ZAB/FD
- Report
- a routine report filed through ABQ
- Where
- 15 nm west (285°) of ABQ
- Time
- 22:38 UTC
- Height
- at 18,000 ft
- Aircraft
- HDJT
- Temperature
- −9 °C
- Icing
- light rime from 16,000 ft to 17,500 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb out of abq zab/fd
- CRJ7 at 10,000 ft, 12 nm southeast, 4:49 pm MST (23:49 UTC): remarks: light turbulence, bases above 10,000 ft, vsby 3 miles continuously, during the descent rnav RY20 KSAF. 318 nm along the route, 12 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
SAF UA /OV KSAF/TM 2349/FL100 /TP CRJ7/RM LIGHT TURBULENCE, BASES ABOVE 100, VSBY 3 MILES CONTINUOUSLY, DURD RNAV RY20 KSAF
- Report
- a routine report filed through SAF
- Where
- over KSAF
- Time
- 23:49 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Remarks
- light turbulence, bases above 10,000 ft, vsby 3 miles continuously, during the descent rnav RY20 KSAF
- B38M at 37,000 ft, 4 nm southeast, 3:55 pm MST (22:55 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zab fdcs. 358 nm along the route, 4 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
AXX UA /OV CIM210040/TM 2255/FL370/TP B38M/TB LGT-CONS MOD CHOP/RM ZAB FDCS
- Report
- a routine report filed through AXX
- Where
- 40 nm southwest (210°) of CIM
- Time
- 22:55 UTC
- Height
- at 37,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- lgt-cons moderate chop
- Remarks
- zab fdcs
- CRJ7 descending, 46 nm south, 2:52 pm MST (21:52 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 746 nm along the route, 46 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ICT UA /OV 19R FINAL 100FT/TM 2152/FL100F/TP CRJ7/TB 7KTS LOSS
- Report
- a routine report filed through ICT
- Where
- 19R final 100FT
- Time
- 21:52 UTC
- Height
- at 100F
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Turbulence
- 7 knots loss
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 7 forecast points nearest it (PHX, ABQ, ALS, TCC, GCK, SLN, MKC). 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 30 kt | −23 kt | 21 °C | 143 kt | 6 h 20 min | 2:09 am CDT (07:09 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 210° at 28 kt | −23 kt | 15 °C | 143 kt | 6 h 20 min | 2:09 am CDT (07:09 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 26 kt | −24 kt | 11 °C | 144 kt | 6 h 17 min | 2:06 am CDT (07:06 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | −26 kt | 7 °C | 146 kt | 6 h 12 min | 2:01 am CDT (07:01 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | −28 kt | 3 °C | 148 kt | 6 h 07 min | 1:56 am CDT (06:56 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | −31 kt | -2 °C | 151 kt | 6 h | 1:49 am CDT (06:49 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 35 kt | −33 kt | -6 °C | 153 kt | 5 h 55 min | 1:44 am CDT (06:44 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 35 kt | −34 kt | -7 °C | 154 kt | 5 h 53 min | 1:42 am CDT (06:42 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 40 kt | −40 kt | -19 °C | 160 kt | 5 h 39 min | 1:28 am CDT (06:28 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 62 kt | −61 kt | -29 °C | 181 kt | 5 h | 12:49 am CDT (05:49 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 62 kt | −62 kt | -37 °C | 182 kt | 4 h 58 min | 12:47 am CDT (05:47 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 56 kt | −56 kt | -49 °C | 176 kt | 5 h 09 min | 12:58 am CDT (05:58 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° |
| ABQ | used from 149 nm out; 114 nm from the line | 200/28 13° | 210/28 5° | 210/44 -7° | 230/46 -20° | 230/80 -28° | 240/74 -35° | 240/58 -47° | ||
| ALS | used from 348 nm out; 84 nm from the line | 210/32 5° | 230/48 -8° | 230/49 -20° | 230/78 -30° | 240/74 -36° | 240/61 -47° | |||
| TCC | used from 398 nm out; 84 nm from the line | 200/26 | 200/28 14° | 220/25 7° | 230/28 -7° | 240/41 -19° | 240/62 -28° | 250/61 -37° | 250/49 -49° | |
| GCK | used from 498 nm out; 91 nm from the line | 200/35 21° | 220/34 14° | 240/30 8° | 240/27 -6° | 240/31 -17° | 240/53 -30° | 250/55 -39° | 250/60 -50° | |
| SLN | used from 697 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 190/37 | 220/39 20° | 240/31 14° | 250/24 7° | 260/25 -7° | 250/26 -17° | 250/44 -31° | 260/47 -40° | 260/47 -50° |
| MKC | used from 846 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 200/28 | 220/30 16° | 270/20 11° | 280/22 7° | 260/27 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 280/38 -32° | 270/38 -40° | 280/50 -52° |
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) |
| SOW Show Low, AZ | 109 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | reported, no category | from the south (190°) at 14 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 6,415 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| GNT Grants, NM | 229 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 11,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 20 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | none | 6,536 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| SAF Santa Fe, NM | 318 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,000 feet, overcast at 8,500 feet Weather: light rain | from the west-southwest (240°) at 16 knots, gusting to 24 | 7 mi | 7,000 ft | 6,348 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| AXX Angel Fire, NM | 378 nm out, 17 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the west (270°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 8,379 ft | 00:35 UTC |
| EHA Elkhart, KS | 537 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,621 ft | 00:35 UTC |
| GCK Garden City, KS | 617 nm out, 17 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 17 knots, gusting to 29 | 10+ mi | none | 2,890 ft | 23:54 UTC |
| LQR Larned, KS | 687 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 17 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 2,012 ft | 00:35 UTC |
| SLN Salina, KS | 766 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 14 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 1,288 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| TOP Topeka, KS | 866 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 881 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| MCI Kansas City, MO | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,027 ft | 6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 8,379 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MCI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:47 am CDT (05:47 UTC)
Wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MCI
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 17 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds 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
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at PHX 5:58 pm MST (00:58 UTC), at MCI 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:11 pm CDT (00:11 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MCI is before sunrise there (7:25 am CDT (12:25 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, Kansas City International.
