Phoenix Sky Harbor International to Sheppard Afb/Wichita Falls Municipal PHX → SPS
676 nautical miles (777 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 083°, about 071° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 47 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 59-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC). Right now PHX is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots; SPS is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 14 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 first 99 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 79 to 209 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 149 to 149 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
- B752 at 10,000 ft, 6 nm northwest, 6:15 am MST (13:15 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: during the climb. At the departure end, 6 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
PHX UA /OV PXR050015/TM 1315/FL100/TP B752/TB MOD/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through PHX
- Where
- 15 nm northeast (050°) of PXR
- Time
- 13:15 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B752
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- during the climb
- E145 at 40,000 ft, 10 nm south, 6:38 am MST (13:38 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZFW55. 556 nm along the route, 10 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
LBB UA /OV LBB070050/TM 1338/FL400/TP E145/TB NEG/RM ZFW55
- Report
- a routine report filed through LBB
- Where
- 50 nm east (070°) of LBB
- Time
- 13:38 UTC
- Height
- at 40,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ZFW55
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 6 forecast points nearest it (PHX, TUS, ABQ, ROW, LBB, SPS). 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 | 220° at 17 kt | −12 kt | 18 °C | 132 kt | 5 h 07 min | 2:20 pm CDT (19:20 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 210° at 19 kt | −12 kt | 13 °C | 132 kt | 5 h 07 min | 2:20 pm CDT (19:20 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 210° at 22 kt | −13 kt | 10 °C | 133 kt | 5 h 05 min | 2:18 pm CDT (19:18 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 210° at 28 kt | −17 kt | 6 °C | 137 kt | 4 h 56 min | 2:09 pm CDT (19:09 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 34 kt | −22 kt | 2 °C | 142 kt | 4 h 46 min | 1:59 pm CDT (18:59 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 40 kt | −28 kt | -2 °C | 148 kt | 4 h 34 min | 1:47 pm CDT (18:47 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 46 kt | −34 kt | -6 °C | 154 kt | 4 h 23 min | 1:36 pm CDT (18:36 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 47 kt | −36 kt | -7 °C | 156 kt | 4 h 20 min | 1:33 pm CDT (18:33 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 57 kt | −42 kt | -17 °C | 162 kt | 4 h 10 min | 1:23 pm CDT (18:23 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 69 kt | −57 kt | -27 °C | 177 kt | 3 h 49 min | 1:02 pm CDT (18:02 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 68 kt | −59 kt | -36 °C | 179 kt | 3 h 47 min | 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 65 kt | −54 kt | -49 °C | 174 kt | 3 h 53 min | 1:06 pm CDT (18:06 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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 | 200/12 | 210/26 11° | 200/30 5° | 200/40 0° | 220/66 -9° | 220/75 -19° | 220/83 -27° | 230/93 -35° | 220/92 -48° |
| TUS | used from 99 nm out; 116 nm from the line | 210/19 14° | 200/27 6° | 220/34 3° | 220/54 -7° | 220/67 -18° | 220/83 -26° | 220/82 -36° | 220/81 -48° | |
| ABQ | used from 149 nm out; 125 nm from the line | 200/19 9° | 220/32 3° | 230/52 -7° | 220/67 -20° | 230/86 -26° | 230/87 -36° | 230/87 -49° | ||
| ROW | used from 298 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 230/6 | 220/20 13° | 210/37 7° | 220/48 -6° | 220/52 -16° | 230/65 -27° | 230/67 -37° | 240/64 -49° | |
| LBB | used from 447 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 240/21 20° | 230/20 15° | 210/19 8° | 230/39 -6° | 230/48 -16° | 240/57 -27° | 250/51 -37° | 240/45 -50° | |
| SPS | used from 596 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 190/18 | 220/24 18° | 210/17 15° | 230/19 8° | 250/27 -5° | 250/41 -16° | 260/48 -28° | 270/42 -37° | 270/28 -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: scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 1,134 ft | 6:51 am MST (13:51 UTC) |
| IWA Phoenix, AZ | 20 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 9,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 1,384 ft | 13:52 UTC |
| ONM Socorro, NM | 258 nm out, 12 nm north of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 4,875 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| PRZ Portales, NM | 427 nm out, 12 nm north of the line | no report just now | 4,077 ft | ||||
| LBB Lubbock, TX | 507 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,282 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| FDR Frederick, OK | 656 nm out, 22 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | none | 1,258 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| SPS Wichita Falls, TX | destination | VFR | from the south (180°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,019 ft | 8:52 am CDT (13:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,875 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SPS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC)
Wind from the south at 16 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SPS
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south at 16 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
The forecast for PHX, the departure
- From Mon 7:00 am MST (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet and more above
- 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 7:00 pm MST (02:00 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 southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Tue 3:00 am MST (10:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Tue 6:00 am MST (13:00 UTC): wind from the west at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 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 on the route, 308 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZAB
Daylight
Sunset at PHX 5:57 pm MST (00:57 UTC), at SPS 7:02 pm CDT (00:02 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:27 pm CDT (00:27 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, Sheppard Afb/Wichita Falls Municipal.