Phoenix Sky Harbor International to Northwest Arkansas Ntl Airport PHX → XNA
887 nautical miles (1,021 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 074°, about 062° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 49 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 64-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:51 am CDT (11:51 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now PHX is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 knots; XNA is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 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: 1,646 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 TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the first 80 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 30 to 100 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 80 to 399 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 last 299 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
- B737 at 14,000 ft, 29 nm northwest, 10:15 pm MST (05:15 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: during the descent through clouds. At the departure end, 29 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
PHX UA /OV PXR339030/TM 0515/FL140/TP B737/TB OCNL MOD/RM DURD THROUGH CLOUDS
- Report
- a routine report filed through PHX
- Where
- 30 nm north (339°) of PXR
- Time
- 05:15 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- occasional moderate
- Remarks
- during the descent through clouds
- PC12 at 14,000 ft, 33 nm south, 11:06 pm MST (06:06 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: zab fdcs. 399 nm along the route, 33 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVN UA /OV TXO260060/TM 0606/FL140/TP PC12/TB MOD/RM ZAB FDCS
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVN
- Where
- 60 nm west (260°) of TXO
- Time
- 06:06 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- zab fdcs
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 7 forecast points nearest it (PHX, ABQ, TCC, AMA, GAG, OKC, TUL). 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 32 kt | −23 kt | 19 °C | 143 kt | 6 h 12 min | 8:14 am CDT (13:14 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | −22 kt | 13 °C | 142 kt | 6 h 15 min | 8:17 am CDT (13:17 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 24 kt | −20 kt | 11 °C | 140 kt | 6 h 20 min | 8:22 am CDT (13:22 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 25 kt | −21 kt | 7 °C | 141 kt | 6 h 17 min | 8:19 am CDT (13:19 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 28 kt | −23 kt | 3 °C | 143 kt | 6 h 12 min | 8:14 am CDT (13:14 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 31 kt | −26 kt | -1 °C | 146 kt | 6 h 05 min | 8:07 am CDT (13:07 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 35 kt | −29 kt | -6 °C | 149 kt | 5 h 57 min | 7:59 am CDT (12:59 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 36 kt | −30 kt | -7 °C | 150 kt | 5 h 55 min | 7:57 am CDT (12:57 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 47 kt | −42 kt | -18 °C | 162 kt | 5 h 29 min | 7:31 am CDT (12:31 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 66 kt | −63 kt | -27 °C | 183 kt | 4 h 51 min | 6:53 am CDT (11:53 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 65 kt | −64 kt | -37 °C | 184 kt | 4 h 49 min | 6:51 am CDT (11:51 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 52 kt | −52 kt | -48 °C | 172 kt | 5 h 09 min | 7:11 am CDT (12:11 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; 112 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 349 nm out; 56 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; 12 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 598 nm out; 36 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° | |
| OKC | used from 648 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 200/44 | 230/32 18° | 240/13 15° | 240/10 9° | 240/20 -5° | 250/27 -16° | 260/47 -28° | 270/48 -39° | 270/45 -50° |
| TUL | used from 748 nm out; 38 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° |
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 4,800 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,500 feet | from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 9,500 ft | 1,134 ft | 11:51 pm MST (06:51 UTC) |
| IWA Phoenix, AZ | 20 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,384 ft | 06:50 UTC |
| JTC Springerville, AZ | 140 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 18 knots, gusting to 27 | 10+ mi | none | 7,055 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| BRG Belen, NM | 269 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 5,199 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| SXU Santa Rosa, NM | 379 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 8,000 feet, overcast at 9,500 feet | from the south (190°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 4,791 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| AMA Amarillo, TX | 519 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 21 knots, gusting to 26 | 10+ mi | none | 3,606 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| PPA Pampa, TX | 558 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 16 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,245 ft | 06:30 UTC |
| JWG Watonga, OK | 688 nm out, 2 nm west of the line | no report just now | 1,551 ft | ||||
| SWO Stillwater, OK | 758 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,000 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| TUL Tulsa, OK | 808 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 677 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| XNA Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers, AR | destination | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,288 ft | 1:53 am CDT (06:53 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 XNA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:51 am CDT (11:51 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 5,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for XNA
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
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 XNA 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:11 pm CDT (00:11 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at XNA is before sunrise there (7:21 am CDT (12:21 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, Northwest Arkansas Ntl Airport.