Santa FE Regional to Joe Foss Field SAF → FSD
644 nautical miles (741 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 039°, about 031° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 32 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 62-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:11 am CDT (12:11 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SAF is VFR, wind variable at 3 knots; FSD is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) 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 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 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 42,000 ft. Over the first 188 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 228 nm of the route.
- 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 307 to 594 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 535 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 SAF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A333 at 38,000 ft, 34 nm northwest, 2:23 am MDT (08:23 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw +/-15KT zdvwc. 99 nm along the route, 34 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ALS UA /OV ALS085025/TM 0823/FL380/TP A333/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-15KT. ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ALS
- Where
- 25 nm east (085°) of ALS
- Time
- 08:23 UTC
- Height
- at 38,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A333
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Remarks
- mtw +/-15KT zdvwc
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 (ABQ, ALS, PUB, GLD, GRI, ONL, FSD). 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 | 250° at 33 kt | −30 kt | 22 °C | 150 kt | 4 h 18 min | 7:57 am CDT (12:57 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 32 kt | −29 kt | 15 °C | 149 kt | 4 h 19 min | 7:58 am CDT (12:58 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 30 kt | −27 kt | 12 °C | 147 kt | 4 h 23 min | 8:02 am CDT (13:02 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 30 kt | −29 kt | 7 °C | 149 kt | 4 h 19 min | 7:58 am CDT (12:58 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | −31 kt | 3 °C | 151 kt | 4 h 16 min | 7:55 am CDT (12:55 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 35 kt | −34 kt | -2 °C | 154 kt | 4 h 11 min | 7:50 am CDT (12:50 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 37 kt | −37 kt | -7 °C | 157 kt | 4 h 06 min | 7:45 am CDT (12:45 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 38 kt | −37 kt | -8 °C | 157 kt | 4 h 06 min | 7:45 am CDT (12:45 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 46 kt | −45 kt | -20 °C | 165 kt | 3 h 54 min | 7:33 am CDT (12:33 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 63 kt | −58 kt | -30 °C | 178 kt | 3 h 37 min | 7:16 am CDT (12:16 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 70 kt | −62 kt | -36 °C | 182 kt | 3 h 32 min | 7:11 am CDT (12:11 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 66 kt | −58 kt | -47 °C | 178 kt | 3 h 37 min | 7:16 am CDT (12:16 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABQ | used from 0 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 220/19 9° | 220/35 3° | 230/50 -8° | 240/64 -19° | 230/83 -26° | 230/85 -36° | 230/80 -48° | ||
| ALS | used from 50 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 240/35 3° | 230/54 -9° | 240/66 -19° | 230/85 -26° | 240/87 -34° | 240/70 -47° | |||
| PUB | used from 99 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 260/45 11° | 240/38 6° | 230/47 -8° | 230/51 -19° | 240/74 -29° | 240/82 -35° | 250/72 -48° | ||
| GLD | used from 248 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 260/37 | 260/25 14° | 250/27 8° | 230/36 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 250/71 -30° | 260/82 -36° | 250/73 -48° | |
| GRI | used from 396 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 230/39 23° | 230/32 15° | 210/29 7° | 230/31 -8° | 230/43 -21° | 250/52 -31° | 260/59 -35° | 260/59 -46° | |
| ONL | used from 495 nm out; 22 nm from the line | 250/31 22° | 230/27 16° | 220/25 8° | 230/25 -9° | 220/29 -22° | 250/42 -33° | 250/48 -36° | 250/52 -46° | |
| FSD | used from 594 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 210/20 | 230/23 21° | 220/25 14° | 230/30 5° | 230/26 -9° | 240/30 -21° | 270/33 -36° | 260/47 -37° | 270/58 -47° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAF Santa Fe, NM | departure | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet | variable at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 6,348 ft | 1:53 am MDT (07:53 UTC) |
| AXX Angel Fire, NM | 59 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 17 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 8,379 ft | 08:15 UTC |
| RTN Raton, NM | 99 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,352 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| TAD Trinidad, CO | 129 nm out, 2 nm east of the line | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,761 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| ITR Burlington, CO | 287 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,218 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| ADT Atwood, KS | 347 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 15 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 2,990 ft | 08:15 UTC |
| GTE Gothenburg, NE | 426 nm out, 3 nm south of the line | no report just now | 2,558 ft | ||||
| BUB Burwell, NE | 495 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 2,183 ft | ||||
| ONL O'Neill, NE | 535 nm out, 14 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 300 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 3 knots | 7 mi | 300 ft | 2,033 ft | 08:15 UTC |
| YKN Yankton, SD | 594 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,305 ft | 07:56 UTC |
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | destination | VFR | from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,430 ft | 2:56 am CDT (07:56 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 FSD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:11 am CDT (12:11 UTC)
Wind from the east-northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet VFR
The whole forecast for FSD
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 14,000 feet
The forecast for SAF, the departure
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 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 SAF 6:31 pm MDT (00:31 UTC), at FSD 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:17 pm CDT (00:17 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at FSD is before sunrise there (7:37 am CDT (12:37 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: Santa FE Regional, Joe Foss Field.