The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Mon 12:03 am MDT (06:03 UTC)

Santa FE Regional to Grand Junction Regional SAF → GJT

240 nautical miles (277 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 332°, about 324° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 1 h 44 min at the quickest height in today's winds (18,000 ft, a 18-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:47 am MDT (07:47 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SAF is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots; GJT is VFR, wind variable 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: 2 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The return flight

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 144 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the whole route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the last 96 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 1W: 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 87 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 0 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 SAF.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

  • B738 at 11,000 ft, 44 nm southwest, 9:25 pm MDT (03:25 UTC): 7 °C, wind 220° at 30 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. At the departure end, 44 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    ABQ UA /OV ABQ094018 /TM 0325 /FL110 /TP B738 /TA 07 /WV 22030KT /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
    Report
    a routine report filed through ABQ
    Where
    18 nm east (094°) of ABQ
    Time
    03:25 UTC
    Height
    at 11,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B738
    Temperature
    7 °C
    Wind
    from 220° at 30 knots
    Remarks
    produced by skypath
  • PC12 at 16,400 ft, 39 nm west, 9:15 pm MDT (03:15 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 16,000 ft, clear from 16,400 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-36. 115 nm along the route, 39 nm west of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    DRO UA /OV DRO230013/TM 0315/FL164/TP PC12/SK SKC/TB CONS LGT CHOP BLO 160/RM DURC ZDVWC-36
    Report
    a routine report filed through DRO
    Where
    13 nm southwest (230°) of DRO
    Time
    03:15 UTC
    Height
    at 16,400 ft
    Aircraft
    PC12
    Sky
    clear
    Turbulence
    continuous light chop below 16,000 ft
    Remarks
    during the climb ZDVWC-36
  • BE20 at 20,400 ft, 3 nm northwest, 9:14 pm MDT (03:14 UTC): rain, heavy rain, blowing, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-36. 115 nm along the route, 3 nm northwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    DRO UA /OV DRO050025/TM 0314/FL204/TP BE20/WX RA-+RA BLO 150/RM DURC ZDVWC-36
    Report
    a routine report filed through DRO
    Where
    25 nm northeast (050°) of DRO
    Time
    03:14 UTC
    Height
    at 20,400 ft
    Aircraft
    BE20
    Weather
    ra-+ra, below, at 15,000 ft
    Remarks
    during the climb ZDVWC-36
  • B733 at 20,000 ft, 41 nm northeast, 9:16 pm MDT (03:16 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 20,000 ft, clear from 20,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-12. 173 nm along the route, 41 nm northeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    GUC UA /OV HBU/TM 0316/FL200/TP B733/SK SKC/TB OCNL LGT CHOP BLO 200/RM DURC ZDVWC-12
    Report
    a routine report filed through GUC
    Where
    over HBU
    Time
    03:16 UTC
    Height
    at 20,000 ft
    Aircraft
    B733
    Sky
    clear
    Turbulence
    occasional light chop below 20,000 ft
    Remarks
    during the climb ZDVWC-12
  • UAL2479 at 36,000 ft, 28 nm northeast, 9:11 pm MDT (03:11 UTC): no turbulence, wind 231° at 49 knots. At the destination end, 28 nm northeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    ARP UAL2479 3910N 10753W 0311 F360 231/049KT TB SMTH IC
    Report
    a routine report filed through ARP
  • BE20 at 16,000 ft, 45 nm northeast, 9:28 pm MDT (03:28 UTC): light chop turbulence, light rime icing, -3 °C, remarks: ZDVWC-11. At the destination end, 45 nm northeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    RIL UA /OV RIL/TM 0328/FL160/TP BE20/TA M03/TB LGT CHOP/IC LGT RIME/RM ZDVWC-11
    Report
    a routine report filed through RIL
    Where
    over RIL
    Time
    03:28 UTC
    Height
    at 16,000 ft
    Aircraft
    BE20
    Temperature
    −3 °C
    Turbulence
    light chop
    Icing
    light rime
    Remarks
    ZDVWC-11

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 westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 4 forecast points nearest it (ABQ, ALS, FMN, GJT). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
8,500 ft210° at 35 kt−16 kt8 °C136 kt1 h 46 min1:49 am MDT (07:49 UTC)
10,500 ft220° at 38 kt−13 kt5 °C133 kt1 h 48 min1:51 am MDT (07:51 UTC)
12,500 ft220° at 41 kt−12 kt2 °C132 kt1 h 49 min1:52 am MDT (07:52 UTC)
14,500 ft220° at 44 kt−14 kt-3 °C134 kt1 h 47 min1:50 am MDT (07:50 UTC)
16,500 ft220° at 48 kt−17 kt-7 °C137 kt1 h 45 min1:48 am MDT (07:48 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180220° at 50 kt−18 kt-10 °C138 kt1 h 44 min1:47 am MDT (07:47 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240220° at 62 kt−18 kt-22 °C138 kt1 h 44 min1:47 am MDT (07:47 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300230° at 70 kt−12 kt-27 °C132 kt1 h 49 min1:52 am MDT (07:52 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340240° at 73 kt−6 kt-34 °C126 kt1 h 54 min1:57 am MDT (07:57 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390230° at 59 kt−13 kt-45 °C133 kt1 h 48 min1:51 am MDT (07:51 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
ABQused from 0 nm out; 58 nm from the line220/27 11°210/35 5°220/46 -9°230/62 -20°240/78 -25°240/80 -35°240/56 -47°
ALSused from 48 nm out; 64 nm from the line230/37 4°220/54 -9°230/62 -22°240/77 -26°240/74 -33°230/59 -45°
FMNused from 96 nm out; 59 nm from the line220/28 9°220/40 2°220/53 -10°220/62 -22°230/79 -28°240/91 -34°230/71 -45°
GJTused from 144 nm out; 72 nm from the line210/43 7°230/45 1°220/49 -12°220/62 -22°220/59 -28°230/60 -33°220/55 -45°

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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
SAF Santa Fe, NM departure VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots 10+ mi none 6,348 ft 11:53 pm MDT (05:53 UTC)
LAM Los Alamos, NM 19 nm out, 1 nm south of the line VFR from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots 10+ mi none 7,170 ft 05:55 UTC
PSO Pagosa Springs, CO 106 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,100 feet, overcast at 3,700 feet Weather: mist from the north-northeast (020°) at 2 knots 0.75 mi 2,500 ft 7,663 ft 05:55 UTC
MTJ Montrose, CO 192 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line VFR variable at 3 knots 10+ mi none 5,758 ft 05:53 UTC
AJZ Delta, CO 212 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line reported, no category calm none 5,193 ft 05:55 UTC
GJT Grand Junction, CO destination VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet variable at 4 knots 10+ mi 10,000 ft 4,861 ft 11:53 pm MDT (05:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 7,663 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At GJT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:47 am MDT (07:47 UTC)

Wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for GJT
  • From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
  • From Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south at 18 knots, gusting to 27, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
  • 30% chance between Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC) and 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
  • From Mon 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 19 knots, gusting to 31, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
  • 30% chance between Mon 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC) and 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
  • From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
  • 30% chance between Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC) and 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
  • From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet
  • 30% chance between Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light thunderstorms with rain, a broken layer at 6,000 feet (thunderheads)
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 GJT 6:38 pm MDT (00:38 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:05 pm MDT (01:05 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at GJT is before sunrise there (7:20 am MDT (13:20 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

Radar now, the southern Rockies
Radar now, the southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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, Grand Junction Regional.