Santa FE Regional to William P Hobby Airport SAF → HOU
653 nautical miles (752 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 120°, about 112° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 16 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 33-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:03 am CDT (05:03 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SAF is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 16 knots, gusting to 24; HOU is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 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: 3 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 W68W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 36,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 7:55 pm MDT (01:55 UTC). Over the first 40 nm of the route.
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 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the first 10 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 89 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
- GLF5 at 10,000 ft, 38 nm southwest, 4:06 pm MDT (22:06 UTC): moderate turbulence. 426 nm along the route, 38 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TEB UA /OV MUGSY/TM 2206/FL100/TP GLF5/TB MODERATE FROM 100 TO 50
- Report
- a routine report filed through TEB
- Where
- mugsy
- Time
- 22:06 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- GLF5
- Turbulence
- moderate from 10,000 ft to 50
- CRJ7 at 10,000 ft, 0 nm southeast, 5:49 pm MDT (23:49 UTC): remarks: light turbulence, bases above 10,000 ft, vsby 3 miles continuously, during the descent rnav RY20 KSAF. At the departure end, 0 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, 36 nm northeast, 4:55 pm MDT (22:55 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zab fdcs. At the departure end, 36 nm northeast 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
- B39M at 27,000 ft, 14 nm north, 6:42 pm MDT (00:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. At the destination end, 14 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAH UA /OV IH340035/TM 0042/FL270/TP B39M/TB LT CHOP DURC/RM ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAH
- Where
- IH340035
- Time
- 00:42 UTC
- Height
- at 27,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- lt chop during the climb
- Remarks
- zhu
- A320 at 24,000 ft, 14 nm north, 4:07 pm MDT (22:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb zhu. At the destination end, 14 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAH UA /OV IAH/TM 2207/FL240/TP A320/TB OCNL LGT CHOP /RM DURC. ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAH
- Where
- over IAH
- Time
- 22:07 UTC
- Height
- at 24,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
- Remarks
- during the climb zhu
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 6 forecast points nearest it (ABQ, TCC, LBB, ABI, CLL, HOU). 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 | 180° at 23 kt | +11 kt | 18 °C | 109 kt | 5 h 59 min | 1:46 am CDT (06:46 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 200° at 22 kt | +7 kt | 14 °C | 113 kt | 5 h 47 min | 1:34 am CDT (06:34 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 210° at 21 kt | +2 kt | 12 °C | 118 kt | 5 h 32 min | 1:19 am CDT (06:19 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 21 kt | −3 kt | 8 °C | 123 kt | 5 h 19 min | 1:06 am CDT (06:06 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | −5 kt | 4 °C | 125 kt | 5 h 13 min | 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 23 kt | −7 kt | 0 °C | 127 kt | 5 h 09 min | 12:56 am CDT (05:56 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | −9 kt | -5 °C | 129 kt | 5 h 04 min | 12:51 am CDT (05:51 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 25 kt | −9 kt | -6 °C | 129 kt | 5 h 04 min | 12:51 am CDT (05:51 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 31 kt | −15 kt | -16 °C | 135 kt | 4 h 50 min | 12:37 am CDT (05:37 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 43 kt | −27 kt | -28 °C | 147 kt | 4 h 27 min | 12:14 am CDT (05:14 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 43 kt | −33 kt | -38 °C | 153 kt | 4 h 16 min | 12:03 am CDT (05:03 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 37 kt | −30 kt | -50 °C | 150 kt | 4 h 21 min | 12:08 am CDT (05:08 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABQ | used from 0 nm out; 52 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° | ||
| TCC | used from 49 nm out; 59 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° | |
| LBB | used from 198 nm out; 21 nm from the line | 180/26 20° | 210/21 13° | 230/21 7° | 250/25 -5° | 250/34 -16° | 250/52 -28° | 260/47 -38° | 260/49 -50° | |
| ABI | used from 297 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 180/26 17° | 220/18 12° | 230/25 8° | 230/28 -5° | 240/29 -14° | 250/35 -28° | 270/37 -39° | 280/37 -51° | |
| CLL | used from 495 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 160/18 | 190/18 16° | 200/19 12° | 220/14 7° | 260/18 -5° | 250/20 -13° | 290/29 -29° | 290/31 -40° | 300/22 -53° |
| HOU | used from 594 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 160/18 | 160/14 17° | 180/19 12° | 190/11 8° | 260/12 -4° | 260/14 -13° | 310/26 -30° | 310/30 -40° | 320/21 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAF Santa Fe, NM | departure | 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 | 5:53 pm MDT (23:53 UTC) |
| SXU Santa Rosa, NM | 79 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 17 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,791 ft | 00:35 UTC |
| PRZ Portales, NM | 158 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 4,077 ft | ||||
| LBB Lubbock, TX | 237 nm out, 11 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 16 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,282 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| SNK Snyder, TX | 307 nm out, 15 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 14 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 2,430 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| ABI Abilene, TX | 376 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 16 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 1,790 ft | 23:52 UTC |
| BWD Brownwood, TX | 426 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 12 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | none | 1,386 ft | 22:15 UTC |
| GRK Fort Hood (Killeen), TX | 495 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,015 ft | 23:55 UTC |
| CLL College Station, TX | 574 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 320 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| TME Houston, TX | 623 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 165 ft | 22:15 UTC |
| HOU Houston, TX | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 46 ft | 6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,348 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At HOU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:03 am CDT (05:03 UTC)
Wind from the southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for HOU
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Sun 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC) and 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): light rain showers
- From Mon 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 13 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet
The forecast for SAF, the departure
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet
- 30% chance between Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind variable at 20 knots, gusting to 35, light thunderstorms with rain, a broken layer at 6,000 feet (thunderheads)
- From Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/0543 MCGREGOR, TX 19 nm from the route, 495 nm along the route · security · ZFW
Daylight
Sunset at SAF 6:33 pm MDT (00:33 UTC), at HOU 6:55 pm CDT (23:55 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:19 pm CDT (00:19 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at HOU is before sunrise there (7:20 am CDT (12:20 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
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, William P Hobby Airport.