Santa FE Regional to Quad Cities International SAF → MLI
810 nautical miles (932 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 060°, about 052° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 20 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 67-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:45 am CDT (15:45 UTC). Right now SAF is VFR, wind calm; MLI is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 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 (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the first 140 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the first 70 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). Near the route, 120 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 280 to 790 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 SAF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- urgent BE20 at 500 ft, 44 nm southeast, 3:34 am MDT (09:34 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear 500FT a 10-knot loss of airspeed zkc fd dl. 260 nm along the route, 44 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
LBL UUA /OV LBL/TM 0934/FL005/TP BE20/RM LLWS 500FT +/-10KT ZKC FD DL
- Report
- an urgent report filed through LBL
- Where
- over LBL
- Time
- 09:34 UTC
- Height
- at 500 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear 500FT a 10-knot loss of airspeed zkc fd dl
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 8 forecast points nearest it (ABQ, TCC, PUB, GCK, SLN, MKC, DSM, BRL). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 240° at 42 kt | −42 kt | 162 kt | 5 h | 11:25 am CDT (16:25 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 240° at 32 kt | −32 kt | 22 °C | 152 kt | 5 h 20 min | 11:45 am CDT (16:45 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 28 kt | −28 kt | 16 °C | 148 kt | 5 h 28 min | 11:53 am CDT (16:53 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | −25 kt | 12 °C | 145 kt | 5 h 35 min | 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | −26 kt | 7 °C | 146 kt | 5 h 33 min | 11:58 am CDT (16:58 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 28 kt | −28 kt | 2 °C | 148 kt | 5 h 28 min | 11:53 am CDT (16:53 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 31 kt | −31 kt | -2 °C | 151 kt | 5 h 22 min | 11:47 am CDT (16:47 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 33 kt | −34 kt | -6 °C | 154 kt | 5 h 16 min | 11:41 am CDT (16:41 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 34 kt | −34 kt | -7 °C | 154 kt | 5 h 16 min | 11:41 am CDT (16:41 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 45 kt | −45 kt | -20 °C | 165 kt | 4 h 55 min | 11:20 am CDT (16:20 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 68 kt | −67 kt | -30 °C | 187 kt | 4 h 20 min | 10:45 am CDT (15:45 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 67 kt | −65 kt | -37 °C | 185 kt | 4 h 23 min | 10:48 am CDT (15:48 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 62 kt | −59 kt | -48 °C | 179 kt | 4 h 32 min | 10:57 am CDT (15:57 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; 67 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° | ||
| TCC | used from 50 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 240/20 | 230/22 13° | 230/27 6° | 230/40 -7° | 240/55 -18° | 240/74 -27° | 240/68 -37° | 250/64 -49° | |
| PUB | used from 150 nm out; 105 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° | ||
| GCK | used from 200 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 240/40 22° | 240/40 14° | 240/38 7° | 230/39 -7° | 230/45 -20° | 250/73 -28° | 260/74 -36° | 260/64 -49° | |
| SLN | used from 350 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 230/49 | 240/41 22° | 230/26 15° | 220/21 7° | 240/38 -8° | 240/44 -21° | 260/77 -29° | 270/70 -36° | 270/63 -48° |
| MKC | used from 550 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 240/49 | 240/21 20° | 220/19 13° | 230/21 6° | 260/26 -7° | 250/37 -19° | 270/66 -31° | 270/65 -38° | 280/60 -48° |
| DSM | used from 650 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 250/47 | 260/25 20° | 240/19 11° | 240/31 5° | 250/26 -9° | 260/38 -20° | 260/47 -34° | 270/58 -37° | 270/61 -47° |
| BRL | used from 700 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 250/32 | 250/19 17° | 260/15 11° | 270/16 3° | 290/23 -7° | 260/42 -20° | 270/52 -34° | 280/63 -39° | 290/64 -48° |
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 5,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 6,348 ft | 4:53 am MDT (10:53 UTC) |
| LVS Las Vegas, NM | 40 nm out, 21 nm southeast of the line | reported, no category | from the south-southeast (150°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,877 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| RTN Raton, NM | 100 nm out, 20 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,352 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| JHN Johnson City, KS | 240 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 17 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 3,325 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| GCK Garden City, KS | 290 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 20 knots, gusting to 33 | 10+ mi | none | 2,890 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| RSL Russell, KS | 400 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 14 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 1,863 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| SLN Salina, KS | 450 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 15 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 1,288 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| MHK Manhattan, KS | 500 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,066 ft | 10:52 UTC |
| STJ St Joseph, MO | 590 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 826 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| TVK Centerville, IA | 690 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 12,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 12,000 ft | 1,023 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| FFL Fairfield, IA | 740 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | reported, no category | from the south (190°) at 6 knots, gusting to 11 | 10+ mi | none | 800 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| MLI Moline, IL | destination | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 5:52 am CDT (10:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,877 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MLI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:45 am CDT (15:45 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MLI
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Tue 2:00 am CDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for SAF, the departure
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 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 MLI 6:26 pm CDT (23:26 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:53 pm CDT (23:53 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, Quad Cities International.