San Diego International to Santa Monica Municipal SAN → SMO
100 nautical miles (115 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 321°, about 310° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11E). At 120 knots that is 45 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 13-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:45 am PDT (14:45 UTC). Right now SAN is VFR, wind from the west (280°) at 4 knots; SMO is VFR, wind calm. 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 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 90 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 SAN.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A21N at 8,000 ft, 5 nm south, 6:30 am PDT (13:30 UTC): moderate turbulence. At the destination end, 5 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
LAX UA /OV LAX/TM 1330/FL080/TP A21N/TB MODERATE
- Report
- a routine report filed through LAX
- Where
- over LAX
- Time
- 13:30 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Turbulence
- moderate
- B763 at 2,800 ft, 39 nm northeast, 5:05 am PDT (12:05 UTC): overcast from 1,500 ft to 6,000 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 26R. 70 nm along the route, 39 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ONT UA /OV ONT080006/TM 1205/FL028/TP B763/SK OVC015-TOP060/RM DURD RY26R
- Report
- a routine report filed through ONT
- Where
- 6 nm east (080°) of ONT
- Time
- 12:05 UTC
- Height
- at 2,800 ft
- Aircraft
- B763
- Sky
- overcast from 1,500 ft, tops 6,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 26R
- A333 descending, 35 nm northeast, 4:05 am PDT (11:05 UTC): overcast from 1,500 ft to 7,000 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 26R. 70 nm along the route, 35 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ONT UA /OV ONT080/TM 1105/FLUNKN/TP A333/SK OVC015 - TOP070/RM DURD RY26R
- Report
- a routine report filed through ONT
- Where
- ONT080
- Time
- 11:05 UTC
- Height
- height not given
- Aircraft
- A333
- Sky
- overcast from 1,500 ft, tops 7,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 26R
- B350 at 8,000 ft, 42 nm northeast, 6:50 am PDT (13:50 UTC): a broken layer from 3,000 ft to 8,000 ft. At the destination end, 42 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
EDW UA /OV PMD/TM 1350/FL080/TP B350/SK BKN030-TOP080
- Report
- a routine report filed through EDW
- Where
- over PMD
- Time
- 13:50 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B350
- Sky
- a broken layer from 3,000 ft, tops 8,000 ft
- C700 at 8,600 ft, 15 nm north, 6:27 am PDT (13:27 UTC): overcast above 8,600 ft. At the destination end, 15 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
BUR UA /OV 5 NW BUR/TM 1327/FL086/TP C700/SK OVC086
- Report
- a routine report filed through BUR
- Where
- 5 northwest bur
- Time
- 13:27 UTC
- Height
- at 8,600 ft
- Aircraft
- C700
- Sky
- overcast from 8,600 ft
- A321 at 2,900 ft, 5 nm southeast, 6:09 am PDT (13:09 UTC): a broken layer above 2,900 ft. At the destination end, 5 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
KLAX UA /OV KLAX/TM 1309/FL029/TP A321/SK BKN029
- Report
- a routine report filed through KLAX
- Where
- over KLAX
- Time
- 13:09 UTC
- Height
- at 2,900 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Sky
- a broken layer from 2,900 ft
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 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 2 forecast points nearest it (SAN, ONT). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 220° at 14 kt | −2 kt | 122 kt | 49 min | 7:49 am PDT (14:49 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 210° at 20 kt | −7 kt | 4 °C | 127 kt | 47 min | 7:47 am PDT (14:47 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 25 kt | −5 kt | 3 °C | 125 kt | 48 min | 7:48 am PDT (14:48 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | −4 kt | 0 °C | 124 kt | 48 min | 7:48 am PDT (14:48 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | −2 kt | -4 °C | 122 kt | 49 min | 7:49 am PDT (14:49 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 31 kt | −1 kt | -7 °C | 121 kt | 50 min | 7:50 am PDT (14:50 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 35 kt | +1 kt | -10 °C | 119 kt | 50 min | 7:50 am PDT (14:50 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 37 kt | +2 kt | -12 °C | 118 kt | 51 min | 7:51 am PDT (14:51 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 56 kt | −11 kt | -20 °C | 131 kt | 46 min | 7:46 am PDT (14:46 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 70 kt | −13 kt | -30 °C | 133 kt | 45 min | 7:45 am PDT (14:45 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 74 kt | −14 kt | -38 °C | 134 kt | 45 min | 7:45 am PDT (14:45 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 68 kt | −13 kt | -47 °C | 133 kt | 45 min | 7:45 am PDT (14:45 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAN | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 240/10 | 220/19 6° | 230/26 2° | 230/29 -3° | 230/43 -11° | 220/61 -20° | 220/72 -29° | 220/75 -38° | 220/71 -48° |
| ONT | used from 50 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 250/11 | 200/20 4° | 210/27 3° | 220/26 -4° | 240/32 -13° | 220/52 -21° | 220/67 -30° | 220/72 -37° | 220/65 -46° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAN San Diego, CA | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,200 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet | from the west (280°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 16 ft | 6:51 am PDT (13:51 UTC) |
| CRQ Carlsbad, CA | 20 nm out, 11 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,600 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 330 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| LGB Long Beach, CA | 80 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,400 feet, overcast at 4,400 feet | from the east-northeast (060°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 3,400 ft | 60 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| SMO Santa Monica, CA | destination | VFR Sky: overcast at 6,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 6,500 ft | 169 ft | 6:51 am PDT (13:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 330 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SMO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:45 am PDT (14:45 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet VFR
At times between Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC) and 9:00 am PDT (16:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light rain VFR
The whole forecast for SMO
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- At times between Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC) and 9:00 am PDT (16:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light rain
- From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
The forecast for SAN, the departure
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- At times between Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC) and 9:00 am PDT (16:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, mist, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am PDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Tue 12:00 am PDT (07:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
- From Tue 9:00 am PDT (16:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 10 nm from the route, 70 nm along the route · security · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at SAN 6:18 pm PDT (01:18 UTC), at SMO 6:22 pm PDT (01:22 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:47 pm PDT (01:47 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: San Diego International, Santa Monica Municipal.