San Bernardino International to Chicago O'Hare International SBD → ORD
1,457 nautical miles (1,677 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 062°, about 049° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 35 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 72-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:33 pm CDT (18:33 UTC). Right now SBD is marginal VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 6 knots; ORD is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) 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: 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. Over the first 429 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 20 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 180 to 469 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 190 to 289 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 259 to 718 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 439 to 669 nm out.
- 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 route from 629 to 718 nm out.
- 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 858 to 1317 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 SBD.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A359 at 38,000 ft, 20 nm northwest, 3:13 am PDT (10:13 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-37. 549 nm along the route, 20 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
GUC UA /OV HBU185015/TM 1013/FL380/TP A359/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-37
- Report
- a routine report filed through GUC
- Where
- 15 nm south (185°) of HBU
- Time
- 10:13 UTC
- Height
- at 38,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A359
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-37
- B38M at 22,000 ft, 43 nm northwest, 1:14 am PDT (08:14 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 639 nm along the route, 43 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN216059/TM 0814/FL220/TP B38M/TB NEG/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 59 nm southwest (216°) of DEN
- Time
- 08:14 UTC
- Height
- at 22,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- 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 15 forecast points nearest it (ONT, BLH, LAS, PRC, BCE, FMN, ALS, PUB, GLD, GRI, OMA, DSM, BRL, DBQ, JOT). 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 | 240° at 28 kt | −27 kt | 17 °C | 147 kt | 9 h 55 min | 3:53 pm CDT (20:53 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | −25 kt | 11 °C | 145 kt | 10 h 03 min | 4:01 pm CDT (21:01 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | −24 kt | 9 °C | 144 kt | 10 h 07 min | 4:05 pm CDT (21:05 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | −27 kt | 4 °C | 147 kt | 9 h 55 min | 3:53 pm CDT (20:53 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 31 kt | −30 kt | 0 °C | 150 kt | 9 h 43 min | 3:41 pm CDT (20:41 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 34 kt | −33 kt | -4 °C | 153 kt | 9 h 31 min | 3:29 pm CDT (20:29 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 38 kt | −36 kt | -9 °C | 156 kt | 9 h 20 min | 3:18 pm CDT (20:18 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 38 kt | −37 kt | -10 °C | 157 kt | 9 h 17 min | 3:15 pm CDT (20:15 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 51 kt | −50 kt | -21 °C | 170 kt | 8 h 34 min | 2:32 pm CDT (19:32 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 64 kt | −65 kt | -31 °C | 185 kt | 7 h 53 min | 1:51 pm CDT (18:51 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 70 kt | −72 kt | -37 °C | 192 kt | 7 h 35 min | 1:33 pm CDT (18:33 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 65 kt | −67 kt | -47 °C | 187 kt | 7 h 47 min | 1:45 pm CDT (18:45 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ONT | used from 0 nm out; 43 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° |
| BLH | used from 50 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 240/19 | 210/20 10° | 200/27 4° | 210/34 -2° | 220/59 -10° | 220/67 -20° | 220/75 -29° | 230/78 -38° | 220/90 -47° |
| LAS | used from 100 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 210/20 8° | 210/29 4° | 200/32 -3° | 200/51 -15° | 210/64 -21° | 220/70 -30° | 220/66 -38° | 220/55 -44° | |
| PRC | used from 200 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 200/37 6° | 200/35 0° | 220/60 -11° | 220/71 -20° | 220/88 -29° | 220/98 -35° | 220/94 -45° | ||
| BCE | used from 299 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 200/32 -2° | 210/57 -15° | 220/71 -22° | 220/69 -30° | 220/64 -38° | 220/67 -44° | |||
| FMN | used from 349 nm out; 101 nm from the line | 220/16 6° | 220/39 1° | 220/50 -10° | 230/67 -23° | 230/94 -29° | 230/102 -35° | 230/90 -46° | ||
| ALS | used from 549 nm out; 47 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 599 nm out; 46 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 748 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 898 nm out; 78 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° | |
| OMA | used from 1048 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 230/47 | 240/33 21° | 230/22 13° | 220/27 5° | 240/35 -8° | 250/43 -21° | 260/47 -33° | 260/59 -36° | 270/58 -46° |
| DSM | used from 1148 nm out; 36 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 1247 nm out; 53 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° |
| DBQ | used from 1347 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 250/27 | 260/23 17° | 240/26 10° | 260/30 4° | 280/26 -9° | 280/36 -21° | 270/41 -36° | 280/52 -41° | 290/67 -48° |
| JOT | used from 1397 nm out; 31 nm from the line | 250/25 | 260/22 14° | 250/17 9° | 270/21 5° | 280/28 -8° | 280/36 -20° | 270/41 -35° | 280/57 -42° | 290/65 -50° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBD San Bernardino, CA | departure | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,400 feet, a broken layer at 2,800 feet, overcast at 3,700 feet Weather: rain | from the west-southwest (250°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 2,800 ft | 1,159 ft | 3:40 am PDT (10:40 UTC) |
| EED Needles, CA | 130 nm out, 23 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 10,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 983 ft | 09:56 UTC |
| IFP Bullhead City, AZ | 150 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 300 feet, scattered clouds at 4,900 feet, a broken layer at 6,500 feet Weather: light rain | from the south (180°) at 9 knots | 9 mi | 6,500 ft | 707 ft | 10:30 UTC |
| CEZ Cortez, CO | 459 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,500 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 6,500 ft | 5,917 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | 669 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 6,187 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| GLD Goodland, KS | 808 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,657 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| NRN Norton, KS | 898 nm out, 1 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,384 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| LNK Lincoln, NE | 1058 nm out, 19 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 14 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 1,218 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| DSM Des Moines, IA | 1197 nm out, 24 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 11,000 feet, a broken layer at 19,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 957 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| DPA Chicago/West Chicago, IL | 1437 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 24,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 24,000 ft | 758 ft | 10:52 UTC |
| ORD Chicago, IL | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 680 ft | 5:51 am CDT (10:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,187 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ORD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:33 pm CDT (18:33 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ORD
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
The forecast for SBD, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am PDT (13:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 5 miles, mist, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am PDT (17:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, 140 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at SBD 6:17 pm PDT (01:17 UTC), at ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:43 pm CDT (23:43 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 Bernardino International, Chicago O'Hare International.