Louisville Muhammad Ali International to Los Angeles International SDF → LAX
1,598 nautical miles (1,838 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 271°, about 276° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 15 h 59 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 20-knot headwind), arriving about 6:03 pm PDT (01:03 UTC). 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: 1,572 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 SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist, fog). Over the first 80 nm of 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 310 to 959 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 839 to 1288 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 899 to 1088 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 1078 to 1208 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 1098 to 1538 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1208 to 1358 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 1238 to 1298 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 70 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 SDF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 15 forecast points nearest it (LOU, EVV, STL, COU, SGF, MKC, ICT, GCK, PUB, ALS, FMN, PRC, LAS, BLH, 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 | 240° at 26 kt | +25 kt | 19 °C | 95 kt | 16 h 49 min | 6:53 pm PDT (01:53 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | +21 kt | 15 °C | 99 kt | 16 h 08 min | 6:12 pm PDT (01:12 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 23 kt | +20 kt | 10 °C | 100 kt | 15 h 59 min | 6:03 pm PDT (01:03 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +22 kt | 6 °C | 98 kt | 16 h 18 min | 6:22 pm PDT (01:22 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | +24 kt | 2 °C | 96 kt | 16 h 39 min | 6:43 pm PDT (01:43 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 31 kt | +28 kt | -2 °C | 92 kt | 17 h 22 min | 7:26 pm PDT (02:26 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 34 kt | +32 kt | -6 °C | 88 kt | 18 h 10 min | 8:14 pm PDT (03:14 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 37 kt | +34 kt | -9 °C | 86 kt | 18 h 35 min | 8:39 pm PDT (03:39 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 47 kt | +44 kt | -20 °C | 76 kt | 21 h 02 min | 11:06 pm PDT (06:06 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 66 kt | +65 kt | -30 °C | 55 kt | 29 h 03 min | 7:07 am PDT (14:07 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 68 kt | +69 kt | -37 °C | 51 kt | 31 h 20 min | 9:24 am PDT (16:24 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 59 kt | +62 kt | -48 °C | 58 kt | 27 h 33 min | 5:37 am PDT (12:37 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOU | used from 0 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 300/16 | 310/19 15° | 310/17 9° | 300/15 4° | 300/26 -6° | 280/34 -19° | 290/30 -34° | 310/49 -42° | 310/58 -51° |
| EVV | used from 50 nm out; 13 nm from the line | 270/25 | 290/17 15° | 260/10 8° | 270/16 5° | 280/29 -6° | 280/33 -19° | 290/38 -33° | 300/53 -41° | 310/54 -51° |
| STL | used from 150 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 250/26 | 240/21 15° | 240/22 11° | 250/23 6° | 270/28 -7° | 260/30 -19° | 280/52 -31° | 280/57 -40° | 300/57 -49° |
| COU | used from 250 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 250/36 | 260/14 16° | 250/5 12° | 260/12 6° | 260/24 -7° | 260/35 -19° | 280/58 -31° | 280/62 -40° | 290/60 -49° |
| SGF | used from 349 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 230/37 | 260/20 15° | 250/16 13° | 250/15 8° | 260/28 -7° | 250/31 -17° | 280/59 -31° | 280/59 -39° | 290/55 -50° |
| MKC | used from 399 nm out; 71 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° |
| ICT | used from 449 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 230/45 | 240/33 21° | 230/23 14° | 230/22 7° | 240/29 -7° | 240/36 -20° | 260/78 -29° | 270/69 -36° | 270/56 -49° |
| GCK | used from 649 nm out; 45 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° | |
| PUB | used from 799 nm out; 99 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° | ||
| ALS | used from 899 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 240/35 3° | 230/54 -9° | 240/66 -19° | 230/85 -26° | 240/87 -34° | 240/70 -47° | |||
| FMN | used from 999 nm out; 56 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° | ||
| PRC | used from 1198 nm out; 90 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° | ||
| LAS | used from 1348 nm out; 81 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° | |
| BLH | used from 1398 nm out; 74 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° |
| ONT | used from 1448 nm out; 85 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDF Louisville, KY | departure | no report just now | 500 ft | ||||
| EVV Evansville, IN | 80 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 421 ft | ||||
| TBN Fort Leonard Wood, MO | 300 nm out, 21 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,159 ft | ||||
| AIZ Kaiser/Lake Ozark, MO | 320 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 869 ft | ||||
| BEC Wichita, KS | 539 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,408 ft | ||||
| HQG Hugoton, KS | 749 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 3,134 ft | ||||
| RTN Raton, NM | 899 nm out, 10 nm south of the line | no report just now | 6,352 ft | ||||
| SKX Taos, NM | 959 nm out, 17 nm south of the line | no report just now | 7,094 ft | ||||
| CMR Williams, AZ | 1278 nm out, 11 nm south of the line | no report just now | 6,690 ft | ||||
| IFP Bullhead City, AZ | 1398 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 707 ft | ||||
| EMT El Monte, CA | 1578 nm out, 2 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 295 ft | ||||
| LAX Los Angeles, CA | destination | no report just now | 127 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,094 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At LAX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:03 pm PDT (01:03 UTC)
LAX has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 2 nm from the route, 1398 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
- 4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 13 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at SDF 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC), at LAX 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: Louisville Muhammad Ali International, Los Angeles International.