Louisville Muhammad Ali International to Tucson International SDF → TUS
1,285 nautical miles (1,479 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 261°, about 266° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 12 h 43 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 19-knot headwind), arriving about 1:11 pm MST (20:11 UTC). Right now SDF is marginal VFR, wind calm; TUS 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 SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 90 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: 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 399 to 717 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 966 to 1076 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 SDF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- PC12 at 14,000 ft, 8 nm northwest, 2:06 am EDT (06:06 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: zab fdcs. 907 nm along the route, 8 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVN UA /OV TXO260060/TM 0606/FL140/TP PC12/TB MOD/RM ZAB FDCS
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVN
- Where
- 60 nm west (260°) of TXO
- Time
- 06:06 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- zab fdcs
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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 13 forecast points nearest it (LOU, EVV, CGI, SGF, TUL, OKC, GAG, AMA, TCC, ROW, ABQ, ELP, TUS). 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 25 kt | +22 kt | 16 °C | 98 kt | 13 h 07 min | 1:35 pm MST (20:35 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | +21 kt | 15 °C | 99 kt | 12 h 59 min | 1:27 pm MST (20:27 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | +19 kt | 13 °C | 101 kt | 12 h 43 min | 1:11 pm MST (20:11 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | +19 kt | 9 °C | 101 kt | 12 h 43 min | 1:11 pm MST (20:11 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | +19 kt | 5 °C | 101 kt | 12 h 43 min | 1:11 pm MST (20:11 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | +21 kt | 1 °C | 99 kt | 12 h 59 min | 1:27 pm MST (20:27 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | +24 kt | -3 °C | 96 kt | 13 h 23 min | 1:51 pm MST (20:51 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 25 kt | +25 kt | -6 °C | 95 kt | 13 h 32 min | 2:00 pm MST (21:00 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 34 kt | +34 kt | -18 °C | 86 kt | 14 h 57 min | 3:25 pm MST (22:25 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 50 kt | +51 kt | -29 °C | 69 kt | 18 h 37 min | 7:05 pm MST (02:05 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 52 kt | +53 kt | -38 °C | 67 kt | 19 h 11 min | 7:39 pm MST (02:39 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 45 kt | +45 kt | -49 °C | 75 kt | 17 h 08 min | 5:36 pm MST (00:36 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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 | 310/18 | 340/28 16° | 340/29 10° | 350/27 3° | 330/27 -7° | 340/39 -19° | 330/58 -33° | 330/67 -41° | 330/40 -49° |
| EVV | used from 50 nm out; 12 nm from the line | 280/15 | 290/12 17° | 310/16 10° | 320/13 5° | 310/22 -6° | 320/26 -18° | 320/38 -33° | 310/56 -41° | 320/55 -51° |
| CGI | used from 149 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 240/20 | 270/15 15° | 280/15 11° | 300/13 6° | 290/20 -6° | 280/24 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/47 -41° | 310/49 -51° |
| SGF | used from 299 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 230/33 | 230/28 15° | 250/20 13° | 240/18 7° | 250/20 -6° | 250/24 -17° | 280/42 -31° | 280/49 -40° | 290/46 -51° |
| TUL | used from 448 nm out; 31 nm from the line | 210/37 | 240/29 17° | 260/15 14° | 260/11 7° | 240/22 -6° | 250/29 -16° | 270/45 -29° | 270/47 -40° | 280/44 -50° |
| OKC | used from 548 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 200/44 | 230/32 18° | 240/13 15° | 240/10 9° | 240/20 -5° | 250/27 -16° | 260/47 -28° | 270/48 -39° | 270/45 -50° |
| GAG | used from 648 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 220/40 19° | 230/28 14° | 240/23 8° | 230/21 -6° | 240/31 -19° | 250/66 -29° | 260/58 -38° | 260/47 -49° | |
| AMA | used from 747 nm out; 18 nm from the line | 210/38 | 230/29 14° | 240/29 7° | 220/27 -5° | 240/37 -18° | 240/66 -28° | 250/59 -37° | 260/47 -49° | |
| TCC | used from 847 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 210/42 | 230/33 14° | 230/32 6° | 220/35 -6° | 230/49 -19° | 240/72 -27° | 250/62 -36° | 250/52 -48° | |
| ROW | used from 946 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 190/33 | 210/27 14° | 220/28 6° | 230/36 -6° | 230/56 -15° | 230/63 -27° | 250/59 -37° | 260/57 -49° | |
| ABQ | used from 996 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 220/27 11° | 210/35 5° | 220/46 -9° | 230/62 -20° | 240/78 -25° | 240/80 -35° | 240/56 -47° | ||
| ELP | used from 1096 nm out; 114 nm from the line | 290/17 | 210/11 13° | 200/18 5° | 220/46 -6° | 230/64 -14° | 230/63 -27° | 240/55 -37° | 240/44 -48° | |
| TUS | used from 1146 nm out; 115 nm from the line | 210/13 13° | 200/35 9° | 210/40 5° | 220/50 -7° | 220/59 -18° | 230/79 -26° | 230/84 -35° | 230/84 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDF Louisville, KY | departure | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | none | 500 ft | 2:56 am EDT (06:56 UTC) |
| EVV Evansville, IN | 90 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 3 mi | none | 421 ft | 07:00 UTC |
| MWA Marion, IL | 159 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 471 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| SGF Springfield, MO | 369 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,268 ft | 06:52 UTC |
| TUL Tulsa, OK | 498 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 677 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| SWO Stillwater, OK | 558 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,000 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| CSM Burns Flat, OK | 667 nm out, 21 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 20 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,922 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| AMA Amarillo, TX | 787 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 21 knots, gusting to 26 | 10+ mi | none | 3,606 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| FSU Fort Sumner, NM | 917 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 4,164 ft | ||||
| TCS Truth Or Consequences, NM | 1086 nm out, 9 nm south of the line | VFR | from the north-northwest (330°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,861 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| CFT Clifton/Morenci, AZ | 1186 nm out, 12 nm north of the line | no report just now | 3,797 ft | ||||
| TUS Tucson, AZ | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 2,643 ft | 11:53 pm MST (06:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,861 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At TUS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:11 pm MST (20:11 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for TUS
- From Sun 11:00 pm MST (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 8,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am MST (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MST (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm MST (03:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet
The forecast for SDF, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8722 ALAMOGORDO, NM, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local on the route, 996 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZAB
Daylight
Sunset at SDF 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC), at TUS 5:53 pm MST (00:53 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:18 pm MST (01:18 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, Tucson International.