The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Mon 4:10 am PDT (11:10 UTC)

San Francisco International to Albuquerque International Sunport SFO → ABQ

777 nautical miles (894 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 097°, about 083° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 59 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 36-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:09 am MDT (16:09 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: 1,425 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The return flight

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

  • SIGMET W22W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the south at 35 knots, until 5:55 am PDT (12:55 UTC). Near the route, 389 nm along the route.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 121055
    MKCW WST 121055
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 22W
    VALID UNTIL 1255Z
    AZ UT NV
    FROM 40W DTA-40WNW HVE-20SSE BCE-50NE LAS-70ENE BTY-40W DTA
    AREA TS MOV FROM 20035KT. TOPS TO FL300.
  • AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 179 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 110 to 159 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 239 to 538 nm out.
  • AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 319 to 389 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 409 to 558 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 428 to 508 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 last 299 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Near the route, 678 nm along 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 SFO.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

  • A35K at 32,000 ft, 31 nm north, 1:39 am PDT (08:39 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: fdcs zoa. At the departure end, 31 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    OAK UA /OV OAK348024/TM 0839/FL320/TP A35K/TB MOD CHOP/RM FDCS ZOA
    Report
    a routine report filed through OAK
    Where
    24 nm north (348°) of OAK
    Time
    08:39 UTC
    Height
    at 32,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A35K
    Turbulence
    moderate chop
    Remarks
    fdcs zoa

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 (SFO, FAT, BIH, LAS, BCE, PRC, FMN, ABQ). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
5,500 ft190° at 8 kt−1 kt8 °C121 kt6 h 25 min11:35 am MDT (17:35 UTC)
7,500 ft200° at 14 kt−3 kt5 °C123 kt6 h 19 min11:29 am MDT (17:29 UTC)
9,500 ft210° at 15 kt−3 kt2 °C123 kt6 h 19 min11:29 am MDT (17:29 UTC)
11,500 ft210° at 20 kt−5 kt-2 °C125 kt6 h 13 min11:23 am MDT (17:23 UTC)
13,500 ft210° at 25 kt−8 kt-5 °C128 kt6 h 04 min11:14 am MDT (17:14 UTC)
15,500 ft220° at 30 kt−12 kt-9 °C132 kt5 h 53 min11:03 am MDT (17:03 UTC)
17,500 ft220° at 35 kt−15 kt-12 °C135 kt5 h 45 min10:55 am MDT (16:55 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180220° at 36 kt−16 kt-13 °C136 kt5 h 43 min10:53 am MDT (16:53 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240230° at 44 kt−27 kt-22 °C147 kt5 h 17 min10:27 am MDT (16:27 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300230° at 58 kt−34 kt-30 °C154 kt5 h 03 min10:13 am MDT (16:13 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340230° at 64 kt−36 kt-37 °C156 kt4 h 59 min10:09 am MDT (16:09 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390230° at 61 kt−33 kt-45 °C153 kt5 h 05 min10:15 am MDT (16:15 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
SFOused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line090/9050/12 4°010/17 -2°350/34 -3°360/70 -11°360/75 -22°350/57 -38°330/37 -42°280/25 -44°
FATused from 50 nm out; 67 nm from the line140/11180/15 3°150/14 -3°200/14 -6°240/17 -16°320/25 -23°270/22 -31°240/29 -37°230/36 -44°
BIHused from 149 nm out; 21 nm from the lineL/V020/6 0°140/7 -7°210/31 -16°230/34 -26°220/43 -30°220/52 -36°220/46 -43°
LASused from 299 nm out; 50 nm from the line210/20 8°210/29 4°200/32 -3°200/51 -15°210/64 -21°220/70 -30°220/66 -38°220/55 -44°
BCEused from 448 nm out; 88 nm from the line200/32 -2°210/57 -15°220/71 -22°220/69 -30°220/64 -38°220/67 -44°
PRCused from 498 nm out; 95 nm from the line200/37 6°200/35 0°220/60 -11°220/71 -20°220/88 -29°220/98 -35°220/94 -45°
FMNused from 598 nm out; 93 nm from the line220/16 6°220/39 1°220/50 -10°230/67 -23°230/94 -29°230/102 -35°230/90 -46°
ABQused from 698 nm out; 55 nm from the line220/19 9°220/35 3°230/50 -8°240/64 -19°230/83 -26°230/85 -36°230/80 -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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
SFO San Francisco, CA departure no report just now 13 ft
MOD Modesto, CA 70 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower no report just now 99 ft
MER Atwater, CA 90 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower no report just now 190 ft
BIH Bishop, CA 189 nm out, 12 nm north of the line no report just now 4,124 ft
BTY Beatty, NV 269 nm out, 6 nm south of the line no report just now 3,169 ft
GCN Grand Canyon, AZ 498 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower no report just now 6,608 ft
GUP Gallup, NM 668 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line no report just now 6,472 ft
GNT Grants, NM 717 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line no report just now 6,536 ft
ABQ Albuquerque, NM destination no report just now 5,354 ft

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,608 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At ABQ when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:09 am MDT (16:09 UTC)

ABQ has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

  • 6/7094 45NM NE MERCED, CA, Sunday, October 4, 2026 through Tuesday, October 20, 2026 UTC 9 nm from the route, 130 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 20 October · ZOA
  • 6/8890 LAS VEGAS, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 6 nm from the route, 359 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZLA

Daylight

Sunset at SFO 6:35 pm PDT (01:35 UTC), at ABQ 6:34 pm MDT (00:34 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm MDT (00:59 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

Radar now, the Pacific Southwest
Radar now, the Pacific Southwest · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the southern Rockies
Radar now, the southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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 Francisco International, Albuquerque International Sunport.