The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Sun 10:47 pm PDT (05:47 UTC)

San Francisco International to Gerald R Ford International SFO → GRR

1,704 nautical miles (1,961 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 068°, about 054° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 58 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 51-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:45 am EDT (15:45 UTC). Right now SFO is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 5 knots; GRR is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 3 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: 2 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 W14W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 28,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 11:55 pm PDT (06:55 UTC). Over the route from 229 to 359 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 120455
    MKCW WST 120455
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 14W
    VALID UNTIL 0655Z
    NV
    FROM 40NW BVL-20WNW ELY-20SSE OAL-40WNW OAL-50NE BAM-40NW BVL
    AREA TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL280.
  • AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 110 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 249 to 747 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 249 to 767 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 349 to 887 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 538 to 937 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 658 to 827 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 658 to 737 nm out.
  • 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 937 to 1525 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1036 to 1076 nm out.
  • 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 last 20 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 SFO.

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

No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.

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 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 14 forecast points nearest it (SFO, SAC, RNO, BAM, ELY, SLC, RKS, BFF, ONL, FSD, MCW, DBQ, JOT, MKG). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
5,500 ft220° at 16 kt−12 kt20 °C132 kt12 h 55 min2:42 pm EDT (18:42 UTC)
7,500 ft220° at 19 kt−15 kt11 °C135 kt12 h 37 min2:24 pm EDT (18:24 UTC)
9,500 ft220° at 18 kt−15 kt7 °C135 kt12 h 37 min2:24 pm EDT (18:24 UTC)
11,500 ft230° at 20 kt−17 kt3 °C137 kt12 h 26 min2:13 pm EDT (18:13 UTC)
13,500 ft230° at 21 kt−19 kt-2 °C139 kt12 h 16 min2:03 pm EDT (18:03 UTC)
15,500 ft230° at 23 kt−20 kt-6 °C140 kt12 h 10 min1:57 pm EDT (17:57 UTC)
17,500 ft230° at 24 kt−22 kt-10 °C142 kt12 h1:47 pm EDT (17:47 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180230° at 25 kt−23 kt-11 °C143 kt11 h 55 min1:42 pm EDT (17:42 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240230° at 30 kt−28 kt-22 °C148 kt11 h 31 min1:18 pm EDT (17:18 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300230° at 37 kt−35 kt-32 °C155 kt11 h12:47 pm EDT (16:47 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340250° at 45 kt−46 kt-38 °C166 kt10 h 16 min12:03 pm EDT (16:03 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390250° at 49 kt−51 kt-46 °C171 kt9 h 58 min11:45 am EDT (15:45 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
SFOused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line120/13090/14 5°040/14 -1°350/17 -5°360/42 -14°360/64 -23°350/38 -32°300/19 -37°250/18 -44°
SACused from 50 nm out; 38 nm from the line110/6L/V 4°010/11 -2°350/11 -7°340/24 -16°360/44 -23°330/24 -30°270/21 -35°230/23 -43°
RNOused from 100 nm out; 67 nm from the line010/9320/10 -2°210/23 -9°210/34 -19°220/36 -25°230/31 -29°230/41 -33°230/38 -42°
BAMused from 249 nm out; 82 nm from the line310/7 0°270/19 -7°200/38 -17°190/49 -28°220/69 -29°220/63 -33°230/48 -41°
ELYused from 299 nm out; 51 nm from the line200/39 3°210/27 -2°210/45 -15°220/56 -24°210/60 -28°210/63 -34°220/61 -43°
SLCused from 448 nm out; 50 nm from the line200/5230/8 2°220/20 -2°210/40 -12°190/53 -25°210/62 -30°220/69 -34°220/64 -43°
RKSused from 598 nm out; 49 nm from the line200/41220/44 1°220/35 -11°220/46 -24°210/53 -27°220/62 -35°230/61 -44°
BFFused from 797 nm out; 80 nm from the line180/28220/33 15°210/31 7°230/32 -9°220/41 -21°220/40 -33°240/47 -36°250/54 -46°
ONLused from 996 nm out; 102 nm from the line210/31 20°230/27 13°230/18 7°220/19 -8°240/26 -20°250/44 -35°270/52 -39°260/57 -47°
FSDused from 1196 nm out; 58 nm from the line190/9230/30 18°240/23 13°240/20 6°260/22 -9°250/31 -21°250/43 -36°260/49 -43°270/53 -47°
MCWused from 1295 nm out; 46 nm from the line220/44250/30 17°230/14 12°240/17 6°250/22 -8°270/29 -20°250/34 -34°260/52 -43°260/59 -51°
DBQused from 1445 nm out; 30 nm from the line230/33250/30 16°280/15 9°260/15 5°260/21 -7°260/24 -20°250/37 -33°270/42 -43°280/63 -52°
JOTused from 1545 nm out; 86 nm from the line250/23270/22 15°250/16 10°240/9 4°280/22 -7°280/29 -19°300/29 -34°290/50 -43°300/64 -52°
MKGused from 1594 nm out; 55 nm from the line260/22290/16 15°300/11 10°290/5 3°300/26 -9°300/32 -20°320/48 -36°320/61 -45°310/74 -53°

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 VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet from the south (190°) at 5 knots 10+ mi none 13 ft 9:56 pm PDT (04:56 UTC)
SCK Stockton, CA 60 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,500 feet from the west (270°) at 10 knots 10+ mi none 32 ft 04:55 UTC
GAB Gabbs, NV 219 nm out, 4 nm east of the line no report just now 4,699 ft
TVY Tooele, UT 498 nm out, 16 nm north of the line VFR from the south (180°) at 5 knots 10+ mi none 4,321 ft 05:35 UTC
PVU Provo, UT 518 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line, tower VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,500 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet, overcast at 9,500 feet Weather: light rain from the east-southeast (120°) at 7 knots 10+ mi 6,500 ft 4,496 ft 04:56 UTC
SAA Saratoga, WY 757 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line reported, no category from the south (190°) at 14 knots, gusting to 20 10+ mi none 7,014 ft 05:30 UTC
AIA Alliance, NE 937 nm out, 4 nm north of the line VFR from the east (100°) at 5 knots 10+ mi none 3,930 ft 04:53 UTC
ONL O'Neill, NE 1126 nm out, 3 nm west of the line VFR from the north-northeast (030°) at 6 knots 10+ mi none 2,033 ft 05:35 UTC
SUX Sioux City, IA 1226 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower VFR calm 10+ mi none 1,098 ft 04:52 UTC
ALO Waterloo, IA 1405 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower VFR from the south (170°) at 8 knots 10+ mi none 873 ft 04:54 UTC
MKE Milwaukee, WI 1604 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots 10+ mi 25,000 ft 728 ft 04:52 UTC
GRR Grand Rapids, MI destination VFR Weather: mist from the south (170°) at 3 knots 6 mi none 793 ft 12:53 am EDT (04:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 7,014 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At GRR when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:45 am EDT (15:45 UTC)

Wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for GRR
  • From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
  • At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, mist
  • From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
  • From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet
  • From Mon 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet
  • 30% chance between Mon 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC) and 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light thunderstorms with rain, mist, overcast at 3,500 feet (thunderheads)
The forecast for SFO, the departure
  • From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet
  • From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Mon 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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

  • 6/7231 Santa Clara, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 19 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZOA

Daylight

Sunset at SFO 6:36 pm PDT (01:36 UTC), at GRR 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:33 pm EDT (23:33 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 now, the northern Rockies
Radar now, the northern 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, Gerald R Ford International.