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 10 h 12 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 47-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:41 pm EDT (21:41 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: 2 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 above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 209 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 90 to 140 nm out.
- 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 259 to 777 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 389 to 658 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 538 to 887 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 698 to 967 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 727 to 847 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 737 to 757 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 927 to 1136 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 1086 to 1445 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 SFO.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A35K at 32,000 ft, 25 nm north, 1:39 am PDT (08:39 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: fdcs zoa. At the departure end, 25 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
- B739 at 34,000 ft, 12 nm north, 3:58 am PDT (10:58 UTC): no turbulence. 1584 nm along the route, 12 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
UES UA /OV BAE/TM 1058/FL340/TP B739/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through UES
- Where
- over BAE
- Time
- 10:58 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Turbulence
- none
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 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.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 250° at 18 kt | −17 kt | 22 °C | 137 kt | 12 h 26 min | 7:55 pm EDT (23:55 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 18 kt | −18 kt | 11 °C | 138 kt | 12 h 21 min | 7:50 pm EDT (23:50 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | −20 kt | 6 °C | 140 kt | 12 h 10 min | 7:39 pm EDT (23:39 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | −23 kt | 2 °C | 143 kt | 11 h 55 min | 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | −23 kt | -2 °C | 143 kt | 11 h 55 min | 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | −23 kt | -7 °C | 143 kt | 11 h 55 min | 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | −22 kt | -11 °C | 142 kt | 12 h | 7:29 pm EDT (23:29 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 24 kt | −22 kt | -12 °C | 142 kt | 12 h | 7:29 pm EDT (23:29 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 30 kt | −28 kt | -22 °C | 148 kt | 11 h 31 min | 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 39 kt | −38 kt | -33 °C | 158 kt | 10 h 47 min | 6:16 pm EDT (22:16 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 44 kt | −44 kt | -37 °C | 164 kt | 10 h 23 min | 5:52 pm EDT (21:52 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 46 kt | −47 kt | -45 °C | 167 kt | 10 h 12 min | 5:41 pm EDT (21:41 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 090/9 | 050/12 4° | 010/17 -2° | 350/34 -3° | 360/70 -11° | 360/75 -22° | 350/57 -38° | 330/37 -42° | 280/25 -44° |
| SAC | used from 50 nm out; 38 nm from the line | L/V | L/V 4° | 340/9 -4° | 340/22 -8° | 360/71 -12° | 360/82 -23° | 350/58 -37° | 310/30 -40° | 270/25 -44° |
| RNO | used from 100 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 010/6 | 270/12 -3° | 220/26 -10° | 280/13 -19° | 350/44 -24° | 320/30 -32° | 260/22 -36° | 240/24 -42° | |
| BAM | used from 249 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 280/9 -2° | 260/18 -8° | 190/47 -19° | 200/50 -29° | 210/56 -29° | 220/54 -34° | 220/45 -42° | ||
| ELY | used from 299 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 210/34 1° | 220/40 -4° | 220/39 -17° | 210/51 -24° | 220/65 -30° | 220/60 -37° | 220/56 -44° | ||
| SLC | used from 448 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 200/16 | 210/23 4° | 220/34 -3° | 210/40 -16° | 220/66 -23° | 220/64 -31° | 220/57 -36° | 220/50 -43° | |
| RKS | used from 598 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 250/9 | 230/21 -1° | 210/43 -14° | 220/59 -23° | 220/55 -32° | 220/53 -35° | 220/48 -44° | ||
| BFF | used from 797 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 280/28 | 260/39 11° | 240/34 5° | 210/38 -11° | 210/52 -22° | 230/61 -31° | 230/61 -36° | 240/56 -45° | |
| ONL | used from 996 nm out; 102 nm from the line | 250/31 22° | 230/27 16° | 220/25 8° | 230/25 -9° | 220/29 -22° | 250/42 -33° | 250/48 -36° | 250/52 -46° | |
| FSD | used from 1196 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 210/20 | 230/23 21° | 220/25 14° | 230/30 5° | 230/26 -9° | 240/30 -21° | 270/33 -36° | 260/47 -37° | 270/58 -47° |
| MCW | used from 1295 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 250/36 | 250/24 19° | 240/26 11° | 250/30 5° | 270/22 -9° | 260/30 -21° | 260/31 -36° | 280/53 -38° | 280/66 -48° |
| DBQ | used from 1445 nm out; 30 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 1545 nm out; 86 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° |
| MKG | used from 1594 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 260/28 | 260/18 15° | 250/16 9° | 260/22 4° | 280/31 -9° | 270/35 -21° | 270/44 -35° | 270/42 -45° | 290/61 -51° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO San Francisco, CA | departure | no report just now | 13 ft | ||||
| SCK Stockton, CA | 60 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 32 ft | ||||
| 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 | no report just now | 4,321 ft | ||||
| PVU Provo, UT | 518 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,496 ft | ||||
| SAA Saratoga, WY | 757 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 7,014 ft | ||||
| AIA Alliance, NE | 937 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | no report just now | 3,930 ft | ||||
| ONL O'Neill, NE | 1126 nm out, 3 nm west of the line | no report just now | 2,033 ft | ||||
| SUX Sioux City, IA | 1226 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,098 ft | ||||
| ALO Waterloo, IA | 1405 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 873 ft | ||||
| MKE Milwaukee, WI | 1604 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower | no report just now | 728 ft | ||||
| GRR Grand Rapids, MI | destination | no report just now | 793 ft |
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, 5:41 pm EDT (21:41 UTC)
GRR has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at SFO 6:35 pm PDT (01:35 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
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.