San Francisco International to Ontario International SFO → ONT
316 nautical miles (363 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 131°, about 117° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 30 min at the quickest height in today's winds (24,000 ft, a 6-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SFO is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 15 knots; ONT is marginal VFR, wind from the north (350°) 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: 2,618 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, from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 79 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft, from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the last 79 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
- GLF5 at 3,500 ft, 23 nm southwest, 9:54 pm PDT (04:54 UTC): overcast above 3,600 ft. 276 nm along the route, 23 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
VNY UA /OV VNY36006/TM 0454/FL035/TP GLF5/SK OVC036
- Report
- a routine report filed through VNY
- Where
- VNY36006
- Time
- 04:54 UTC
- Height
- at 3,500 ft
- Aircraft
- GLF5
- Sky
- overcast from 3,600 ft
- B38M at 3,000 ft, 5 nm east, 10:47 pm PDT (05:47 UTC): a broken layer from 2,900 ft to 8,000 ft, remarks: BASE030. At the destination end, 5 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ONT UA /OV KONT080005/TM 0547/FL030/TP B38M/SK BKN029-TOP080/RM BASE030
- Report
- a routine report filed through ONT
- Where
- 5 nm east (080°) of KONT
- Time
- 05:47 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Sky
- a broken layer from 2,900 ft, tops 8,000 ft
- Remarks
- BASE030
- A321 at 3,300 ft, 8 nm east, 9:59 pm PDT (04:59 UTC): a broken layer above 3,300 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 8 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ONT UA /OV ONT078008/TM 0459/FL033/TP A321/SK BKN033-TOPUNKN/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through ONT
- Where
- 8 nm east (078°) of ONT
- Time
- 04:59 UTC
- Height
- at 3,300 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Sky
- a broken layer from 3,300 ft, tops unknown
- Remarks
- during the descent
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 4 forecast points nearest it (SFO, FAT, WJF, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 130° at 14 kt | +14 kt | 106 kt | 2 h 59 min | 3:29 am PDT (10:29 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 170° at 18 kt | +14 kt | 6 °C | 106 kt | 2 h 59 min | 3:29 am PDT (10:29 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 190° at 19 kt | +12 kt | 3 °C | 108 kt | 2 h 56 min | 3:26 am PDT (10:26 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 200° at 21 kt | +8 kt | 0 °C | 112 kt | 2 h 49 min | 3:19 am PDT (10:19 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 210° at 21 kt | +4 kt | -4 °C | 116 kt | 2 h 43 min | 3:13 am PDT (10:13 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 20 kt | +2 kt | -7 °C | 118 kt | 2 h 41 min | 3:11 am PDT (10:11 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 20 kt | +1 kt | -10 °C | 119 kt | 2 h 39 min | 3:09 am PDT (10:09 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 19 kt | −1 kt | -13 °C | 121 kt | 2 h 37 min | 3:07 am PDT (10:07 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 19 kt | −1 kt | -14 °C | 121 kt | 2 h 37 min | 3:07 am PDT (10:07 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 19 kt | −6 kt | -23 °C | 126 kt | 2 h 30 min | 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 34 kt | −3 kt | -30 °C | 123 kt | 2 h 34 min | 3:04 am PDT (10:04 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 39 kt | −1 kt | -36 °C | 121 kt | 2 h 37 min | 3:07 am PDT (10:07 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 43 kt | +1 kt | -44 °C | 119 kt | 2 h 39 min | 3:09 am PDT (10:09 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 120/13 | 090/14 5° | 040/14 -1° | 350/17 -5° | 360/42 -14° | 360/64 -23° | 350/38 -32° | 300/19 -37° | 250/18 -44° |
| FAT | used from 49 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 130/16 | 160/20 5° | 190/28 -1° | 210/25 -5° | 220/27 -15° | 230/21 -26° | 220/42 -29° | 220/44 -35° | 220/44 -44° |
| WJF | used from 197 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 200/28 6° | 210/28 3° | 210/29 -4° | 210/28 -14° | 220/41 -20° | 220/47 -29° | 220/46 -37° | 220/53 -44° | |
| ONT | used from 296 nm out; 10 nm from the line | 190/8 | 190/19 6° | 210/23 4° | 210/29 -3° | 210/47 -13° | 210/49 -19° | 220/47 -30° | 220/50 -36° | 220/55 -43° |
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 | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 15 knots | 10+ mi | none | 13 ft | 11:56 pm PDT (06:56 UTC) |
| SJC San Jose, CA | 30 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a few clouds at 8,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 62 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| SNS Salinas, CA | 69 nm out, 19 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 4,600 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 4,600 ft | 84 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| KIC King City, CA | 99 nm out, 23 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 374 ft | ||||
| BFL Bakersfield, CA | 207 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 8,000 feet | from the north (350°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 509 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| WJF Lancaster, CA | 266 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,100 feet | from the west (270°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,350 ft | 06:56 UTC |
| PMD Palmdale, CA | 276 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,542 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| ONT Ontario, CA | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,600 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet | from the north (350°) at 3 knots | 7 mi | 2,600 ft | 944 ft | 11:53 pm PDT (06:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,542 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ONT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC)
Wind from the west-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for ONT
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
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
- 4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 19 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at SFO 6:35 pm PDT (01:35 UTC), at ONT 6:18 pm PDT (01:18 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:44 pm PDT (01:44 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ONT is before sunrise there (6:53 am PDT (13:53 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, Ontario International.