Mineta San Jose International to Fairbanks International SJC → FAI
1,887 nautical miles (2,171 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 339°, about 326° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 16 h 25 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 5-knot headwind), arriving about 8:29 pm AKDT (04:29 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SJC is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 5 knots; FAI is IFR, 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 TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 190 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 SJC.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- LJ45 at 1,400 ft, 8 nm northeast, 3:30 am PDT (10:30 UTC): a broken layer above 1,400 ft, remarks: during the climb zan. 1288 nm along the route, 8 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
SIT UA /OV SIT/TM 1030/FL014/TP LJ45/SK BKN014/RM DURC/ ZAN
- Report
- a routine report filed through SIT
- Where
- over SIT
- Time
- 10:30 UTC
- Height
- at 1,400 ft
- Aircraft
- LJ45
- Sky
- a broken layer from 1,400 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb zan
- BE20 at 800 ft, 5 nm southwest, 3:25 am PDT (10:25 UTC): remarks: during the descent 1M fna runway 02L fis at 800 ft fai approach akfss. At the destination end, 5 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
FAI UA /OV FAI180001 /TM 1025 /FL008 /TP BE20 /RM DURD 1M FNA RWY02L FIS 008 FAI APCH AKFSS
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAI
- Where
- 1 nm south (180°) of FAI
- Time
- 10:25 UTC
- Height
- at 800 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Remarks
- during the descent 1M fna runway 02L fis at 800 ft fai approach akfss
- B737 at 1,000 ft, 4 nm west, 2:30 am PDT (09:30 UTC): no turbulence, light rime icing, -9 °C, remarks: during the climb zan. At the destination end, 4 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
FAI UA /OV FAI/TM 0930/FL010/TP B737/SK BASE010-TOP160/TA M09/TB NEG/IC LGT RIME/RM DURC/ ZAN
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAI
- Where
- over FAI
- Time
- 09:30 UTC
- Height
- at 1,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Sky
- BASE010-TOP160
- Temperature
- −9 °C
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- light rime
- Remarks
- during the climb zan
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 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 7 forecast points nearest it (SFO, SAC, RBL, FOT, OTH, AST, SEA). 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 | 360° at 6 kt | +5 kt | 115 kt | 16 h 25 min | 8:29 pm AKDT (04:29 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 010° at 8 kt | +7 kt | 0 °C | 113 kt | 16 h 42 min | 8:46 pm AKDT (04:46 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 360° at 12 kt | +10 kt | -2 °C | 110 kt | 17 h 09 min | 9:13 pm AKDT (05:13 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 360° at 21 kt | +18 kt | -4 °C | 102 kt | 18 h 30 min | 10:34 pm AKDT (06:34 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 360° at 32 kt | +27 kt | -6 °C | 93 kt | 20 h 17 min | 12:21 am AKDT (08:21 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 360° at 40 kt | +34 kt | -9 °C | 86 kt | 21 h 57 min | 2:01 am AKDT (10:01 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 360° at 48 kt | +40 kt | -12 °C | 80 kt | 23 h 35 min | 3:39 am AKDT (11:39 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 360° at 54 kt | +45 kt | -14 °C | 75 kt | 25 h 10 min | 5:14 am AKDT (13:14 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 360° at 61 kt | +55 kt | -25 °C | 65 kt | 29 h 02 min | 9:06 am AKDT (17:06 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 360° at 62 kt | +56 kt | -40 °C | 64 kt | 29 h 29 min | 9:33 am AKDT (17:33 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 350° at 57 kt | +54 kt | -48 °C | 66 kt | 28 h 35 min | 8:39 am AKDT (16:39 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 340° at 32 kt | +31 kt | -46 °C | 89 kt | 21 h 12 min | 1:16 am AKDT (09:16 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; 15 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; 47 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° |
| RBL | used from 100 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 350/14 | 320/9 4° | 290/7 -3° | 350/22 -7° | 360/75 -13° | 350/79 -24° | 350/74 -39° | 340/49 -43° | 280/23 -43° |
| FOT | used from 200 nm out; 27 nm from the line | 020/14 | 010/18 4° | 010/27 0° | 360/45 -1° | 350/59 -12° | 350/66 -23° | 350/79 -39° | 350/73 -48° | 330/40 -48° |
| OTH | used from 299 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 020/7 | 020/13 1° | 010/26 -4° | 360/41 -4° | 350/60 -13° | 350/65 -24° | 350/72 -40° | 350/68 -48° | 340/43 -47° |
| AST | used from 499 nm out; 112 nm from the line | L/V | 340/6 1° | 350/17 -2° | 360/32 -3° | 360/50 -14° | 350/55 -26° | 350/58 -40° | 350/62 -49° | 340/40 -47° |
| SEA | used from 848 nm out; 362 nm from the line | 350/5 | 010/6 0° | 010/9 -4° | 010/27 -6° | 010/51 -15° | 360/58 -26° | 360/60 -41° | 350/55 -48° | 340/30 -45° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SJC San Jose, CA | departure | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 62 ft | 4:53 am PDT (11:53 UTC) |
| HWD Hayward, CA | 20 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the northeast (050°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 52 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| CEC Crescent City, CA | 289 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | VFR | from the north-northeast (020°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 60 ft | 11:56 UTC |
| CYZP Sandspit, | 1038 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,400 feet, overcast at 2,900 feet | from the west (270°) at 3 knots | 9 mi | 2,400 ft | 21 ft | 11:59 UTC |
| AHP Port Alexander, AK | 1248 nm out, 15 nm east of the line | no report just now | 0 ft | ||||
| YAK Yakutat, AK | 1497 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,400 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet | from the east-southeast (120°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 2,500 ft | 39 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| PXK Paxson, AK | 1767 nm out, 23 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 2,653 ft | ||||
| FAI Fairbanks, AK | destination | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, a broken layer at 1,300 feet, overcast at 2,900 feet | calm | 7 mi | 500 ft | 439 ft | 3:53 am AKDT (11:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,653 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At FAI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:29 pm AKDT (04:29 UTC)
Wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for FAI
- From Mon 4:00 am AKDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 2 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, showers nearby, overcast at 1,500 feet
- At times between Mon 4:00 am AKDT (12:00 UTC) and 8:00 am AKDT (16:00 UTC): overcast at 500 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm AKDT (00:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
The forecast for SJC, the departure
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 8,000 feet, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm PDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 SJC 6:33 pm PDT (01:33 UTC), at FAI 6:36 pm AKDT (02:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:25 pm AKDT (03:25 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at FAI is after sunset there (6:39 pm AKDT (02:39 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: Mineta San Jose International, Fairbanks International.