Salt Lake City International to Meadows Field SLC → BFL
464 nautical miles (534 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 228°, about 217° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 06 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 7-knot headwind), arriving about 12:39 am PDT (07:39 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SLC is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots; BFL is VFR, wind from the north (360°) at 15 knots, gusting to 21. 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: 6 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 ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the first 247 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the first 20 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 266 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 109 to 247 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 256 to 444 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Near the route, 365 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 SLC.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B737 at 16,000 ft, 9 nm northwest, 6:45 pm MDT (00:45 UTC): no turbulence, light rime icing from 13,000 ft to 17,000 ft, 8 °C, remarks: during the climb. 20 nm along the route, 9 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SLC UA /OV TCH230020/TM 0045/FL160/TP B737/TA 8/TB NEG/IC LT RIME 130-170/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through SLC
- Where
- 20 nm southwest (230°) of TCH
- Time
- 00:45 UTC
- Height
- at 16,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Temperature
- 8 °C
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- lt rime from 13,000 ft to 17,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
- PRM1 at 21,000 ft, 38 nm southeast, 7:03 pm MDT (01:03 UTC): light rime icing, -15 °C. 39 nm along the route, 38 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
PVU UA /OV FFU180025/TM 0103/FL210/TP PRM1/TA M15/IC LGT RIME /ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through PVU
- Where
- 25 nm south (180°) of FFU
- Time
- 01:03 UTC
- Height
- at 21,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PRM1
- Temperature
- −15 °C
- Icing
- light rime zlc
- PC12 at 25,000 ft, 45 nm southeast, 7:35 pm MDT (01:35 UTC): light rime icing, -16 °C, remarks: during the descent zlc. 69 nm along the route, 45 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTA UA /OV DTA360010/TM 0135/FL250/TP PC12/TA M16/IC LGT RIME /RM DURD /ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTA
- Where
- 10 nm north (360°) of DTA
- Time
- 01:35 UTC
- Height
- at 25,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Temperature
- −16 °C
- Icing
- light rime
- Remarks
- during the descent zlc
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 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 4 forecast points nearest it (SLC, ELY, BIH, WJF). 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 | 200° at 8 kt | +7 kt | 6 °C | 113 kt | 4 h 06 min | 12:39 am PDT (07:39 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 210° at 8 kt | +8 kt | 6 °C | 112 kt | 4 h 09 min | 12:42 am PDT (07:42 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 210° at 20 kt | +18 kt | 3 °C | 102 kt | 4 h 33 min | 1:06 am PDT (08:06 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 210° at 21 kt | +20 kt | 0 °C | 100 kt | 4 h 38 min | 1:11 am PDT (08:11 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 210° at 22 kt | +21 kt | -4 °C | 99 kt | 4 h 41 min | 1:14 am PDT (08:14 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 210° at 27 kt | +26 kt | -7 °C | 94 kt | 4 h 56 min | 1:29 am PDT (08:29 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 210° at 32 kt | +30 kt | -12 °C | 90 kt | 5 h 09 min | 1:42 am PDT (08:42 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 210° at 35 kt | +33 kt | -15 °C | 87 kt | 5 h 20 min | 1:53 am PDT (08:53 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 210° at 48 kt | +46 kt | -24 °C | 74 kt | 6 h 16 min | 2:49 am PDT (09:49 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 210° at 56 kt | +55 kt | -29 °C | 65 kt | 7 h 08 min | 3:41 am PDT (10:41 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 58 kt | +57 kt | -35 °C | 63 kt | 7 h 22 min | 3:55 am PDT (10:55 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 56 kt | +56 kt | -43 °C | 64 kt | 7 h 15 min | 3:48 am PDT (10:48 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLC | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 200/5 | 230/8 2° | 220/20 -2° | 210/40 -12° | 190/53 -25° | 210/62 -30° | 220/69 -34° | 220/64 -43° | |
| ELY | used from 99 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 200/39 3° | 210/27 -2° | 210/45 -15° | 220/56 -24° | 210/60 -28° | 210/63 -34° | 220/61 -43° | ||
| BIH | used from 247 nm out; 103 nm from the line | L/V | 240/7 1° | 190/13 -3° | 200/26 -16° | 210/43 -26° | 220/54 -28° | 220/51 -35° | 220/47 -43° | |
| WJF | used from 395 nm out; 74 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLC Salt Lake City, UT | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet, overcast at 9,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 4,230 ft | 8:54 pm MDT (02:54 UTC) |
| TVY Tooele, UT | 20 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,500 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 3,500 ft | 4,321 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| ELY Ely, NV | 158 nm out, 23 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,100 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the south (170°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 5,000 ft | 6,259 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| BTY Beatty, NV | 326 nm out, 18 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 3,169 ft | ||||
| BFL Bakersfield, CA | destination | VFR | from the north (360°) at 15 knots, gusting to 21 | 9 mi | none | 509 ft | 7:54 pm PDT (02:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,259 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BFL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:39 am PDT (07:39 UTC)
Wind from the north at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for BFL
- From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Sun 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 15 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Sun 9:00 pm PDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the north at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
The forecast for SLC, the departure
- From Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC) and 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind variable at 10 knots, gusting to 25, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8783 38NM NE BAKERSFIELD, CA, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Friday, October 23, 2026 UTC 11 nm from the route, 434 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 23 October · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at SLC 6:52 pm MDT (00:52 UTC), at BFL 6:25 pm PDT (01:25 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:50 pm PDT (01:50 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BFL is before sunrise there (6:59 am PDT (13:59 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
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: Salt Lake City International, Meadows Field.