Sacramento International to Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International SMF → BHM
1,707 nautical miles (1,964 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 090°, about 077° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 10 h 32 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 42-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:33 pm CDT (17:33 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: 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 80 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 200 to 629 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 210 to 529 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 260 to 868 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 449 to 709 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 649 to 798 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 719 to 838 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 868 to 1298 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 SMF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- PC12 at 17,000 ft, 39 nm south, 9:52 pm PDT (04:52 UTC): moderate turbulence, moderate rime icing, -15 °C, remarks: entered by zoa fdcs. 180 nm along the route, 39 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
TPH UA /OV OAL/TM 0452/FL 170/TP PC12/TA M15/TB MOD/IC MOD RIME/RM ENTERED BY ZOA FDCS AWC-WEB
- Report
- a routine report filed through TPH
- Where
- over OAL
- Time
- 04:52 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Temperature
- −15 °C
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Icing
- moderate rime
- Remarks
- entered by zoa fdcs
- A321 at 31,000 ft, 24 nm north, 11:15 pm PDT (06:15 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: mountain wave zlc. 509 nm along the route, 24 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
CNY UA /OV HVE340015/TM 0615/FL310/TP A321/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CHOP /RM MTN WAVE /ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through CNY
- Where
- 15 nm north (340°) of HVE
- Time
- 06:15 UTC
- Height
- at 31,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- occasional light to moderate chop
- Remarks
- mountain wave zlc
- PC12 at 26,000 ft, 30 nm north, 11:27 pm PDT (06:27 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-12. 719 nm along the route, 30 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
GUC UA /OV HBU090040/TM 0627/FL260/TP PC12/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-12
- Report
- a routine report filed through GUC
- Where
- 40 nm east (090°) of HBU
- Time
- 06:27 UTC
- Height
- at 26,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-12
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 16 forecast points nearest it (SAC, RNO, BIH, ELY, BCE, GJT, ALS, PUB, GCK, GAG, OKC, TUL, FSM, LIT, MEM, BHM). 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 | 240° at 19 kt | −13 kt | 20 °C | 133 kt | 12 h 50 min | 2:51 pm CDT (19:51 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 230° at 21 kt | −14 kt | 12 °C | 134 kt | 12 h 44 min | 2:45 pm CDT (19:45 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | −15 kt | 8 °C | 135 kt | 12 h 39 min | 2:40 pm CDT (19:40 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | −15 kt | 4 °C | 135 kt | 12 h 39 min | 2:40 pm CDT (19:40 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | −16 kt | 0 °C | 136 kt | 12 h 33 min | 2:34 pm CDT (19:34 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | −17 kt | -4 °C | 137 kt | 12 h 28 min | 2:29 pm CDT (19:29 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | −18 kt | -9 °C | 138 kt | 12 h 22 min | 2:23 pm CDT (19:23 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 28 kt | −18 kt | -10 °C | 138 kt | 12 h 22 min | 2:23 pm CDT (19:23 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 35 kt | −28 kt | -20 °C | 148 kt | 11 h 32 min | 1:33 pm CDT (18:33 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 46 kt | −39 kt | -29 °C | 159 kt | 10 h 44 min | 12:45 pm CDT (17:45 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 46 kt | −42 kt | -36 °C | 162 kt | 10 h 32 min | 12:33 pm CDT (17:33 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 41 kt | −38 kt | -47 °C | 158 kt | 10 h 48 min | 12:49 pm CDT (17:49 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAC | used from 0 nm out; 23 nm from the line | 110/6 | L/V 4° | 010/11 -2° | 350/11 -7° | 340/24 -16° | 360/44 -23° | 330/24 -30° | 270/21 -35° | 230/23 -43° |
| RNO | used from 50 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 010/9 | 320/10 -2° | 210/23 -9° | 210/34 -19° | 220/36 -25° | 230/31 -29° | 230/41 -33° | 230/38 -42° | |
| BIH | used from 150 nm out; 81 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° | |
| ELY | used from 200 nm out; 100 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° | ||
| BCE | used from 399 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 220/27 -1° | 210/40 -13° | 220/54 -21° | 220/64 -30° | 220/64 -34° | 220/52 -44° | |||
| GJT | used from 549 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 210/43 7° | 230/45 1° | 220/49 -12° | 220/62 -22° | 220/59 -28° | 230/60 -33° | 220/55 -45° | ||
| ALS | used from 649 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 230/37 4° | 220/54 -9° | 230/62 -22° | 240/77 -26° | 240/74 -33° | 230/59 -45° | |||
| PUB | used from 798 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 230/25 13° | 230/32 6° | 220/44 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 240/70 -28° | 240/67 -34° | 240/58 -46° | ||
| GCK | used from 898 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 220/48 21° | 230/37 14° | 250/30 8° | 230/37 -6° | 240/37 -20° | 240/69 -28° | 250/67 -37° | 260/58 -48° | |
| GAG | used from 998 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 220/40 19° | 230/28 14° | 240/23 8° | 230/21 -6° | 240/31 -19° | 250/66 -29° | 260/58 -38° | 260/47 -49° | |
| OKC | used from 1098 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 200/44 | 230/32 18° | 240/13 15° | 240/10 9° | 240/20 -5° | 250/27 -16° | 260/47 -28° | 270/48 -39° | 270/45 -50° |
| TUL | used from 1198 nm out; 14 nm from the line | 210/37 | 240/29 17° | 260/15 14° | 260/11 7° | 240/22 -6° | 250/29 -16° | 270/45 -29° | 270/47 -40° | 280/44 -50° |
| FSM | used from 1298 nm out; 19 nm from the line | 210/27 | 250/23 16° | 250/20 13° | 240/17 8° | 250/18 -6° | 260/31 -16° | 280/42 -30° | 280/44 -40° | 290/38 -51° |
| LIT | used from 1347 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 220/21 | 230/17 16° | 250/24 12° | 260/15 7° | 260/13 -5° | 280/25 -16° | 290/35 -30° | 300/42 -40° | 300/40 -52° |
| MEM | used from 1497 nm out; 30 nm from the line | 230/19 | 260/16 15° | 270/17 12° | 300/13 6° | 300/15 -5° | 300/26 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/41 -40° | 310/46 -52° |
| BHM | used from 1597 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 310/19 | 330/20 17° | 320/28 11° | 340/21 6° | 310/22 -7° | 330/33 -17° | 330/50 -32° | 330/57 -41° | 330/41 -50° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMF Sacramento, CA | departure | no report just now | 26 ft | ||||
| PVF Placerville, CA | 40 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 2,585 ft | ||||
| MLF Milford, UT | 399 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | no report just now | 5,042 ft | ||||
| TEX Telluride, CO | 649 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | no report just now | 9,069 ft | ||||
| RCV Del Norte, CO | 719 nm out, 5 nm south of the line | no report just now | 7,955 ft | ||||
| LBL Liberal, KS | 978 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 2,885 ft | ||||
| WDG Enid, OK | 1138 nm out, 1 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,167 ft | ||||
| RVS Tulsa, OK | 1228 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 638 ft | ||||
| LIT Little Rock, AR | 1427 nm out, 22 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 266 ft | ||||
| TUP Tupelo, MS | 1597 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 346 ft | ||||
| BHM Birmingham, AL | destination | no report just now | 650 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 9,069 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BHM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:33 pm CDT (17:33 UTC)
BHM has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/3475 BEALE AFB, CA, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 16 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 1 November · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at SMF 6:31 pm PDT (01:31 UTC), at BHM 6:17 pm CDT (23:17 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 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: Sacramento International, Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International.