The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Sun 7:12 pm PDT (02:12 UTC)

Sacramento International to Columbia Metro Airport SMF → CAE

1,963 nautical miles (2,259 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 086°, about 073° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 12 h 03 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 43-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:15 am EDT (14:15 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 return flight

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

  • SIGMET W10W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 8:55 pm PDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 169 to 289 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 120155
    MKCW WST 120155
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 10W
    VALID UNTIL 0355Z
    NV
    FROM 70SW TWF-40NNW BVL-40SW ELY-30ESE OAL-40WNW OAL-70SW TWF
    AREA TS MOV FROM 23020KT. TOPS TO FL300.
  • SIGMET 6W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 8:55 pm PDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 707 to 807 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 120155
    MKCW WST 120155
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 6W
    VALID UNTIL 0355Z
    CO NM
    FROM 50SSW DEN-30NNE TBE-50SSW CME-50E SJN-20NE DVC-50SSW DEN
    AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
  • AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 30 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 139 to 588 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 139 to 229 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 169 to 827 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 209 to 578 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 239 to 857 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 418 to 498 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 548 to 757 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 667 to 757 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 877 to 1186 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1753 to 1873 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the route from 1813 to 1893 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

Not fetched just now.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 19 forecast points nearest it (SAC, RNO, BIH, ELY, BCE, GJT, ALS, PUB, GCK, ICT, TUL, SGF, CGI, MEM, BNA, HSV, TYS, GSP, CAE). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
5,500 ft250° at 13 kt−11 kt21 °C131 kt14 h 59 min1:11 pm EDT (17:11 UTC)
7,500 ft240° at 18 kt−15 kt12 °C135 kt14 h 32 min12:44 pm EDT (16:44 UTC)
9,500 ft250° at 19 kt−18 kt9 °C138 kt14 h 13 min12:25 pm EDT (16:25 UTC)
11,500 ft250° at 21 kt−20 kt5 °C140 kt14 h 01 min12:13 pm EDT (16:13 UTC)
13,500 ft250° at 23 kt−22 kt1 °C142 kt13 h 49 min12:01 pm EDT (16:01 UTC)
15,500 ft250° at 25 kt−23 kt-4 °C143 kt13 h 44 min11:56 am EDT (15:56 UTC)
17,500 ft250° at 27 kt−25 kt-8 °C145 kt13 h 32 min11:44 am EDT (15:44 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180240° at 27 kt−25 kt-9 °C145 kt13 h 32 min11:44 am EDT (15:44 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240240° at 31 kt−27 kt-20 °C147 kt13 h 21 min11:33 am EDT (15:33 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300250° at 44 kt−41 kt-30 °C161 kt12 h 12 min10:24 am EDT (14:24 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340250° at 45 kt−43 kt-38 °C163 kt12 h 03 min10:15 am EDT (14:15 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390250° at 44 kt−43 kt-48 °C163 kt12 h 03 min10:15 am EDT (14:15 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
SACused from 0 nm out; 24 nm from the line270/5L/V 5°L/V -1°240/11 -5°250/22 -15°270/25 -24°260/31 -27°240/39 -33°240/39 -42°
RNOused from 50 nm out; 45 nm from the line320/7260/13 1°230/21 -7°210/38 -17°220/43 -26°230/54 -29°230/59 -32°230/54 -41°
BIHused from 149 nm out; 92 nm from the lineL/V210/14 6°210/20 -2°230/26 -14°220/32 -24°220/63 -27°220/56 -35°230/50 -44°
ELYused from 199 nm out; 95 nm from the line210/20 4°240/21 -1°230/37 -13°200/58 -25°220/73 -27°220/73 -36°220/69 -44°
BCEused from 398 nm out; 73 nm from the line210/47 0°200/50 -12°220/31 -23°220/56 -26°220/58 -35°230/58 -45°
GJTused from 498 nm out; 90 nm from the line210/40 11°210/46 3°210/61 -10°210/68 -22°220/57 -29°230/59 -36°240/66 -46°
ALSused from 697 nm out; 71 nm from the line210/32 5°230/48 -8°230/49 -20°230/78 -30°240/74 -36°240/61 -47°
PUBused from 747 nm out; 32 nm from the line210/24 16°210/28 8°230/43 -8°240/42 -21°240/77 -30°240/72 -36°250/51 -47°
GCKused from 897 nm out; 61 nm from the line200/35 21°220/34 14°240/30 8°240/27 -6°240/31 -17°240/53 -30°250/55 -39°250/60 -50°
ICTused from 1046 nm out; 68 nm from the line190/34210/34 18°240/28 13°260/23 7°250/23 -6°240/29 -17°260/40 -30°260/47 -40°270/42 -51°
TULused from 1195 nm out; 70 nm from the line200/27210/28 15°240/24 13°250/19 8°250/28 -6°260/25 -16°270/34 -30°280/41 -39°280/41 -52°
SGFused from 1245 nm out; 64 nm from the line210/21210/21 16°240/28 12°260/24 7°280/21 -6°280/26 -18°290/38 -31°290/37 -41°300/49 -52°
CGIused from 1445 nm out; 73 nm from the line250/10290/12 17°290/18 11°300/22 5°320/25 -8°330/30 -18°320/53 -33°320/66 -42°320/56 -50°
MEMused from 1544 nm out; 83 nm from the line240/9280/14 17°280/20 12°290/25 5°320/25 -6°330/31 -18°320/52 -32°330/58 -41°320/42 -50°
BNAused from 1594 nm out; 56 nm from the line280/13340/34 16°330/38 10°330/44 5°330/39 -8°330/38 -19°320/49 -34°330/53 -40°330/35 -47°
HSVused from 1694 nm out; 61 nm from the line290/15330/34 16°330/38 11°330/40 5°320/36 -7°320/31 -18°320/44 -34°330/53 -41°330/34 -48°
TYSused from 1743 nm out; 63 nm from the line290/19310/22 11°330/25 7°330/34 3°320/37 -7°300/37 -18°300/37 -34°280/29 -39°270/29 -48°
GSPused from 1843 nm out; 43 nm from the line300/22310/22 11°300/22 7°290/28 5°270/36 -5°250/42 -18°230/54 -31°230/59 -40°230/65 -50°
CAEused from 1943 nm out; 10 nm from the line260/27310/26 11°280/31 9°270/36 7°250/39 -4°230/57 -16°220/74 -30°220/83 -40°220/73 -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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
SMF Sacramento, CA departure no report just now 26 ft
PVF Placerville, CA 40 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line no report just now 2,585 ft
ELY Ely, NV 319 nm out, 24 nm north of the line no report just now 6,259 ft
CNY Moab, UT 558 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line no report just now 4,579 ft
GJT Grand Junction, CO 608 nm out, 23 nm north of the line, tower no report just now 4,861 ft
PUB Pueblo, CO 807 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower no report just now 4,729 ft
ICT Wichita, KS 1136 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower no report just now 1,332 ft
JLN Joplin, MO 1285 nm out, 3 nm west of the line, tower no report just now 977 ft
MKL Jackson, TN 1564 nm out, 25 nm south of the line, tower no report just now 434 ft
CHA Chattanooga, TN 1753 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower no report just now 682 ft
GRD Greenwood, SC 1903 nm out, 5 nm east of the line no report just now 631 ft
CAE Columbia, SC destination no report just now 235 ft

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 CAE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:15 am EDT (14:15 UTC)

CAE 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
  • 6/6740 SACRAMENTO, CA, Thursday, October 8, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local 3 nm from the route, at the departure end · air shows/sports · ended 11 October · ZOA
  • 6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 22 nm from the route, 757 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV

Daylight

Sunset at SMF 6:32 pm PDT (01:32 UTC), at CAE 6:54 pm EDT (22:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:19 pm EDT (23:19 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

Radar now, the Pacific Southwest
Radar now, the Pacific Southwest · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the southern Rockies
Radar now, the southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the southern Plains
Radar now, the southern Plains · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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, Columbia Metro Airport.