Sacramento International to Santa Barbara Municipal SMF → SBA
270 nautical miles (311 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 161°, about 148° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 17 min at the quickest height in today's winds (18,000 ft, a 2-knot headwind), arriving about 8:29 pm PDT (03:29 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SMF is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 9 knots; SBA is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 9 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: 724 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
No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.
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
- SR22 at 10,000 ft, 16 nm east, 4:26 pm PDT (23:26 UTC): remarks: mountain wave 5-10 knots zlawc. 240 nm along the route, 16 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
FAT UA /OV FLW115010/TM 2326/FL100/TP SR22/RM MTN WAVE /- 5-10 KTS /ZLAWC AWC-WEB
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAT
- Where
- 10 nm southeast (115°) of FLW
- Time
- 23:26 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- SR22
- Remarks
- mountain wave 5-10 knots zlawc
- C172 at 5,000 ft, 34 nm southeast, 4:15 pm PDT (23:15 UTC): remarks: tops 5,000 ft on departure runway 25. At the destination end, 34 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
OXR UA /OV KOXR/TM 2315/FL050/TP C172/RM TOPS 050 ON DEP RWY25
- Report
- a routine report filed through OXR
- Where
- over KOXR
- Time
- 23:15 UTC
- Height
- at 5,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Remarks
- tops 5,000 ft on departure runway 25
- E50P at 3,200 ft, 34 nm southeast, 3:57 pm PDT (22:57 UTC): remarks: bases 3,600 ft on arrival runway 25. At the destination end, 34 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
OXR UA /OV KOXR/TM 2257/FL032/TP E50P/RM BASES 036 ON ARR RWY25
- Report
- a routine report filed through OXR
- Where
- over KOXR
- Time
- 22:57 UTC
- Height
- at 3,200 ft
- Aircraft
- E50P
- Remarks
- bases 3,600 ft on arrival runway 25
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 4 forecast points nearest it (SAC, SFO, FAT, SBA). 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 | 200° at 5 kt | +4 kt | 116 kt | 2 h 20 min | 8:32 pm PDT (03:32 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 170° at 6 kt | +6 kt | 114 kt | 2 h 22 min | 8:34 pm PDT (03:34 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 200° at 10 kt | +8 kt | 4 °C | 112 kt | 2 h 25 min | 8:37 pm PDT (03:37 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 15 kt | +9 kt | 1 °C | 111 kt | 2 h 26 min | 8:38 pm PDT (03:38 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 20 kt | +10 kt | -2 °C | 110 kt | 2 h 27 min | 8:39 pm PDT (03:39 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | +8 kt | -6 °C | 112 kt | 2 h 25 min | 8:37 pm PDT (03:37 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | +5 kt | -9 °C | 115 kt | 2 h 21 min | 8:33 pm PDT (03:33 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 250° at 23 kt | +3 kt | -13 °C | 117 kt | 2 h 18 min | 8:30 pm PDT (03:30 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 24 kt | +2 kt | -14 °C | 118 kt | 2 h 17 min | 8:29 pm PDT (03:29 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 29 kt | +2 kt | -23 °C | 118 kt | 2 h 17 min | 8:29 pm PDT (03:29 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 39 kt | +13 kt | -27 °C | 107 kt | 2 h 31 min | 8:43 pm PDT (03:43 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 37 kt | +12 kt | -34 °C | 108 kt | 2 h 30 min | 8:42 pm PDT (03:42 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 40 kt | +13 kt | -43 °C | 107 kt | 2 h 31 min | 8:43 pm PDT (03:43 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
| 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; 13 nm from the line | 270/5 | L/V 5° | L/V -1° | 240/11 -5° | 250/22 -15° | 270/25 -24° | 260/31 -27° | 240/39 -33° | 240/39 -42° |
| SFO | used from 50 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 220/11 | L/V 5° | 280/7 1° | 270/15 -3° | 290/23 -14° | 310/29 -24° | 280/26 -28° | 250/30 -34° | 250/36 -43° |
| FAT | used from 100 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 180/7 | 170/9 7° | 200/20 3° | 210/27 -3° | 240/27 -14° | 230/38 -24° | 220/57 -27° | 230/42 -33° | 230/41 -44° |
| SBA | used from 200 nm out; 45 nm from the line | L/V | 170/13 7° | 220/23 4° | 220/30 -2° | 230/26 -14° | 230/34 -20° | 220/38 -28° | 220/37 -35° | 220/43 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMF Sacramento, CA | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 26 ft | 5:53 pm PDT (00:53 UTC) |
| RIU Rancho Murieta, CA | 20 nm out, 18 nm east of the line | no report just now | 144 ft | ||||
| SCK Stockton, CA | 50 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (270°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 32 ft | 00:55 UTC |
| MER Atwater, CA | 90 nm out, 21 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 190 ft | 23:55 UTC |
| SBP San Luis Obispo, CA | 210 nm out, 23 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,100 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 4,100 ft | 212 ft | 00:56 UTC |
| SMX Santa Maria, CA | 230 nm out, 21 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 5,000 feet | from the west (260°) at 7 knots | 7 mi | 5,000 ft | 261 ft | 00:51 UTC |
| SBA Santa Barbara, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,800 feet, scattered clouds at 4,700 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet Weather: haze | from the west-southwest (250°) at 9 knots | 6 mi | 5,500 ft | 13 ft | 5:53 pm PDT (00:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 261 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SBA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:29 pm PDT (03:29 UTC)
Wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SBA
- From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 14 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Sun 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 am PDT (07:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 12:00 am PDT (07:00 UTC) and 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): light rain showers
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC) and 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): light rain showers
- From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm PDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for SMF, the departure
- From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
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 17 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 4 nm from the route, at the departure end · air shows/sports · ended 11 October · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at SMF 6:32 pm PDT (01:32 UTC), at SBA 6:28 pm PDT (01:28 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:54 pm PDT (01:54 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SBA is after sunset there (6:30 pm PDT (01:30 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, Santa Barbara Municipal.