Santa Maria Pub/Capt G Allan Hancock Field to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall SMX → BWI
2,094 nautical miles (2,410 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 070°, about 056° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14E). At 120 knots that is 12 h 15 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 51-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:56 pm EDT (19:56 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 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 C12C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 25,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 1:55 am PDT (08:55 UTC). Near the route, 758 nm along the route.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120655 MKCC WST 120655 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 12C VALID UNTIL 0855Z CO NM FROM 40W PUB-30SSE PUB-30W CIM-50WSW ALS-40W PUB DMSHG AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL250.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft, from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 100 to 249 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots), from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Near the route, 179 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft, from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 249 to 877 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft, from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 259 to 459 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 329 to 618 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), from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Near the route, 429 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft, from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 429 to 858 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft, from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Near the route, 638 nm along the route.
- 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), from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 648 to 788 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), from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 867 to 1386 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist), from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the last 499 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 1885 to 2034 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft, from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the last 110 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 SMX.
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 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 20 forecast points nearest it (SBA, WJF, LAS, BCE, FMN, ALS, PUB, GLD, GCK, SLN, MKC, COU, STL, SPI, IND, CVG, CMH, CRW, EKN, RIC). 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 | 250° at 20 kt | −21 kt | 11 °C | 141 kt | 14 h 51 min | 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | −20 kt | 11 °C | 140 kt | 14 h 57 min | 6:38 pm EDT (22:38 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 250° at 17 kt | −19 kt | 9 °C | 139 kt | 15 h 04 min | 6:45 pm EDT (22:45 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 17 kt | −17 kt | 4 °C | 137 kt | 15 h 17 min | 6:58 pm EDT (22:58 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 18 kt | −19 kt | 0 °C | 139 kt | 15 h 04 min | 6:45 pm EDT (22:45 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | −22 kt | -4 °C | 142 kt | 14 h 45 min | 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | −24 kt | -8 °C | 144 kt | 14 h 32 min | 6:13 pm EDT (22:13 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 24 kt | −25 kt | -9 °C | 145 kt | 14 h 26 min | 6:07 pm EDT (22:07 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 32 kt | −33 kt | -20 °C | 153 kt | 13 h 41 min | 5:22 pm EDT (21:22 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 43 kt | −45 kt | -31 °C | 165 kt | 12 h 41 min | 4:22 pm EDT (20:22 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 48 kt | −51 kt | -38 °C | 171 kt | 12 h 15 min | 3:56 pm EDT (19:56 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 43 kt | −46 kt | -47 °C | 166 kt | 12 h 37 min | 4:18 pm EDT (20:18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBA | used from 0 nm out; 38 nm from the line | L/V | 190/13 5° | 210/20 2° | 220/22 -3° | 260/19 -13° | 230/35 -22° | 220/43 -28° | 220/46 -36° | 220/45 -44° |
| WJF | used from 50 nm out; 53 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° | |
| LAS | used from 199 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 210/21 10° | 200/18 5° | 200/23 -2° | 210/49 -14° | 210/63 -21° | 220/58 -30° | 220/61 -35° | 210/56 -44° | |
| BCE | used from 349 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 220/27 -1° | 210/40 -13° | 220/54 -21° | 220/64 -30° | 220/64 -34° | 220/52 -44° | |||
| FMN | used from 548 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 220/28 9° | 220/40 2° | 220/53 -10° | 220/62 -22° | 230/79 -28° | 240/91 -34° | 230/71 -45° | ||
| ALS | used from 648 nm out; 68 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 748 nm out; 24 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° | ||
| GLD | used from 848 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 230/49 | 230/42 15° | 220/26 8° | 240/18 -7° | 230/27 -21° | 240/62 -30° | 240/61 -35° | 250/57 -47° | |
| GCK | used from 997 nm out; 82 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° | |
| SLN | used from 1047 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 210/53 | 230/41 20° | 240/26 14° | 230/16 8° | 240/25 -7° | 240/35 -19° | 250/61 -30° | 260/65 -38° | 260/56 -49° |
| MKC | used from 1197 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/28 18° | 250/18 13° | 240/12 6° | 280/24 -6° | 240/34 -18° | 260/47 -30° | 260/51 -40° | 270/58 -50° |
| COU | used from 1346 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 230/31 | 230/30 15° | 260/16 11° | 270/14 6° | 260/24 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 270/37 -32° | 280/49 -41° | 290/56 -51° |
| STL | used from 1396 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 250/24 | 250/24 16° | 260/23 9° | 270/16 6° | 260/25 -6° | 270/29 -19° | 290/34 -33° | 290/48 -41° | 290/54 -51° |
| SPI | used from 1446 nm out; 22 nm from the line | 220/21 | 250/23 16° | 260/27 9° | 270/14 6° | 270/23 -7° | 270/31 -19° | 270/28 -33° | 290/48 -42° | 300/55 -52° |
| IND | used from 1546 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 290/16 | 310/20 16° | 320/21 10° | 330/13 3° | 300/25 -7° | 320/32 -19° | 330/46 -34° | 320/61 -43° | 320/63 -50° |
| CVG | used from 1695 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/32 16° | 350/35 10° | 350/30 3° | 330/30 -7° | 340/44 -20° | 340/58 -35° | 330/72 -41° | 320/36 -49° |
| CMH | used from 1745 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 330/15 | 340/22 14° | 340/24 9° | 340/23 4° | 340/35 -9° | 340/49 -20° | 340/58 -37° | 330/70 -42° | 340/55 -47° |
| CRW | used from 1845 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 330/20 | 330/23 11° | 340/25 8° | 340/21 2° | 340/33 -9° | 340/41 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/44 -39° | 320/43 -47° |
| EKN | used from 1895 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 330/21 12° | 330/25 7° | 350/22 2° | 330/24 -10° | 310/27 -21° | 320/33 -35° | 290/31 -39° | 290/34 -47° | |
| RIC | used from 2044 nm out; 103 nm from the line | 270/23 | 280/19 11° | 270/18 8° | 240/22 4° | 230/39 -7° | 220/55 -18° | 220/75 -30° | 230/83 -39° | 230/64 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMX Santa Maria, CA | departure | no report just now | 261 ft | ||||
| BFL Bakersfield, CA | 80 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 509 ft | ||||
| VGT Las Vegas, NV | 269 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 2,205 ft | ||||
| BDG Blanding, UT | 558 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 5,867 ft | ||||
| PUB Pueblo, CO | 798 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,729 ft | ||||
| OEL Oakley, KS | 977 nm out, 11 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 3,045 ft | ||||
| MCI Kansas City, MO | 1256 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,027 ft | ||||
| PPQ Pittsfield, IL | 1436 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | no report just now | 709 ft | ||||
| IND Indianapolis, IN | 1645 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 796 ft | ||||
| PKB Parkersburg, WV | 1875 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 858 ft | ||||
| MRB Martinsburg, WV | 2034 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 564 ft | ||||
| BWI Baltimore, MD | destination | no report just now | 143 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,867 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BWI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:56 pm EDT (19:56 UTC)
BWI has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
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 10 nm from the route, 110 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 23 October · ZLA
- 6/8890 LAS VEGAS, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local on the route, 249 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZLA
- 6/8808 Las Vegas, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 14 nm from the route, 269 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZLA
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 6 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 7 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZDC
- 6/8800 Baltimore, MD, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 6 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at SMX 6:29 pm PDT (01:29 UTC), at BWI 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm EDT (22:59 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: Santa Maria Pub/Capt G Allan Hancock Field, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall.
