John Wayne/Orange County to Charlotte/Douglas International SNA → CLT
1,820 nautical miles (2,094 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 077°, about 065° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 10 h 24 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 55-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:30 pm EDT (20:30 UTC). Right now SNA is VFR, wind calm; CLT is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 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: 714 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 SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 60 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 40 to 400 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 220 to 330 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 310 to 350 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 310 to 690 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 320 to 480 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Near the route, 640 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 700 to 1180 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, fog). Over the route from 1510 to 1730 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 1630 to 1740 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 1680 to 1790 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 1690 to 1780 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 SNA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B744 at 1,700 ft, 31 nm northwest, 2:24 am PDT (09:24 UTC): a few clouds above 1,700 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 25L lax. At the departure end, 31 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
LAX UA /OV KLAX/TM 0924/FL017/TP B744/SK FEW017/RM DURD RY25L LAX
- Report
- a routine report filed through LAX
- Where
- over KLAX
- Time
- 09:24 UTC
- Height
- at 1,700 ft
- Aircraft
- B744
- Sky
- a few clouds from 1,700 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 25L lax
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 (ONT, BLH, PRC, FMN, ABQ, TCC, AMA, GAG, OKC, TUL, FSM, LIT, MEM, BNA, TYS, GSP). 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 | 260° at 18 kt | −19 kt | 139 kt | 13 h 06 min | 7:12 pm EDT (23:12 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 260° at 17 kt | −18 kt | 22 °C | 138 kt | 13 h 11 min | 7:17 pm EDT (23:17 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 17 kt | −17 kt | 11 °C | 137 kt | 13 h 17 min | 7:23 pm EDT (23:23 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 17 kt | −16 kt | 9 °C | 136 kt | 13 h 23 min | 7:29 pm EDT (23:29 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 18 kt | −18 kt | 5 °C | 138 kt | 13 h 11 min | 7:17 pm EDT (23:17 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | −21 kt | 1 °C | 141 kt | 12 h 54 min | 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | −24 kt | -3 °C | 144 kt | 12 h 38 min | 6:44 pm EDT (22:44 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 29 kt | −28 kt | -7 °C | 148 kt | 12 h 18 min | 6:24 pm EDT (22:24 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 29 kt | −29 kt | -8 °C | 149 kt | 12 h 13 min | 6:19 pm EDT (22:19 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 38 kt | −37 kt | -19 °C | 157 kt | 11 h 36 min | 5:42 pm EDT (21:42 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 51 kt | −53 kt | -29 °C | 173 kt | 10 h 31 min | 4:37 pm EDT (20:37 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 52 kt | −55 kt | -38 °C | 175 kt | 10 h 24 min | 4:30 pm EDT (20:30 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 48 kt | −51 kt | -49 °C | 171 kt | 10 h 39 min | 4:45 pm EDT (20:45 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ONT | used from 0 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 250/11 | 200/20 4° | 210/27 3° | 220/26 -4° | 240/32 -13° | 220/52 -21° | 220/67 -30° | 220/72 -37° | 220/65 -46° |
| BLH | used from 100 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 240/19 | 210/20 10° | 200/27 4° | 210/34 -2° | 220/59 -10° | 220/67 -20° | 220/75 -29° | 230/78 -38° | 220/90 -47° |
| PRC | used from 200 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 200/37 6° | 200/35 0° | 220/60 -11° | 220/71 -20° | 220/88 -29° | 220/98 -35° | 220/94 -45° | ||
| FMN | used from 400 nm out; 118 nm from the line | 220/16 6° | 220/39 1° | 220/50 -10° | 230/67 -23° | 230/94 -29° | 230/102 -35° | 230/90 -46° | ||
| ABQ | used from 450 nm out; 91 nm from the line | 220/19 9° | 220/35 3° | 230/50 -8° | 240/64 -19° | 230/83 -26° | 230/85 -36° | 230/80 -48° | ||
| TCC | used from 650 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 240/20 | 230/22 13° | 230/27 6° | 230/40 -7° | 240/55 -18° | 240/74 -27° | 240/68 -37° | 250/64 -49° | |
| AMA | used from 750 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 230/32 | 230/28 14° | 230/27 7° | 230/38 -6° | 230/50 -17° | 250/69 -28° | 260/62 -37° | 270/65 -49° | |
| GAG | used from 850 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 240/35 22° | 240/27 14° | 230/25 6° | 240/38 -7° | 230/44 -19° | 250/73 -28° | 270/66 -37° | 270/58 -49° | |
| OKC | used from 950 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 220/43 | 230/31 17° | 260/13 16° | 270/11 7° | 240/20 -6° | 250/32 -17° | 260/60 -28° | 280/50 -37° | 290/45 -50° |
| TUL | used from 1050 nm out; 21 nm from the line | 230/42 | 250/23 17° | 220/16 14° | 240/10 8° | 240/20 -6° | 260/28 -17° | 270/61 -29° | 280/52 -38° | 290/46 -50° |
| FSM | used from 1150 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 230/33 | 260/23 15° | 240/23 11° | 230/18 8° | 230/20 -8° | 250/31 -17° | 280/51 -30° | 280/52 -39° | 300/47 -51° |
| LIT | used from 1250 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 250/22 | 250/25 18° | 240/23 12° | 240/20 7° | 250/17 -6° | 260/25 -17° | 300/45 -29° | 300/49 -40° | 310/43 -51° |
| MEM | used from 1300 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 250/19 | 260/19 17° | 270/20 12° | 270/16 6° | 270/21 -6° | 290/27 -17° | 300/37 -30° | 300/49 -40° | 310/40 -51° |
| BNA | used from 1450 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 300/20 | 300/14 15° | 300/14 10° | 300/13 4° | 310/22 -5° | 280/24 -18° | 310/37 -33° | 310/50 -41° | 320/49 -51° |
| TYS | used from 1600 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 330/16 | 350/32 14° | 350/37 9° | 340/30 5° | 330/28 -6° | 340/36 -19° | 330/40 -33° | 330/51 -41° | 330/36 -51° |
| GSP | used from 1700 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 340/30 | 360/24 13° | 350/29 10° | 340/33 6° | 340/40 -7° | 350/44 -19° | 340/59 -31° | 350/55 -41° | 300/29 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SNA Santa Ana, CA | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,800 feet, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 55 ft | 2:53 am PDT (09:53 UTC) |
| RIV Riverside, CA | 30 nm out, 6 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, scattered clouds at 1,700 feet, a broken layer at 2,700 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 2,700 ft | 1,536 ft | 09:54 UTC |
| PRC Prescott, AZ | 280 nm out, 3 nm west of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,900 feet, overcast at 3,800 feet Weather: light rain | calm | 10+ mi | 2,900 ft | 5,045 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| XNI Zuni, NM | 450 nm out, 3 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,900 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 2 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,371 ft | 09:55 UTC |
| SAF Santa Fe, NM | 590 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 6,348 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| HHF Canadian, TX | 870 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,396 ft | 09:55 UTC |
| RVS Tulsa, OK | 1090 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 638 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| FYV Fayetteville, AR | 1170 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,252 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| MKL Jackson, TN | 1430 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 434 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| MQY Smyrna, TN | 1540 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower | low IFR Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | none | 543 ft | 09:56 UTC |
| AVL Asheville, NC | 1740 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northwest (330°) at 14 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 2,163 ft | 09:54 UTC |
| CLT Charlotte, NC | destination | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 747 ft | 5:52 am EDT (09:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,371 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CLT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:30 pm EDT (20:30 UTC)
Wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for CLT
- From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for SNA, the departure
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC) and 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): a broken layer at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 5 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · ZLA
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 21 nm from the route, 180 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at SNA 6:20 pm PDT (01:20 UTC), at CLT 6:52 pm EDT (22:52 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm EDT (23:18 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: John Wayne/Orange County, Charlotte/Douglas International.