The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Sun 4:49 pm PDT (23:49 UTC)

John Wayne/Orange County to Detroit Metro Wayne County SNA → DTW

1,700 nautical miles (1,956 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 062°, about 050° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 56 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 51-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:45 am EDT (09:45 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SNA is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 9 knots; DTW is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 4 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: 685 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 W64W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 37,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 5:55 pm PDT (00:55 UTC). Over the route from 290 to 300 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 112255
    MKCW WST 112255
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 64W
    VALID UNTIL 0055Z
    TX NM AZ
    FROM 50ENE PGS-60SE ABQ-10W ELP-30E TUS-70SE EED-50ENE PGS
    AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL370.
  • SIGMET W63W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 37,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 5:55 pm PDT (00:55 UTC). Over the route from 450 to 690 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 112255
    MKCW WST 112255
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 63W
    VALID UNTIL 0055Z
    CO NM AZ UT
    FROM 30SSW MTU-30NW PUB-20NW TCC-60SE ABQ-40N SJN-30SSW MTU
    AREA SEV TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL370.
    WIND GUSTS TO 50KT POSS.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 6E: 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 10 to 160 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 80 to 700 nm out.
  • AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 90 to 370 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 160 to 610 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 170 to 730 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 180 to 320 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 3W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 410 to 460 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 530 to 570 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). Over the last 30 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 SNA.

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 15 forecast points nearest it (ONT, BLH, LAS, PRC, BCE, FMN, ALS, PUB, GLD, GRI, OMA, DSM, BRL, JOT, FWA). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
5,500 ft220° at 17 kt−16 kt16 °C136 kt12 h 30 min8:19 am EDT (12:19 UTC)
7,500 ft230° at 19 kt−18 kt12 °C138 kt12 h 19 min8:08 am EDT (12:08 UTC)
9,500 ft240° at 18 kt−19 kt10 °C139 kt12 h 14 min8:03 am EDT (12:03 UTC)
11,500 ft240° at 19 kt−20 kt5 °C140 kt12 h 09 min7:58 am EDT (11:58 UTC)
13,500 ft240° at 22 kt−22 kt1 °C142 kt11 h 58 min7:47 am EDT (11:47 UTC)
15,500 ft240° at 25 kt−26 kt-4 °C146 kt11 h 39 min7:28 am EDT (11:28 UTC)
17,500 ft240° at 28 kt−29 kt-8 °C149 kt11 h 25 min7:14 am EDT (11:14 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180240° at 29 kt−29 kt-9 °C149 kt11 h 25 min7:14 am EDT (11:14 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240240° at 33 kt−34 kt-20 °C154 kt11 h 02 min6:51 am EDT (10:51 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300240° at 43 kt−46 kt-31 °C166 kt10 h 14 min6:03 am EDT (10:03 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340250° at 48 kt−51 kt-39 °C171 kt9 h 56 min5:45 am EDT (09:45 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390260° at 48 kt−50 kt-48 °C170 kt10 h5:49 am EDT (09:49 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
ONTused from 0 nm out; 14 nm from the line230/11200/17 6°230/27 4°230/32 -2°210/39 -12°220/51 -20°220/48 -29°210/51 -34°210/52 -44°
BLHused from 100 nm out; 75 nm from the line230/22210/24 11°230/23 5°230/26 0°220/38 -10°230/52 -19°220/58 -28°220/69 -34°220/59 -45°
LASused from 150 nm out; 69 nm from the line200/25 11°230/22 5°240/25 -1°220/37 -12°220/44 -21°210/52 -27°210/60 -34°220/58 -44°
PRCused from 250 nm out; 67 nm from the line200/36 6°210/46 0°220/60 -10°220/75 -19°220/66 -26°230/70 -33°230/59 -45°
BCEused from 350 nm out; 96 nm from the line210/47 0°200/50 -12°220/31 -23°220/56 -26°220/58 -35°230/58 -45°
FMNused from 400 nm out; 88 nm from the line220/25 13°220/28 4°210/51 -9°220/59 -21°230/78 -30°230/77 -36°230/66 -46°
ALSused from 550 nm out; 63 nm from the line210/32 5°230/48 -8°230/49 -20°230/78 -30°240/74 -36°240/61 -47°
PUBused from 650 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°
GLDused from 800 nm out; 27 nm from the line190/29200/30 15°240/23 8°250/39 -7°230/39 -19°230/57 -31°240/67 -39°250/62 -49°
GRIused from 950 nm out; 76 nm from the line210/31 19°240/21 14°240/17 6°260/27 -7°260/34 -18°240/45 -32°250/56 -40°260/62 -51°
OMAused from 1100 nm out; 48 nm from the line190/34230/34 19°250/25 12°250/18 6°250/22 -7°250/28 -19°260/34 -32°260/39 -41°280/56 -51°
DSMused from 1200 nm out; 39 nm from the line200/32240/27 17°260/19 10°260/16 5°260/19 -7°240/22 -19°270/20 -32°270/38 -42°290/58 -53°
BRLused from 1300 nm out; 36 nm from the line200/20250/21 16°240/22 10°260/20 5°270/16 -7°290/22 -18°320/41 -34°320/56 -43°310/68 -53°
JOTused from 1400 nm out; 57 nm from the line230/11290/12 16°300/19 10°320/19 4°300/17 -9°330/31 -20°320/49 -37°320/53 -45°320/67 -49°
FWAused from 1550 nm out; 72 nm from the line350/9350/24 15°360/25 9°360/29 4°350/31 -10°340/39 -22°330/40 -37°320/38 -43°320/48 -48°

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
SNA Santa Ana, CA departure VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,200 feet, a broken layer at 3,900 feet, a broken layer at 4,800 feet from the south-southwest (210°) at 9 knots 10+ mi 3,900 ft 55 ft 3:53 pm PDT (22:53 UTC)
RIV Riverside, CA 30 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet Weather: nearby showers from the south-southeast (160°) at 10 knots 10+ mi 4,000 ft 1,536 ft 22:55 UTC
GCN Grand Canyon, AZ 310 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 1,000 feet Weather: mist from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots, gusting to 21 3 mi 500 ft 6,608 ft 23:22 UTC
CEZ Cortez, CO 500 nm out, 6 nm north of the line VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,500 feet, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet from the south-southwest (210°) at 26 knots, gusting to 36 10+ mi none 5,917 ft 22:53 UTC
RCV Del Norte, CO 610 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet from the east (090°) at 4 knots 10+ mi 7,000 ft 7,955 ft 23:35 UTC
PUB Pueblo, CO 710 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower VFR from the south-southwest (210°) at 16 knots, gusting to 29 10+ mi none 4,729 ft 22:53 UTC
CBK Colby, KS 880 nm out, 3 nm north of the line VFR from the south (190°) at 15 knots, gusting to 20 10+ mi none 3,188 ft 23:15 UTC
HJH Hebron, NE 1050 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line VFR from the south-southwest (200°) at 17 knots, gusting to 23 10+ mi none 1,468 ft 23:35 UTC
OTM Ottumwa, IA 1290 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line no report just now 845 ft
MDW Chicago, IL 1500 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots 10+ mi none 619 ft 22:53 UTC
ARB Ann Arbor, MI 1680 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower reported, no category calm none 839 ft 22:53 UTC
DTW Detroit, MI destination marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 500 feet, scattered clouds at 900 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet from the north-northwest (340°) at 4 knots 3 mi 2,500 ft 645 ft 7:35 pm EDT (23:35 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 7,955 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At DTW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:45 am EDT (09:45 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR

At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, a broken layer at 400 feet low IFR

The whole forecast for DTW
  • From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet
  • From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,400 feet
  • From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
  • At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, a broken layer at 400 feet
  • From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
The forecast for SNA, the departure
  • From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
  • From Sun 10:00 pm PDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds 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

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

Daylight

Sunset at SNA 6:21 pm PDT (01:21 UTC), at DTW 6:58 pm EDT (22:58 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:26 pm EDT (23:26 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at DTW is before sunrise there (7:42 am EDT (11:42 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

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: John Wayne/Orange County, Detroit Metro Wayne County.