The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Mon 2:27 am CDT (07:27 UTC)

Sheppard Afb/Wichita Falls Municipal to Reno/Tahoe International SPS → RNO

1,073 nautical miles (1,234 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 294°, about 289° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 40 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 9-knot headwind), arriving about 10:07 am PDT (17:07 UTC). Right now SPS is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 11 knots; RNO is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) 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: 1 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 C12C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 25,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 3:55 am CDT (08:55 UTC). Near the route, 377 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.
  • SIGMET W16W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 27,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 3:55 am CDT (08:55 UTC). Over the route from 884 to 934 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 120655
    MKCW WST 120655
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 16W
    VALID UNTIL 0855Z
    UT NV
    FROM 50NW BVL-20NE BVL-40SE OAL-20N OAL-50NW BVL
    AREA TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL270.
  • 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). Near the route, 268 nm along the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 278 to 884 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 308 to 556 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 536 to 963 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 556 to 695 nm out.
  • AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 646 to 963 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 10 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 SPS.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

  • PC12 at 11,000 ft, 12 nm north, 1:58 am CDT (06:58 UTC): light turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the descent arrival KFMN ZDVWC-36. 487 nm along the route, 12 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    DRO UA /OV DRO/TM 0658/FL110/TP PC12/SK BASE117/TB CONS LGT/IC NEG/RM DURD ARR KFMN. ZDVWC-36
    Report
    a routine report filed through DRO
    Where
    over DRO
    Time
    06:58 UTC
    Height
    at 11,000 ft
    Aircraft
    PC12
    Sky
    BASE117
    Turbulence
    continuous light
    Icing
    none
    Remarks
    during the descent arrival KFMN ZDVWC-36

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 westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 9 forecast points nearest it (SPS, AMA, TCC, ALS, FMN, BCE, ELY, BAM, RNO). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
8,500 ft220° at 26 kt+9 kt7 °C111 kt9 h 40 min10:07 am PDT (17:07 UTC)
10,500 ft220° at 28 kt+12 kt4 °C108 kt9 h 56 min10:23 am PDT (17:23 UTC)
12,500 ft220° at 29 kt+13 kt1 °C107 kt10 h 02 min10:29 am PDT (17:29 UTC)
14,500 ft220° at 32 kt+12 kt-3 °C108 kt9 h 56 min10:23 am PDT (17:23 UTC)
16,500 ft220° at 36 kt+12 kt-8 °C108 kt9 h 56 min10:23 am PDT (17:23 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180220° at 39 kt+12 kt-11 °C108 kt9 h 56 min10:23 am PDT (17:23 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240220° at 49 kt+21 kt-21 °C99 kt10 h 50 min11:17 am PDT (18:17 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300230° at 62 kt+34 kt-28 °C86 kt12 h 29 min12:56 pm PDT (19:56 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340230° at 61 kt+37 kt-35 °C83 kt12 h 56 min1:23 pm PDT (20:23 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390240° at 52 kt+32 kt-45 °C88 kt12 h 12 min12:39 pm PDT (19:39 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
SPSused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line200/39220/28 17°230/27 12°240/15 9°250/15 -4°250/24 -15°260/45 -28°270/43 -39°280/45 -51°
AMAused from 99 nm out; 51 nm from the line210/38230/29 14°240/29 7°220/27 -5°240/37 -18°240/66 -28°250/59 -37°260/47 -49°
TCCused from 199 nm out; 49 nm from the line210/42230/33 14°230/32 6°220/35 -6°230/49 -19°240/72 -27°250/62 -36°250/52 -48°
ALSused from 348 nm out; 69 nm from the line230/37 4°220/54 -9°230/62 -22°240/77 -26°240/74 -33°230/59 -45°
FMNused from 447 nm out; 38 nm from the line220/28 9°220/40 2°220/53 -10°220/62 -22°230/79 -28°240/91 -34°230/71 -45°
BCEused from 596 nm out; 82 nm from the line220/27 -1°210/40 -13°220/54 -21°220/64 -30°220/64 -34°220/52 -44°
ELYused from 795 nm out; 48 nm from the line200/39 3°210/27 -2°210/45 -15°220/56 -24°210/60 -28°210/63 -34°220/61 -43°
BAMused from 944 nm out; 93 nm from the line310/7 0°270/19 -7°200/38 -17°190/49 -28°220/69 -29°220/63 -33°230/48 -41°
RNOused from 993 nm out; 55 nm from the line010/9320/10 -2°210/23 -9°210/34 -19°220/36 -25°230/31 -29°230/41 -33°230/38 -42°

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
SPS Wichita Falls, TX departure VFR from the south (190°) at 11 knots 10+ mi none 1,019 ft 1:52 am CDT (06:52 UTC)
FDR Frederick, OK 30 nm out, 10 nm north of the line VFR from the south-southeast (160°) at 8 knots 10+ mi none 1,258 ft 06:53 UTC
AMA Amarillo, TX 179 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower VFR from the south-southwest (200°) at 21 knots, gusting to 26 10+ mi none 3,606 ft 06:53 UTC
SKX Taos, NM 377 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line no report just now 7,094 ft
FMN Farmington, NM 507 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower VFR from the east (100°) at 3 knots 10+ mi none 5,506 ft 06:53 UTC
BDG Blanding, UT 576 nm out, 10 nm north of the line VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,100 feet, overcast at 4,900 feet Weather: light rain from the south (170°) at 11 knots 10+ mi 4,100 ft 5,867 ft 06:15 UTC
BCE Bryce Canyon, UT 695 nm out, 20 nm southwest of the line marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet Weather: light rain, mist from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots 6 mi 2,500 ft 7,589 ft 06:53 UTC
MLF Milford, UT 755 nm out, 11 nm northeast of the line VFR Sky: a broken layer at 10,000 feet from the south-southwest (200°) at 15 knots 10+ mi 10,000 ft 5,042 ft 06:52 UTC
TMT Austin, NV 954 nm out, 23 nm north of the line VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,000 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet from the west (270°) at 3 knots 10+ mi 6,000 ft 5,735 ft 07:15 UTC
SPZ Silver Springs, NV 1053 nm out, 5 nm east of the line no report just now 4,265 ft
RNO Reno, NV destination VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,000 feet from the north-northeast (030°) at 9 knots 10+ mi none 4,414 ft 11:55 pm PDT (06:55 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 7,589 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RNO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:07 am PDT (17:07 UTC)

Wind from the north-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for RNO
  • From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
  • From Mon 6:00 am PDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
  • From Mon 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the north at 13 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
  • From Mon 9:00 pm PDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
The forecast for SPS, the departure
  • From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, clear skies
  • From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south at 16 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at SPS 7:02 pm CDT (00:02 UTC), at RNO 6:23 pm PDT (01:23 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:50 pm PDT (01:50 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 southern Plains
Radar now, the southern Plains · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the southern Rockies
Radar now, the southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the Pacific Southwest
Radar now, the Pacific Southwest · 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: Sheppard Afb/Wichita Falls Municipal, Reno/Tahoe International.