San Carlos Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal SQL → SBA
219 nautical miles (252 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 147°, about 132° magnetic at the departure end (variation 15E). At 120 knots that is 1 h 41 min at the quickest height in today's winds (24,000 ft, a 10-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:10 pm PDT (01:10 UTC). Right now SQL is VFR, wind from the west (260°) at 12 knots, gusting to 19; SBA is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 14 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: 4 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 SQL.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E50P descending, 14 nm west, 3:03 pm PDT (22:03 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 10 knots short final. 60 nm along the route, 14 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
MRY UA /OV KMRY/TM 2203/FLDURD/TP E50P/RM LLWS +/- 10KTS SHORT FINAL
- Report
- a routine report filed through MRY
- Where
- over KMRY
- Time
- 22:03 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- E50P
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear + 10 knots short final
- 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 3 forecast points nearest it (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 6 kt | +3 kt | 117 kt | 1 h 52 min | 6:21 pm PDT (01:21 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 180° at 6 kt | +5 kt | 115 kt | 1 h 54 min | 6:23 pm PDT (01:23 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 210° at 9 kt | +4 kt | 4 °C | 116 kt | 1 h 53 min | 6:22 pm PDT (01:22 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 14 kt | +3 kt | 1 °C | 117 kt | 1 h 52 min | 6:21 pm PDT (01:21 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 19 kt | +2 kt | -2 °C | 118 kt | 1 h 51 min | 6:20 pm PDT (01:20 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | 0 | -6 °C | 120 kt | 1 h 50 min | 6:19 pm PDT (01:19 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 250° at 21 kt | −3 kt | -9 °C | 123 kt | 1 h 47 min | 6:16 pm PDT (01:16 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 260° at 22 kt | −7 kt | -13 °C | 127 kt | 1 h 43 min | 6:12 pm PDT (01:12 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 22 kt | −7 kt | -14 °C | 127 kt | 1 h 43 min | 6:12 pm PDT (01:12 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 25 kt | −10 kt | -23 °C | 130 kt | 1 h 41 min | 6:10 pm PDT (01:10 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 33 kt | 0 | -28 °C | 120 kt | 1 h 50 min | 6:19 pm PDT (01:19 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 34 kt | +2 kt | -34 °C | 118 kt | 1 h 51 min | 6:20 pm PDT (01:20 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 38 kt | +2 kt | -44 °C | 118 kt | 1 h 51 min | 6:20 pm PDT (01:20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | used from 0 nm out; 34 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; 82 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 149 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SQL San Carlos, CA | departure | VFR | from the west (260°) at 12 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | none | 5 ft | 3:55 pm PDT (22:55 UTC) |
| SJC San Jose, CA | 20 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 feet, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 62 ft | 22:53 UTC |
| SNS Salinas, CA | 60 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-northwest (290°) at 16 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 84 ft | 22:53 UTC |
| KIC King City, CA | 90 nm out, 6 nm east of the line | no report just now | 374 ft | ||||
| SBP San Luis Obispo, CA | 159 nm out, 8 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,200 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 12 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | 4,200 ft | 212 ft | 22:56 UTC |
| SMX Santa Maria, CA | 179 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,800 feet | from the west (260°) at 13 knots, gusting to 20 | 7 mi | none | 261 ft | 22:51 UTC |
| SBA Santa Barbara, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 14 knots | 9 mi | none | 13 ft | 3:53 pm PDT (22:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 374 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, 6:10 pm PDT (01:10 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 12 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 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 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
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/7455 SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Thursday, October 8, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local 18 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 11 October · ZOA
- 6/6741 SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Thursday, October 8, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local 15 nm from the route, at the departure end · air shows/sports · until 11 October · ZOA
- 6/7231 Santa Clara, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 7 nm from the route, 10 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at SQL 6:36 pm PDT (01:36 UTC), at SBA 6:28 pm PDT (01:28 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:54 pm PDT (01:54 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: San Carlos Airport, Santa Barbara Municipal.