Tucson International to Dodge City Regional TUS → DDC
637 nautical miles (733 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 055°, about 046° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 13 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 78-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:11 am CDT (15:11 UTC). Right now TUS is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots; DDC is VFR, wind calm. 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 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 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 50 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 100 to 159 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 149 to 388 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Near the route, 358 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 last 60 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 TUS.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- urgent BE20 at 500 ft, 15 nm south, 2:34 am MST (09:34 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear 500FT a 10-knot loss of airspeed zkc fd dl. 577 nm along the route, 15 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
LBL UUA /OV LBL/TM 0934/FL005/TP BE20/RM LLWS 500FT +/-10KT ZKC FD DL
- Report
- an urgent report filed through LBL
- Where
- over LBL
- Time
- 09:34 UTC
- Height
- at 500 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear 500FT a 10-knot loss of airspeed zkc fd dl
- CRJ7 at 28,000 ft, 22 nm east, 4:25 am MST (11:25 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: zkc fd dl. At the destination end, 22 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
DDC UA /OV DDC090024/TM 1125/FL280/TP CRJ7/TB LGT/RM ZKC FD DL
- Report
- a routine report filed through DDC
- Where
- 24 nm east (090°) of DDC
- Time
- 11:25 UTC
- Height
- at 28,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Turbulence
- light
- Remarks
- zkc fd dl
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 4 forecast points nearest it (TUS, ABQ, TCC, GCK). 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 | 230° at 23 kt | −23 kt | 17 °C | 143 kt | 4 h 27 min | 11:25 am CDT (16:25 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | −24 kt | 12 °C | 144 kt | 4 h 25 min | 11:23 am CDT (16:23 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 28 kt | −27 kt | 10 °C | 147 kt | 4 h 20 min | 11:18 am CDT (16:18 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 33 kt | −32 kt | 6 °C | 152 kt | 4 h 11 min | 11:09 am CDT (16:09 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 37 kt | −37 kt | 2 °C | 157 kt | 4 h 03 min | 11:01 am CDT (16:01 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 41 kt | −41 kt | -2 °C | 161 kt | 3 h 57 min | 10:55 am CDT (15:55 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 45 kt | −45 kt | -6 °C | 165 kt | 3 h 52 min | 10:50 am CDT (15:50 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 46 kt | −46 kt | -7 °C | 166 kt | 3 h 50 min | 10:48 am CDT (15:48 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 58 kt | −58 kt | -19 °C | 178 kt | 3 h 35 min | 10:33 am CDT (15:33 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 78 kt | −78 kt | -27 °C | 198 kt | 3 h 13 min | 10:11 am CDT (15:11 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 77 kt | −77 kt | -36 °C | 197 kt | 3 h 14 min | 10:12 am CDT (15:12 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 71 kt | −71 kt | -48 °C | 191 kt | 3 h 20 min | 10:18 am CDT (15:18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TUS | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 200/12 13° | 200/34 7° | 210/41 4° | 230/53 -7° | 220/69 -19° | 220/84 -27° | 220/88 -36° | 220/83 -48° | |
| ABQ | used from 149 nm out; 106 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 348 nm out; 58 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° | |
| GCK | used from 498 nm out; 92 nm from the line | 240/40 22° | 240/40 14° | 240/38 7° | 230/39 -7° | 230/45 -20° | 250/73 -28° | 260/74 -36° | 260/64 -49° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TUS Tucson, AZ | departure | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 8,000 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,643 ft | 4:53 am MST (11:53 UTC) |
| SAD Safford, AZ | 80 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 9,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 3,178 ft | 11:51 UTC |
| ONM Socorro, NM | 229 nm out, 19 nm southeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 4,875 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| ABQ Albuquerque, NM | 279 nm out, 24 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 7,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 5,354 ft | 11:52 UTC |
| LVS Las Vegas, NM | 358 nm out, 17 nm northwest of the line | reported, no category | calm | 10+ mi | none | 6,877 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| CAO Clayton, NM | 468 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 17 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 4,969 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| HQG Hugoton, KS | 557 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,134 ft | 11:35 UTC |
| LBL Liberal, KS | 577 nm out, 15 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 15 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,885 ft | 11:56 UTC |
| DDC Dodge City, KS | destination | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 2,595 ft | 6:52 am CDT (11:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,877 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At DDC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:11 am CDT (15:11 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 17 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for DDC
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 17 knots, gusting to 27, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 24,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 17 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 14 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for TUS, the departure
- From Mon 5:00 am MST (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MST (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm MST (23:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm MST (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 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 TUS 5:53 pm MST (00:53 UTC), at DDC 7:05 pm CDT (00:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:31 pm CDT (00:31 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: Tucson International, Dodge City Regional.