Tucson International to Quad Cities International TUS → MLI
1,127 nautical miles (1,297 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 054°, about 045° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 06 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 65-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:13 am CDT (09:13 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now TUS is VFR, wind from the west (260°) at 3 knots; MLI is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 10 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
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 40 to 249 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 110 to 409 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 140 to 449 nm out.
- 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). Over the route from 409 to 977 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 TUS.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A321 descending, 2 nm southeast, 5:26 pm MST (00:26 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the departure end, 2 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
TUS UA /OV FINAL RWY 12/TM 0026/FLDURD/TP A321/TB LIGHT CHOP ON FINAL
- Report
- a routine report filed through TUS
- Where
- final runway 12
- Time
- 00:26 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- light chop on final
- B737 at 14,000 ft, 34 nm northwest, 5:15 pm MST (00:15 UTC): light turbulence above 14,000 ft. 269 nm along the route, 34 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ABQ UA /OV ABQ275007/TM 0015/FL140/TP B737/TB LGT ABV 140
- Report
- a routine report filed through ABQ
- Where
- 7 nm west (275°) of ABQ
- Time
- 00:15 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- light above 14,000 ft
- UAL2499 at 28,000 ft, 30 nm northwest, 7:15 pm MST (02:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the destination end, 30 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL2499 4138N 09137W 0215 F280 TB INTMT LGT CHOP IC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
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 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 8 forecast points nearest it (TUS, ABQ, TCC, GCK, SLN, MKC, DSM, BRL). 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 | 220° at 35 kt | −33 kt | 18 °C | 153 kt | 7 h 22 min | 5:29 am CDT (10:29 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 230° at 30 kt | −29 kt | 14 °C | 149 kt | 7 h 34 min | 5:41 am CDT (10:41 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | −26 kt | 11 °C | 146 kt | 7 h 43 min | 5:50 am CDT (10:50 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | −26 kt | 7 °C | 146 kt | 7 h 43 min | 5:50 am CDT (10:50 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | −28 kt | 3 °C | 148 kt | 7 h 37 min | 5:44 am CDT (10:44 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 30 kt | −30 kt | -2 °C | 150 kt | 7 h 31 min | 5:38 am CDT (10:38 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 33 kt | −33 kt | -6 °C | 153 kt | 7 h 22 min | 5:29 am CDT (10:29 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 34 kt | −34 kt | -7 °C | 154 kt | 7 h 19 min | 5:26 am CDT (10:26 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 44 kt | −44 kt | -19 °C | 164 kt | 6 h 52 min | 4:59 am CDT (09:59 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 64 kt | −64 kt | -28 °C | 184 kt | 6 h 08 min | 4:15 am CDT (09:15 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 65 kt | −65 kt | -37 °C | 185 kt | 6 h 06 min | 4:13 am CDT (09:13 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 58 kt | −57 kt | -49 °C | 177 kt | 6 h 22 min | 4:29 am CDT (09:29 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
| 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 | 210/13 13° | 200/35 9° | 210/40 5° | 220/50 -7° | 220/59 -18° | 230/79 -26° | 230/84 -35° | 230/84 -48° | |
| ABQ | used from 150 nm out; 106 nm from the line | 220/27 11° | 210/35 5° | 220/46 -9° | 230/62 -20° | 240/78 -25° | 240/80 -35° | 240/56 -47° | ||
| TCC | used from 349 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 210/42 | 230/33 14° | 230/32 6° | 220/35 -6° | 230/49 -19° | 240/72 -27° | 250/62 -36° | 250/52 -48° | |
| GCK | used from 499 nm out; 90 nm from the line | 220/48 21° | 230/37 14° | 250/30 8° | 230/37 -6° | 240/37 -20° | 240/69 -28° | 250/67 -37° | 260/58 -48° | |
| SLN | used from 698 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 210/53 | 230/41 20° | 240/26 14° | 230/16 8° | 240/25 -7° | 240/35 -19° | 250/61 -30° | 260/65 -38° | 260/56 -49° |
| MKC | used from 848 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/28 18° | 250/18 13° | 240/12 6° | 280/24 -6° | 240/34 -18° | 260/47 -30° | 260/51 -40° | 270/58 -50° |
| DSM | used from 947 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 230/40 | 250/33 17° | 250/18 12° | 240/17 5° | 260/28 -8° | 270/34 -19° | 260/41 -33° | 260/55 -41° | 270/62 -51° |
| BRL | used from 1047 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/29 15° | 290/16 10° | 280/15 4° | 260/23 -7° | 260/32 -19° | 260/36 -33° | 280/48 -41° | 280/59 -52° |
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 | from the west (260°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,643 ft | 7:53 pm MST (02:53 UTC) |
| SAD Safford, AZ | 80 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 10,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 3,178 ft | 02:51 UTC |
| ABQ Albuquerque, NM | 279 nm out, 22 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 13,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 13,000 ft | 5,354 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| LVS Las Vegas, NM | 359 nm out, 14 nm northwest of the line | reported, no category | from the south-southeast (160°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,877 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| EHA Elkhart, KS | 539 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 16 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,621 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| GCK Garden City, KS | 608 nm out, 22 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 16 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 2,890 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| SLN Salina, KS | 758 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 15 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 1,288 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| MHK Manhattan, KS | 808 nm out, 7 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,066 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| STJ St Joseph, MO | 908 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 826 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| FFL Fairfield, IA | 1057 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 800 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| MLI Moline, IL | destination | VFR | from the south (180°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 9:52 pm CDT (02:52 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 MLI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:13 am CDT (09:13 UTC)
Wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MLI
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for TUS, the departure
- From Sun 6:00 pm MST (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet
- From Sun 7:00 pm MST (02:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 am MST (07:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am MST (14:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 5,000 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, scattered clouds 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 5:55 pm MST (00:55 UTC), at MLI 6:26 pm CDT (23:26 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MLI is before sunrise there (7:10 am CDT (12:10 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, Quad Cities International.