Tucson International to Prescott Rgnl/Ernest A Love Field TUS → PRC
169 nautical miles (195 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 334°, about 325° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9E). At 120 knots that is 1 h 06 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 33-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:20 pm MST (03:20 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now TUS is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots; PRC is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots, gusting to 23. 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: 2 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
- SIGMET 9W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 28,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 8:55 pm MST (03:55 UTC). Over the last 70 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120155 MKCW WST 120155 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 9W VALID UNTIL 0355Z AZ FROM 20S TBC-30S INW-10E PHX-60SW DRK-30WNW DRK-20S TBC DMSHG AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 21020KT. TOPS TO FL280.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Near the route, 10 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 70 nm of the route.
- 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 last 10 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Near the route, 159 nm along 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
- 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
- B738 at 17,000 ft, 9 nm west, 4:54 pm MST (23:54 UTC): light rime icing, 9 °C, remarks: during the descent. 120 nm along the route, 9 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
PHX UA /OV PXR330030/TM 2354/FL170/TP B738/TA 09/IC LGT RIME/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through PHX
- Where
- 30 nm northwest (330°) of PXR
- Time
- 23:54 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Temperature
- 9 °C
- Icing
- light rime
- Remarks
- during the descent
- A320 at 14,000 ft, 22 nm northeast, 5:39 pm MST (00:39 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: zab fdcs. 130 nm along the route, 22 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
PHX UA /OV PXR005050/TM 0039/FL140/TP A320/TB LGT-MOD/RM ZAB FDCS
- Report
- a routine report filed through PHX
- Where
- 50 nm north (005°) of PXR
- Time
- 00:39 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- light to moderate
- Remarks
- zab fdcs
- C172 at 7,200 ft, 6 nm northeast, 6:06 pm MST (01:06 UTC): overcast from 7,200 ft to 9,000 ft. At the destination end, 6 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
PRC UA /OV 6NE PRC/TM 0106/FL072/TP C172/SK OVC072-TOP090
- Report
- a routine report filed through PRC
- Where
- 6NE prc
- Time
- 01:06 UTC
- Height
- at 7,200 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Sky
- overcast from 7,200 ft, tops 9,000 ft
- PC12 at 14,000 ft, 18 nm northeast, 6:03 pm MST (01:03 UTC): light rime icing, remarks: zab/fdcs. At the destination end, 18 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
FLG UA /OV FLG210030/TM 0103/FL140/TP PC12/TA UNK/IC LGT RIME/RM ZAB/FDCS
- Report
- a routine report filed through FLG
- Where
- 30 nm southwest (210°) of FLG
- Time
- 01:03 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Temperature
- UNK
- Icing
- light rime
- Remarks
- zab/fdcs
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 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 3 forecast points nearest it (TUS, PHX, PRC). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 210° at 19 kt | −10 kt | 15 °C | 130 kt | 1 h 18 min | 8:32 pm MST (03:32 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 210° at 20 kt | −11 kt | 13 °C | 131 kt | 1 h 17 min | 8:31 pm MST (03:31 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 200° at 25 kt | −16 kt | 7 °C | 136 kt | 1 h 15 min | 8:29 pm MST (03:29 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 210° at 33 kt | −20 kt | 4 °C | 140 kt | 1 h 12 min | 8:26 pm MST (03:26 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 210° at 43 kt | −23 kt | 1 °C | 143 kt | 1 h 11 min | 8:25 pm MST (03:25 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 210° at 47 kt | −24 kt | -2 °C | 144 kt | 1 h 10 min | 8:24 pm MST (03:24 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 52 kt | −25 kt | -6 °C | 145 kt | 1 h 10 min | 8:24 pm MST (03:24 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 55 kt | −25 kt | -8 °C | 145 kt | 1 h 10 min | 8:24 pm MST (03:24 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 68 kt | −28 kt | -19 °C | 148 kt | 1 h 09 min | 8:23 pm MST (03:23 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 80 kt | −33 kt | -26 °C | 153 kt | 1 h 06 min | 8:20 pm MST (03:20 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 81 kt | −20 kt | -34 °C | 140 kt | 1 h 12 min | 8:26 pm MST (03:26 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 69 kt | −17 kt | -46 °C | 137 kt | 1 h 14 min | 8:28 pm MST (03:28 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TUS | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 220/17 15° | 210/32 7° | 210/43 5° | 210/49 -7° | 220/64 -18° | 220/83 -26° | 230/81 -36° | 230/72 -48° | |
| PHX | used from 50 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 210/19 | 210/20 14° | 200/20 6° | 210/40 1° | 220/58 -8° | 220/68 -20° | 220/82 -26° | 230/83 -34° | 230/69 -46° |
| PRC | used from 149 nm out; 10 nm from the line | 200/36 6° | 210/46 0° | 220/60 -10° | 220/75 -19° | 220/66 -26° | 230/70 -33° | 230/59 -45° |
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-southwest (240°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,643 ft | 6:53 pm MST (01:53 UTC) |
| AVQ Marana, AZ | 20 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,031 ft | 01:55 UTC |
| IWA Phoenix, AZ | 80 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet, overcast at 9,000 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 1,384 ft | 01:55 UTC |
| FFZ Mesa, AZ | 90 nm out, 1 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,394 ft | 01:54 UTC |
| PRC Prescott, AZ | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,900 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 5,045 ft | 6:53 pm MST (01:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,045 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PRC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:20 pm MST (03:20 UTC)
Wind from the south at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, overcast at 1,500 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for PRC
- From Sun 5:00 pm MST (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, overcast at 2,500 feet
- At times between Sun 5:00 pm MST (00:00 UTC) and 8:00 pm MST (03:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain, mist, a broken layer at 6,000 feet, overcast at 7,000 feet
- From Sun 8:00 pm MST (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am MST (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, overcast at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am MST (18:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, overcast at 3,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 11:00 am MST (18:00 UTC) and 3:00 pm MST (22:00 UTC): wind variable at 20 knots, gusting to 30, visibility 5 miles, light thunderstorms with rain, overcast at 1,500 feet (thunderheads)
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 PRC 5:59 pm MST (00:59 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:24 pm MST (01:24 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PRC is after sunset there (6:00 pm MST (01:00 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, Prescott Rgnl/Ernest A Love Field.