MC Ghee Tyson Airport to Las Cruces International TYS → LRU
1,157 nautical miles (1,332 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 266°, about 272° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 11 h 01 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 15-knot headwind), arriving about 10:44 am MDT (16:44 UTC). Right now TYS is marginal VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 7 knots; LRU is VFR, wind from the west (280°) at 5 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 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 9C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 30 knots, until 2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC). Over the route from 1028 to 1137 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120455 MKCC WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 9C VALID UNTIL 0655Z TX NM FROM 50NNW CME-40ENE CME-50SE ELP-20WSW ELP-30E TCS-50NNW CME AREA TS MOV FROM 22030KT. TOPS TO FL300.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 150 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 40 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 TYS.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B738 descending, 0 nm west, 11:15 pm EDT (03:15 UTC): remarks: multiple layers from from 5,200 ft to 4,700 ft overcast at at 2,300 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
TYS UA /OV KTYS/TM 0315/FLDURD/TP B738/RM MULTIPLE LAYERS FROM 052-047 OVC AT 023
- Report
- a routine report filed through TYS
- Where
- over KTYS
- Time
- 03:15 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B738
- Remarks
- multiple layers from from 5,200 ft to 4,700 ft overcast at at 2,300 ft
- A319 descending, 0 nm west, 10:52 pm EDT (02:52 UTC): remarks: tops 6,800 ft bases 2,300 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
TYS UA /OV KTYS/TM 0252/FLDURD/TP A319/RM TOPS 068 BASES 023
- Report
- a routine report filed through TYS
- Where
- over KTYS
- Time
- 02:52 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A319
- Remarks
- tops 6,800 ft bases 2,300 ft
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 10 forecast points nearest it (TYS, BNA, MEM, LIT, FSM, OKC, SPS, LBB, ROW, ELP). 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 | 220° at 20 kt | +17 kt | 18 °C | 103 kt | 11 h 14 min | 10:57 am MDT (16:57 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 17 kt | +16 kt | 16 °C | 104 kt | 11 h 08 min | 10:51 am MDT (16:51 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 16 kt | +17 kt | 13 °C | 103 kt | 11 h 14 min | 10:57 am MDT (16:57 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 15 kt | +16 kt | 10 °C | 104 kt | 11 h 08 min | 10:51 am MDT (16:51 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 260° at 14 kt | +15 kt | 6 °C | 105 kt | 11 h 01 min | 10:44 am MDT (16:44 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 260° at 15 kt | +16 kt | 2 °C | 104 kt | 11 h 08 min | 10:51 am MDT (16:51 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 260° at 17 kt | +18 kt | -2 °C | 102 kt | 11 h 21 min | 11:04 am MDT (17:04 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 18 kt | +19 kt | -5 °C | 101 kt | 11 h 27 min | 11:10 am MDT (17:10 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 28 kt | +29 kt | -16 °C | 91 kt | 12 h 43 min | 12:26 pm MDT (18:26 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 40 kt | +41 kt | -30 °C | 79 kt | 14 h 39 min | 2:22 pm MDT (20:22 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 44 kt | +42 kt | -39 °C | 78 kt | 14 h 50 min | 2:33 pm MDT (20:33 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 40 kt | +36 kt | -50 °C | 84 kt | 13 h 46 min | 1:29 pm MDT (19:29 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TYS | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 320/20 | 340/18 11° | 340/32 9° | 340/36 4° | 330/37 -7° | 330/38 -19° | 330/50 -34° | 330/53 -38° | 330/44 -48° |
| BNA | used from 50 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 310/20 | 340/20 17° | 330/24 10° | 340/22 5° | 330/26 -6° | 340/29 -18° | 330/52 -33° | 320/62 -41° | 340/45 -50° |
| MEM | used from 200 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 230/19 | 260/16 15° | 270/17 12° | 300/13 6° | 300/15 -5° | 300/26 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/41 -40° | 310/46 -52° |
| LIT | used from 349 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 220/21 | 230/17 16° | 250/24 12° | 260/15 7° | 260/13 -5° | 280/25 -16° | 290/35 -30° | 300/42 -40° | 300/40 -52° |
| FSM | used from 449 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 210/27 | 250/23 16° | 250/20 13° | 240/17 8° | 250/18 -6° | 260/31 -16° | 280/42 -30° | 280/44 -40° | 290/38 -51° |
| OKC | used from 599 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 200/44 | 230/32 18° | 240/13 15° | 240/10 9° | 240/20 -5° | 250/27 -16° | 260/47 -28° | 270/48 -39° | 270/45 -50° |
| SPS | used from 648 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 200/39 | 220/28 17° | 230/27 12° | 240/15 9° | 250/15 -4° | 250/24 -15° | 260/45 -28° | 270/43 -39° | 280/45 -51° |
| LBB | used from 798 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 200/36 18° | 220/19 15° | 240/20 8° | 230/24 -4° | 240/37 -16° | 250/57 -28° | 250/51 -38° | 270/47 -50° | |
| ROW | used from 948 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 190/33 | 210/27 14° | 220/28 6° | 230/36 -6° | 230/56 -15° | 230/63 -27° | 250/59 -37° | 260/57 -49° | |
| ELP | used from 1097 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 290/17 | 210/11 13° | 200/18 5° | 220/46 -6° | 230/64 -14° | 230/63 -27° | 240/55 -37° | 240/44 -48° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TYS Knoxville, TN | departure | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 3,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 3,000 ft | 986 ft | 1:34 am EDT (05:34 UTC) |
| RNC Mc Minnville, TN | 90 nm out, 1 nm west of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 100 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 100 ft | 1,031 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| MQY Smyrna, TN | 120 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower | reported, no category | calm | none | 543 ft | 05:16 UTC | |
| NQA Millington, TN | 289 nm out, 1 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 322 ft | 23:50 UTC |
| LIT Little Rock, AR | 409 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the west (270°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 266 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| MEZ Mena, AR | 509 nm out, 16 nm south of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,079 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| ADM Ardmore, OK | 648 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | reported, no category | from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots | none | 776 ft | 05:15 UTC | |
| SPS Wichita Falls, TX | 718 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,019 ft | 04:52 UTC |
| LBB Lubbock, TX | 888 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 18 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,282 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| ROW Roswell, NM | 1028 nm out, 25 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 8,500 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 8,500 ft | 3,671 ft | 04:51 UTC |
| ALM Alamogordo, NM | 1107 nm out, 19 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,500 feet, overcast at 8,500 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 4,199 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| LRU Las Cruces, NM | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet | from the west (280°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 4,456 ft | 11:35 pm MDT (05:35 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,456 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At LRU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:44 am MDT (16:44 UTC)
Wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for LRU
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, thunderstorms nearby, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet (thunderheads), a broken layer at 15,000 feet
- From Sun 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
The forecast for TYS, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8722 ALAMOGORDO, NM, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 16 nm from the route, 1077 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZAB
Daylight
Sunset at TYS 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC), at LRU 6:38 pm MDT (00:38 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:03 pm MDT (01:03 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: MC Ghee Tyson Airport, Las Cruces International.