Willow Run Airport to Brown Field Municipal YIP → SDM
1,685 nautical miles (1,939 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 261°, about 267° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 16 h 22 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 17-knot headwind), arriving about 10:20 am PDT (17:20 UTC). 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: 5 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 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 20 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 967 to 1435 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 1106 to 1545 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1226 to 1475 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Near the route, 1296 nm along 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 route from 1366 to 1396 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Near the route, 1445 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 1575 to 1675 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 6E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the destination end.
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 YIP.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 15 forecast points nearest it (FWA, JOT, BRL, DSM, MKC, OMA, SLN, GCK, GLD, PUB, ALS, FMN, PRC, BLH, SAN). 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 19 kt | +17 kt | 21 °C | 103 kt | 16 h 22 min | 10:20 am PDT (17:20 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | +19 kt | 15 °C | 101 kt | 16 h 41 min | 10:39 am PDT (17:39 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 20 kt | +20 kt | 11 °C | 100 kt | 16 h 51 min | 10:49 am PDT (17:49 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 20 kt | +21 kt | 7 °C | 99 kt | 17 h 01 min | 10:59 am PDT (17:59 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | +22 kt | 3 °C | 98 kt | 17 h 12 min | 11:10 am PDT (18:10 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | +25 kt | -1 °C | 95 kt | 17 h 44 min | 11:42 am PDT (18:42 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 27 kt | +28 kt | -5 °C | 92 kt | 18 h 19 min | 12:17 pm PDT (19:17 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 29 kt | +30 kt | -8 °C | 90 kt | 18 h 43 min | 12:41 pm PDT (19:41 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 34 kt | +36 kt | -19 °C | 84 kt | 20 h 04 min | 2:02 pm PDT (21:02 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 45 kt | +47 kt | -31 °C | 73 kt | 23 h 05 min | 5:03 pm PDT (00:03 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 49 kt | +52 kt | -39 °C | 68 kt | 24 h 47 min | 6:45 pm PDT (01:45 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 47 kt | +49 kt | -48 °C | 71 kt | 23 h 44 min | 5:42 pm PDT (00:42 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FWA | used from 0 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 350/9 | 350/24 15° | 360/25 9° | 360/29 4° | 350/31 -10° | 340/39 -22° | 330/40 -37° | 320/38 -43° | 320/48 -48° |
| JOT | used from 150 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 230/11 | 290/12 16° | 300/19 10° | 320/19 4° | 300/17 -9° | 330/31 -20° | 320/49 -37° | 320/53 -45° | 320/67 -49° |
| BRL | used from 299 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 200/20 | 250/21 16° | 240/22 10° | 260/20 5° | 270/16 -7° | 290/22 -18° | 320/41 -34° | 320/56 -43° | 310/68 -53° |
| DSM | used from 399 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 200/32 | 240/27 17° | 260/19 10° | 260/16 5° | 260/19 -7° | 240/22 -19° | 270/20 -32° | 270/38 -42° | 290/58 -53° |
| MKC | used from 498 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 200/28 | 220/30 16° | 270/20 11° | 280/22 7° | 260/27 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 280/38 -32° | 270/38 -40° | 280/50 -52° |
| OMA | used from 548 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 190/34 | 230/34 19° | 250/25 12° | 250/18 6° | 250/22 -7° | 250/28 -19° | 260/34 -32° | 260/39 -41° | 280/56 -51° |
| SLN | used from 598 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 190/37 | 220/39 20° | 240/31 14° | 250/24 7° | 260/25 -7° | 250/26 -17° | 250/44 -31° | 260/47 -40° | 260/47 -50° |
| GCK | used from 748 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 200/35 21° | 220/34 14° | 240/30 8° | 240/27 -6° | 240/31 -17° | 240/53 -30° | 250/55 -39° | 250/60 -50° | |
| GLD | used from 847 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 190/29 | 200/30 15° | 240/23 8° | 250/39 -7° | 230/39 -19° | 230/57 -31° | 240/67 -39° | 250/62 -49° | |
| PUB | used from 897 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 210/24 16° | 210/28 8° | 230/43 -8° | 240/42 -21° | 240/77 -30° | 240/72 -36° | 250/51 -47° | ||
| ALS | used from 997 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 210/32 5° | 230/48 -8° | 230/49 -20° | 230/78 -30° | 240/74 -36° | 240/61 -47° | |||
| FMN | used from 1146 nm out; 28 nm from the line | 220/25 13° | 220/28 4° | 210/51 -9° | 220/59 -21° | 230/78 -30° | 230/77 -36° | 230/66 -46° | ||
| PRC | used from 1296 nm out; 104 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° | ||
| BLH | used from 1495 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 230/22 | 210/24 11° | 230/23 5° | 230/26 0° | 220/38 -10° | 230/52 -19° | 220/58 -28° | 220/69 -34° | 220/59 -45° |
| SAN | used from 1645 nm out; 28 nm from the line | 200/10 | 240/19 9° | 240/27 5° | 230/22 -1° | 220/40 -10° | 220/49 -19° | 220/54 -29° | 220/61 -35° | 220/56 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YIP Detroit, MI | departure | no report just now | 715 ft | ||||
| JXN Jackson, MI | 40 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,000 ft | ||||
| LOT Chicago/Romeoville, IL | 209 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower | no report just now | 679 ft | ||||
| TVK Centerville, IA | 429 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 1,023 ft | ||||
| MYZ Marysville, KS | 608 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 1,283 ft | ||||
| RCP Stockton, KS | 738 nm out, 9 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,999 ft | ||||
| LHX La Junta, CO | 947 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 4,228 ft | ||||
| ALS Alamosa, CO | 1067 nm out, 15 nm north of the line | no report just now | 7,539 ft | ||||
| FMN Farmington, NM | 1186 nm out, 23 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,506 ft | ||||
| PRC Prescott, AZ | 1425 nm out, 1 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,045 ft | ||||
| RNM Ramona, CA | 1665 nm out, 23 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,394 ft | ||||
| SDM San Diego, CA | destination | no report just now | 526 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,539 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SDM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:20 am PDT (17:20 UTC)
SDM has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/4812 El Centro, CA, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 through Tuesday, July 13, 2027 Local on the route, at the destination end · security · until 13 July · ZLA
- 6/2652 Coyote Wells, CA, Saturday, July 4, 2026 through Saturday, January 2, 2027 Local 19 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 2 January · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at YIP 6:57 pm EDT (22:57 UTC), at SDM 6:18 pm PDT (01:18 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:43 pm PDT (01:43 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: Willow Run Airport, Brown Field Municipal.