Aberdeen Regional to Detroit Metro Wayne County ABR → DTW
680 nautical miles (782 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 101°, about 094° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 48 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 59-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:31 am EDT (12:31 UTC). Right now ABR is low IFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 10 knots; DTW is IFR, wind from the west (260°) at 7 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: 3 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 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 120 nm of the route.
- 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 310 to 440 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist, fog). Over the last 70 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 ABR.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B738 at 1,700 ft, 43 nm south, 1:20 am CDT (06:20 UTC): overcast from 1,700 ft to 2,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 43 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0620/FL017/TP B738/SK OVC017-TOP020/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through TOL
- Where
- over KTOL
- Time
- 06:20 UTC
- Height
- at 1,700 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- overcast from 1,700 ft, tops 2,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent
- A333 descending, 0 nm south, 12:44 am CDT (05:44 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0544/FLDURD/TP A333/SK TOPS 025
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- over DTW
- Time
- 05:44 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A333
- Sky
- tops 2,500 ft
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 7 forecast points nearest it (ABR, AXN, MSP, LSE, GRB, MKG, CLE). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 250° at 16 kt | −14 kt | 134 kt | 5 h 04 min | 9:47 am EDT (13:47 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 250° at 16 kt | −13 kt | 133 kt | 5 h 07 min | 9:50 am EDT (13:50 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 18 kt | −14 kt | 13 °C | 134 kt | 5 h 04 min | 9:47 am EDT (13:47 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 250° at 20 kt | −16 kt | 10 °C | 136 kt | 5 h | 9:43 am EDT (13:43 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 250° at 22 kt | −19 kt | 6 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 54 min | 9:37 am EDT (13:37 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 260° at 24 kt | −22 kt | 1 °C | 142 kt | 4 h 47 min | 9:30 am EDT (13:30 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 270° at 25 kt | −24 kt | -4 °C | 144 kt | 4 h 43 min | 9:26 am EDT (13:26 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 270° at 27 kt | −26 kt | -9 °C | 146 kt | 4 h 39 min | 9:22 am EDT (13:22 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 27 kt | −27 kt | -10 °C | 147 kt | 4 h 38 min | 9:21 am EDT (13:21 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 32 kt | −32 kt | -21 °C | 152 kt | 4 h 28 min | 9:11 am EDT (13:11 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 36 kt | −35 kt | -37 °C | 155 kt | 4 h 23 min | 9:06 am EDT (13:06 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 45 kt | −44 kt | -43 °C | 164 kt | 4 h 09 min | 8:52 am EDT (12:52 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 59 kt | −59 kt | -49 °C | 179 kt | 3 h 48 min | 8:31 am EDT (12:31 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABR | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 080/12 | 210/12 17° | 220/22 12° | 230/26 5° | 220/28 -10° | 230/41 -21° | 250/36 -36° | 260/47 -39° | 260/63 -47° |
| AXN | used from 50 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 110/6 | 260/10 16° | 240/17 12° | 250/20 5° | 260/29 -10° | 260/35 -22° | 260/29 -38° | 270/48 -41° | 270/61 -48° |
| MSP | used from 150 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 250/12 | 250/17 17° | 240/26 12° | 250/26 5° | 280/26 -9° | 280/32 -22° | 270/37 -38° | 280/47 -41° | 280/55 -48° |
| LSE | used from 250 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 250/25 | 240/21 17° | 240/28 11° | 250/28 5° | 280/24 -10° | 280/31 -21° | 260/35 -37° | 270/45 -43° | 280/59 -47° |
| GRB | used from 400 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 250/32 | 250/22 17° | 240/18 8° | 280/21 6° | 280/34 -11° | 280/35 -21° | 280/39 -37° | 270/52 -45° | 290/60 -49° |
| MKG | used from 450 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 260/28 | 260/18 15° | 250/16 9° | 260/22 4° | 280/31 -9° | 270/35 -21° | 270/44 -35° | 270/42 -45° | 290/61 -51° |
| CLE | used from 650 nm out; 97 nm from the line | 310/7 | 350/20 14° | 340/16 9° | 320/21 2° | 320/32 -8° | 330/34 -20° | 330/45 -36° | 320/60 -45° | 320/64 -51° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABR Aberdeen, SD | departure | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (020°) at 10 knots | 3 mi | 300 ft | 1,301 ft | 2:53 am CDT (07:53 UTC) |
| ATY Watertown, SD | 60 nm out, 20 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 knots | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 1,749 ft | 08:00 UTC |
| MVE Montevideo, MN | 120 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 8 knots | 7 mi | 400 ft | 1,034 ft | 08:35 UTC |
| GYL Glencoe, MN | 190 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 992 ft | 08:35 UTC |
| FCM Minneapolis, MN | 210 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 906 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| LSE La Crosse, WI | 320 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 655 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| CMY Sparta, WI | 340 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 21,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 839 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| MWC Milwaukee, WI | 470 nm out, 21 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 744 ft | 08:35 UTC |
| MKG Muskegon, MI | 540 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line, tower | reported, no category | from the south (190°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 628 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| GRR Grand Rapids, MI | 580 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots | 5 mi | none | 793 ft | 08:01 UTC |
| ARB Ann Arbor, MI | 660 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | reported, no category | calm | none | 839 ft | 07:53 UTC | |
| DTW Detroit, MI | destination | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the west (260°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 645 ft | 3:53 am EDT (07:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,749 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At DTW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:31 am EDT (12:31 UTC)
Wind from the west-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR
At times between Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, mist, a broken layer at 300 feet low IFR
The whole forecast for DTW
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 4:30 am EDT (08:30 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, mist, a broken layer at 300 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
The forecast for ABR, the departure
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 10 knots, visibility 3 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet
- At times between Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC) and 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, mist
- From Mon 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 10 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 400 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC) and 3:00 pm CDT (20:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, overcast at 1,100 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm CDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,100 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 ABR 6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC), at DTW 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 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: Aberdeen Regional, Detroit Metro Wayne County.