Alexandria International to Chicago Midway International AEX → MDW
669 nautical miles (770 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 019°, about 016° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 55 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, a 16-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:27 am CDT (12:27 UTC). Right now AEX is VFR, wind calm; MDW is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 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
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist), from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). 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 AEX.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B38M at 29,000 ft, 10 nm southeast, 11:52 pm CDT (04:52 UTC): no turbulence from 23,000 ft to 29,000 ft. 599 nm along the route, 10 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
TIP UA /OV RBS/TM 0452/FL290/TP B38M/TB NEG 230-290
- Report
- a routine report filed through TIP
- Where
- over RBS
- Time
- 04:52 UTC
- Height
- at 29,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- no from 23,000 ft to 29,000 ft
- B739 at 35,000 ft, 6 nm southeast, 2:05 am CDT (07:05 UTC): no turbulence. 619 nm along the route, 6 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
TIP UA /OV RBS010023/TM 0705/FL350/TP B739/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through TIP
- Where
- 23 nm north (010°) of RBS
- Time
- 07:05 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Turbulence
- none
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 7 forecast points nearest it (SHV, LIT, MEM, CGI, STL, SPI, JOT). 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 | 230° at 19 kt | −16 kt | 136 kt | 4 h 55 min | 7:27 am CDT (12:27 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | −13 kt | 133 kt | 5 h 02 min | 7:34 am CDT (12:34 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | −11 kt | 13 °C | 131 kt | 5 h 06 min | 7:38 am CDT (12:38 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 260° at 18 kt | −10 kt | 10 °C | 130 kt | 5 h 09 min | 7:41 am CDT (12:41 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 270° at 13 kt | −5 kt | 7 °C | 125 kt | 5 h 21 min | 7:53 am CDT (12:53 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 270° at 14 kt | −4 kt | 3 °C | 124 kt | 5 h 24 min | 7:56 am CDT (12:56 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 280° at 15 kt | −4 kt | -1 °C | 124 kt | 5 h 24 min | 7:56 am CDT (12:56 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 280° at 17 kt | −4 kt | -5 °C | 124 kt | 5 h 24 min | 7:56 am CDT (12:56 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 17 kt | −4 kt | -6 °C | 124 kt | 5 h 24 min | 7:56 am CDT (12:56 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 24 kt | −5 kt | -18 °C | 125 kt | 5 h 21 min | 7:53 am CDT (12:53 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 32 kt | +2 kt | -32 °C | 118 kt | 5 h 40 min | 8:12 am CDT (13:12 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 44 kt | +5 kt | -41 °C | 115 kt | 5 h 49 min | 8:21 am CDT (13:21 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 48 kt | +11 kt | -52 °C | 109 kt | 6 h 08 min | 8:40 am CDT (13:40 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHV | used from 0 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 200/18 | 230/24 18° | 230/24 12° | 240/14 8° | 260/12 -4° | 240/11 -15° | 300/31 -29° | 300/32 -40° | 300/36 -52° |
| LIT | used from 100 nm out; 90 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° |
| MEM | used from 200 nm out; 55 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° |
| CGI | used from 299 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 240/20 | 270/15 15° | 280/15 11° | 300/13 6° | 290/20 -6° | 280/24 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/47 -41° | 310/49 -51° |
| STL | used from 449 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 250/24 | 250/24 16° | 260/23 9° | 270/16 6° | 260/25 -6° | 270/29 -19° | 290/34 -33° | 290/48 -41° | 290/54 -51° |
| SPI | used from 499 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 220/21 | 250/23 16° | 260/27 9° | 270/14 6° | 270/23 -7° | 270/31 -19° | 270/28 -33° | 290/48 -42° | 300/55 -52° |
| JOT | used from 599 nm out; 26 nm from the line | 250/23 | 270/22 15° | 250/16 10° | 240/9 4° | 280/22 -7° | 280/29 -19° | 300/29 -34° | 290/50 -43° | 300/64 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEX Alexandria, LA | departure | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 88 ft | 1:53 am CDT (06:53 UTC) |
| MLU Monroe, LA | 80 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 78 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| LLQ Monticello, AR | 140 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 267 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| DRP Colt, AR | 240 nm out, 7 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 238 ft | 07:10 UTC |
| JBR Jonesboro, AR | 290 nm out, 3 nm south of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 262 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| CGI Cape Girardeau, MO | 379 nm out, 20 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 341 ft | 20:53 UTC |
| BLV Belleville, IL | 449 nm out, 20 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 459 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| VLA Vandalia, IL | 489 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 537 ft | ||||
| DEC Decatur, IL | 539 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 681 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| LOT Chicago/Romeoville, IL | 649 nm out, 11 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 679 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| MDW Chicago, IL | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 619 ft | 1:53 am CDT (06:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 681 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MDW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:27 am CDT (12:27 UTC)
Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MDW
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
The forecast for AEX, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 AEX 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 UTC), at MDW 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 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: Alexandria International, Chicago Midway International.