Perot Fld/Fort Worth Alliance Airport to Louisville Muhammad Ali International AFW → SDF
645 nautical miles (742 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 058°, about 054° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 29 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 24-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:53 am EDT (07:53 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now AFW is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 10 knots; SDF is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 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: 7 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 last 79 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 AFW.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- C750 at 43,000 ft, 23 nm southeast, 7:50 pm CDT (00:50 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence above 43,000 ft, remarks: zme. 288 nm along the route, 23 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
LIT UA /OV LIT360025/TM 0050/FL430/TP C750/TB CONS LGT-MOD CHOP 430/RM ZME
- Report
- a routine report filed through LIT
- Where
- 25 nm north (360°) of LIT
- Time
- 00:50 UTC
- Height
- at 43,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C750
- Turbulence
- continuous light to moderate chop at 43,000 ft
- Remarks
- zme
- B739 at 34,000 ft, 48 nm southeast, 8:51 pm CDT (01:51 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 575 nm along the route, 48 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWG UA /OV BWG270010/TM 0151/FL340/TP B739/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWG
- Where
- 10 nm west (270°) of BWG
- Time
- 01:51 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate chop
- Remarks
- zme
- B38M at 21,000 ft, 9 nm southeast, 8:09 pm CDT (01:09 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. At the destination end, 9 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
SDF UA /OV IIU/TM 0109/FL210/TP B38M/TB NEG/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through SDF
- Where
- over IIU
- Time
- 01:09 UTC
- Height
- at 21,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- 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 (DAL, FSM, LIT, MEM, CGI, EVV, LOU). 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 18 kt | −18 kt | 138 kt | 4 h 40 min | 4:04 am EDT (08:04 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 250° at 16 kt | −16 kt | 136 kt | 4 h 45 min | 4:09 am EDT (08:09 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 260° at 16 kt | −15 kt | 14 °C | 135 kt | 4 h 47 min | 4:11 am EDT (08:11 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 270° at 15 kt | −14 kt | 11 °C | 134 kt | 4 h 49 min | 4:13 am EDT (08:13 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 280° at 13 kt | −11 kt | 8 °C | 131 kt | 4 h 55 min | 4:19 am EDT (08:19 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 280° at 13 kt | −11 kt | 3 °C | 131 kt | 4 h 55 min | 4:19 am EDT (08:19 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 280° at 14 kt | −12 kt | -1 °C | 132 kt | 4 h 53 min | 4:17 am EDT (08:17 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 280° at 15 kt | −13 kt | -5 °C | 133 kt | 4 h 51 min | 4:15 am EDT (08:15 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 16 kt | −13 kt | -6 °C | 133 kt | 4 h 51 min | 4:15 am EDT (08:15 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 23 kt | −17 kt | -17 °C | 137 kt | 4 h 42 min | 4:06 am EDT (08:06 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 36 kt | −21 kt | -31 °C | 141 kt | 4 h 34 min | 3:58 am EDT (07:58 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 44 kt | −24 kt | -40 °C | 144 kt | 4 h 29 min | 3:53 am EDT (07:53 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 42 kt | −18 kt | -51 °C | 138 kt | 4 h 40 min | 4:04 am EDT (08:04 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAL | used from 0 nm out; 22 nm from the line | 190/29 | 220/23 17° | 220/17 13° | 250/18 8° | 230/18 -5° | 240/18 -15° | 270/34 -29° | 280/33 -39° | 300/36 -51° |
| FSM | used from 99 nm out; 87 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° |
| LIT | used from 248 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° |
| MEM | used from 347 nm out; 77 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 397 nm out; 46 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° |
| EVV | used from 496 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 280/15 | 290/12 17° | 310/16 10° | 320/13 5° | 310/22 -6° | 320/26 -18° | 320/38 -33° | 310/56 -41° | 320/55 -51° |
| LOU | used from 595 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 310/18 | 340/28 16° | 340/29 10° | 350/27 3° | 330/27 -7° | 340/39 -19° | 330/58 -33° | 330/67 -41° | 330/40 -49° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFW Fort Worth, TX | departure | VFR | from the south (170°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 723 ft | 9:53 pm CDT (02:53 UTC) |
| TKI Dallas, TX | 40 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 588 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| HHW Hugo, OK | 109 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 572 ft | 03:10 UTC |
| MEZ Mena, AR | 179 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | VFR | variable at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,079 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| RUE Russellville, AR | 248 nm out, 9 nm north of the line | VFR | from the northeast (040°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 409 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| MPJ Morrilton, AR | 258 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 923 ft | ||||
| BVX Batesville, AR | 327 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 465 ft | 02:56 UTC |
| EIW New Madrid, MO | 437 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | no report just now | 295 ft | ||||
| PAH Paducah, KY | 486 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 410 ft | 00:00 UTC |
| OWB Owensboro, KY | 575 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Weather: mist | calm | 6 mi | none | 407 ft | 02:56 UTC |
| TEL Tell City, IN | 595 nm out, 12 nm north of the line | no report just now | 659 ft | ||||
| SDF Louisville, KY | destination | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 500 ft | 10:56 pm EDT (02:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,079 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SDF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:53 am EDT (07:53 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for SDF
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Sun 8:30 pm EDT (00:30 UTC): wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 3 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for AFW, the departure
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 23,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 18 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Thursday 15 October · ZFW
- 9/2934 DALLAS, TX 18 nm from the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · ZFW
Daylight
Sunset at AFW 6:59 pm CDT (23:59 UTC), at SDF 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:36 pm EDT (23:36 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SDF is before sunrise there (7:48 am EDT (11:48 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: Perot Fld/Fort Worth Alliance Airport, Louisville Muhammad Ali International.