Aiken Regional to Chicago Midway International AIK → MDW
567 nautical miles (652 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 331°, about 337° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 34 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 18-knot headwind), arriving about 3:10 am CDT (08:10 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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 TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the route from 60 to 149 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 109 to 249 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). Over the route from 179 to 288 nm out.
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 AIK.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A321 at 30,000 ft, 37 nm northeast, 7:45 pm EDT (23:45 UTC): moderate turbulence. 219 nm along the route, 37 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV AZQ170020/TM 2345/FL300/TP A321/TB MOD
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- 20 nm south (170°) of AZQ
- Time
- 23:45 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- moderate
- PA32 at 7,000 ft, 4 nm east, 8:17 pm EDT (00:17 UTC): 8 °C, remarks: smooth. At the departure end, 4 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
AGS UA /OV KAIK360010/TM 0017/FL070/TP PA32/WX FV99SM/TA 8/RM SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through AGS
- Where
- 10 nm north (360°) of KAIK
- Time
- 00:17 UTC
- Height
- at 7,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PA32
- Weather
- flight visibility 99 miles
- Temperature
- 8 °C
- Remarks
- smooth
- A320 descending, 32 nm southwest, 9:52 pm EDT (01:52 UTC): remarks: base 2,100 ft. 169 nm along the route, 32 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TYS UA /OV 4 NE TYS/TM 0152/FLDURD/TP A320/RM BASE 021
- Report
- a routine report filed through TYS
- Where
- 4 northeast tys
- Time
- 01:52 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A320
- Remarks
- base 2,100 ft
- B737 at 35,000 ft, 17 nm east, 9:25 pm EDT (01:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. 239 nm along the route, 17 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
LOZ UA /OV AZQ250025/TM 0125/FL350/TP B737/TB CONS LGT CHOP OCNL MOD CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through LOZ
- Where
- 25 nm west (250°) of AZQ
- Time
- 01:25 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop occasional moderate chop
- B712 at 600 ft, 6 nm northeast, 9:06 pm EDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. 298 nm along the route, 6 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV KLEX/TM 0106/FL006/TP B712/SK OVC B006
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over KLEX
- Time
- 01:06 UTC
- Height
- at 600 ft
- Aircraft
- B712
- Sky
- overcast B006
- CRJ9 descending, 6 nm northeast, 7:43 pm EDT (23:43 UTC): overcast up to 6,200 ft; overcast above 1,800 ft. 298 nm along the route, 6 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 2343/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK TOPS OVC062 BASES OVC018
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over LEX
- Time
- 23:43 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- tops OVC062 bases OVC018
- B38M at 21,000 ft, 31 nm southwest, 9:09 pm EDT (01:09 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 328 nm along the route, 31 nm southwest 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
- B737 at 23,000 ft, 32 nm northeast, 7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. 348 nm along the route, 32 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV CVG/TM 2351/FL230/TP B737/TB LGT
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- over CVG
- Time
- 23:51 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- light
- B744 climbing, 37 nm northeast, 8:02 pm EDT (00:02 UTC): light turbulence, overcast. 358 nm along the route, 37 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVG UA /OV 10 N CVG/TM 0002/FLDURC/TP B744/SK B022 OVC T036/TB LT TB SFC-036
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVG
- Where
- 10 north cvg
- Time
- 00:02 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- B744
- Sky
- B022 overcast T036
- Turbulence
- lt turbulence from the surface to 3,600 ft
- A21N at 17,000 ft, 32 nm southwest, 9:28 pm EDT (01:28 UTC): no icing, clear from 17,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: clear since departing KIND southbound. 388 nm along the route, 32 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV IND183045/TM 0128/FL170/TP A21N/SK SKC/IC NEG/RM CLR SINCE DEPARTING KIND SOUTHBOUND
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- 45 nm south (183°) of IND
- Time
- 01:28 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Sky
- clear
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- clear since departing KIND southbound
- B39M at 35,000 ft, 3 nm west, 8:29 pm EDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. At the destination end, 3 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
IKK UA /OV CGT/TM 0029/FL350/TP B39M/TB NEG/RM SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through IKK
- Where
- over CGT
- Time
- 00:29 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- smooth
- CRJ7 at 17,000 ft, 39 nm northeast, 8:04 pm EDT (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. At the destination end, 39 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BEH UA /OV ELX270040/TM 0004/FL170/TP CRJ7/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through BEH
- Where
- 40 nm west (270°) of ELX
- Time
- 00:04 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- 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 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 7 forecast points nearest it (CAE, GSP, TYS, LOU, CVG, IND, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 320° at 18 kt | +18 kt | 102 kt | 5 h 34 min | 3:10 am CDT (08:10 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 20 kt | +20 kt | 13 °C | 100 kt | 5 h 40 min | 3:16 am CDT (08:16 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 22 kt | +22 kt | 10 °C | 98 kt | 5 h 47 min | 3:23 am CDT (08:23 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 22 kt | +22 kt | 6 °C | 98 kt | 5 h 47 min | 3:23 am CDT (08:23 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 330° at 22 kt | +22 kt | 3 °C | 98 kt | 5 h 47 min | 3:23 am CDT (08:23 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 24 kt | +23 kt | -1 °C | 97 kt | 5 h 51 min | 3:27 am CDT (08:27 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 26 kt | +25 kt | -4 °C | 95 kt | 5 h 58 min | 3:34 am CDT (08:34 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 28 kt | +26 kt | -7 °C | 94 kt | 6 h 02 min | 3:38 am CDT (08:38 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 33 kt | +32 kt | -19 °C | 88 kt | 6 h 27 min | 4:03 am CDT (09:03 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 41 kt | +40 kt | -34 °C | 80 kt | 7 h 05 min | 4:41 am CDT (09:41 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 49 kt | +48 kt | -41 °C | 72 kt | 7 h 52 min | 5:28 am CDT (10:28 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 46 kt | +45 kt | -49 °C | 75 kt | 7 h 34 min | 5:10 am CDT (10:10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAE | used from 0 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 330/15 | 330/13 12° | 330/22 9° | 300/26 6° | 280/33 -7° | 270/38 -18° | 250/45 -33° | 240/46 -40° | 270/38 -49° |
| GSP | used from 50 nm out; 14 nm from the line | 320/22 | 340/19 13° | 320/18 8° | 310/24 5° | 300/34 -7° | 300/36 -18° | 290/30 -33° | 300/32 -39° | 320/42 -49° |
| TYS | used from 149 nm out; 36 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° |
| LOU | used from 249 nm out; 68 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° |
| CVG | used from 348 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/32 16° | 350/35 10° | 350/30 3° | 330/30 -7° | 340/44 -20° | 340/58 -35° | 330/72 -41° | 320/36 -49° |
| IND | used from 398 nm out; 10 nm from the line | 290/16 | 310/20 16° | 320/21 10° | 330/13 3° | 300/25 -7° | 320/32 -19° | 330/46 -34° | 320/61 -43° | 320/63 -50° |
| JOT | used from 497 nm out; 48 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIK Aiken, SC | departure | no report just now | 528 ft | ||||
| GRD Greenwood, SC | 40 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | no report just now | 631 ft | ||||
| GYH Greenville, SC | 80 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 955 ft | ||||
| AVL Asheville, NC | 119 nm out, 16 nm east of the line, tower | no report just now | 2,163 ft | ||||
| LOZ London, KY | 239 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | no report just now | 1,212 ft | ||||
| LEX Lexington, KY | 298 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 979 ft | ||||
| OVO North Vernon, IN | 378 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | no report just now | 757 ft | ||||
| BAK Columbus, IN | 398 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 656 ft | ||||
| LAF Lafayette, IN | 477 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 605 ft | ||||
| GYY Gary/Chicago, IN | 547 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 596 ft | ||||
| MDW Chicago, IL | destination | no report just now | 619 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,163 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, 3:10 am CDT (08:10 UTC)
MDW has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
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 AIK 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC), at MDW 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MDW is before sunrise there (6:59 am CDT (11:59 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: Aiken Regional, Chicago Midway International.