Albany International to The Eastern Iowa Airport ALB → CID
795 nautical miles (915 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 272°, about 285° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13W). At 120 knots that is 6 h 55 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 5-knot headwind), arriving about 3:19 am CDT (08:19 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ALB is marginal VFR, wind from the north (350°) at 3 knots; CID is VFR, wind from the south (170°) 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: 2 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 ZULU 1C: moderate icing up to 24,000 ft. Over the first 199 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 199 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 219 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 149 nm of the route.
- 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 20 to 159 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Near the route, 119 nm along the route.
- 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 388 to 447 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 ALB.
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 7 forecast points nearest it (ALB, SYR, BUF, CLE, MKG, JOT, DBQ). 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 7 kt | +5 kt | 115 kt | 6 h 55 min | 3:19 am CDT (08:19 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 270° at 8 kt | +8 kt | 12 °C | 112 kt | 7 h 06 min | 3:30 am CDT (08:30 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 280° at 10 kt | +9 kt | 9 °C | 111 kt | 7 h 10 min | 3:34 am CDT (08:34 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 290° at 10 kt | +9 kt | 6 °C | 111 kt | 7 h 10 min | 3:34 am CDT (08:34 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 290° at 11 kt | +9 kt | 2 °C | 111 kt | 7 h 10 min | 3:34 am CDT (08:34 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 290° at 12 kt | +11 kt | -2 °C | 109 kt | 7 h 18 min | 3:42 am CDT (08:42 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 280° at 13 kt | +12 kt | -7 °C | 108 kt | 7 h 22 min | 3:46 am CDT (08:46 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 14 kt | +13 kt | -10 °C | 107 kt | 7 h 26 min | 3:50 am CDT (08:50 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 18 kt | +16 kt | -21 °C | 104 kt | 7 h 39 min | 4:03 am CDT (09:03 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 30 kt | +28 kt | -36 °C | 92 kt | 8 h 38 min | 5:02 am CDT (10:02 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 41 kt | +38 kt | -43 °C | 82 kt | 9 h 42 min | 6:06 am CDT (11:06 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 50 kt | +48 kt | -50 °C | 72 kt | 11 h 02 min | 7:26 am CDT (12:26 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALB | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 160/27 | 190/16 9° | 200/29 7° | 230/21 3° | 240/24 -9° | 240/43 -19° | 230/65 -33° | 240/91 -42° | 230/99 -53° |
| SYR | used from 50 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 160/17 | 200/22 10° | 250/10 6° | L/V 1° | 270/11 -11° | 220/25 -20° | 220/66 -36° | 230/89 -42° | 240/74 -51° |
| BUF | used from 149 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 170/19 | L/V 10° | 040/9 6° | 220/8 2° | 230/15 -11° | 220/33 -22° | 220/47 -35° | 230/55 -41° | 230/56 -50° |
| CLE | used from 298 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 340/5 | 320/13 14° | 300/12 8° | 310/10 2° | 310/14 -10° | 340/14 -23° | 320/27 -35° | 260/28 -40° | 250/36 -48° |
| MKG | used from 447 nm out; 84 nm from the line | 250/5 | 320/10 15° | 310/19 9° | 320/21 3° | 310/23 -10° | 330/37 -22° | 330/51 -38° | 320/44 -47° | 300/60 -49° |
| JOT | used from 596 nm out; 50 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° |
| DBQ | used from 696 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 220/23 | 240/22 16° | 240/24 10° | 260/18 5° | 270/16 -8° | 290/27 -19° | 310/42 -35° | 320/55 -44° | 300/71 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALB Albany, NY | departure | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 2,200 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north (350°) at 3 knots | 4 mi | 2,200 ft | 284 ft | 9:07 pm EDT (01:07 UTC) |
| ITH Ithaca, NY | 119 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 300 feet, scattered clouds at 700 feet, a broken layer at 3,100 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet Weather: light rain | calm | 7 mi | 3,100 ft | 1,099 ft | 01:18 UTC |
| BUF Buffalo, NY | 219 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet | from the east (090°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 5,000 ft | 726 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| CYQS St Thomas, | 318 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 776 ft | ||||
| PHN Port Huron, MI | 388 nm out, 14 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the south (170°) at 4 knots | 4 mi | 300 ft | 650 ft | 01:15 UTC |
| PTK Pontiac, MI | 427 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 1,000 feet Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | 500 ft | 980 ft | 01:14 UTC |
| BTL Battle Creek, MI | 507 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 951 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| UGN Chicago/Waukegan, IL | 626 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 728 ft | 00:51 UTC |
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | 676 nm out, 1 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 742 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| DBQ Dubuque, IA | 746 nm out, 23 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,076 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| CID Cedar Rapids, IA | destination | VFR | from the south (170°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 869 ft | 7:52 pm CDT (00:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,099 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CID when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:19 am CDT (08:19 UTC)
Wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for CID
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 am CDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for ALB, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 2,500 feet
- At times between Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC) and 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light rain, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 5 knots, visibility 2 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility 1½ miles, light drizzle, mist, scattered clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 5 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 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 ALB 6:18 pm EDT (22:18 UTC), at CID 6:30 pm CDT (23:30 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm CDT (23:58 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CID is before sunrise there (7:15 am CDT (12:15 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: Albany International, The Eastern Iowa Airport.