Rick Husband Amarillo International to Chicago Midway International AMA → MDW
764 nautical miles (879 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 055°, about 047° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 36 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 46-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:03 am CDT (08:03 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now AMA is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 21 knots, gusting to 27; MDW is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 5 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 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 188 to 417 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 AMA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A321 at 32,000 ft, 46 nm northwest, 8:56 pm CDT (01:56 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: pocket continuous light turbulence. 694 nm along the route, 46 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
RPJ UA /OV PLL/TM 0156/FL320/TP A321/TB CONS LGT/RM POCKET CONS LGT TB
- Report
- a routine report filed through RPJ
- Where
- over PLL
- Time
- 01:56 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- continuous light
- Remarks
- pocket continuous light turbulence
- B39M at 35,000 ft, 18 nm southeast, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. At the destination end, 18 nm southeast 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
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 (AMA, GAG, ICT, MKC, COU, BRL, 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 | 220° at 33 kt | −32 kt | 152 kt | 5 h 02 min | 3:29 am CDT (08:29 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | −32 kt | 19 °C | 152 kt | 5 h 02 min | 3:29 am CDT (08:29 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | −26 kt | 15 °C | 146 kt | 5 h 14 min | 3:41 am CDT (08:41 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 250° at 20 kt | −20 kt | 11 °C | 140 kt | 5 h 27 min | 3:54 am CDT (08:54 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 250° at 17 kt | −17 kt | 7 °C | 137 kt | 5 h 35 min | 4:02 am CDT (09:02 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 250° at 18 kt | −17 kt | 3 °C | 137 kt | 5 h 35 min | 4:02 am CDT (09:02 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | −19 kt | -1 °C | 139 kt | 5 h 30 min | 3:57 am CDT (08:57 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 250° at 21 kt | −20 kt | -5 °C | 140 kt | 5 h 27 min | 3:54 am CDT (08:54 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 21 kt | −21 kt | -6 °C | 141 kt | 5 h 25 min | 3:52 am CDT (08:52 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 31 kt | −30 kt | -18 °C | 150 kt | 5 h 06 min | 3:33 am CDT (08:33 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 48 kt | −46 kt | -31 °C | 166 kt | 4 h 36 min | 3:03 am CDT (08:03 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 52 kt | −46 kt | -40 °C | 166 kt | 4 h 36 min | 3:03 am CDT (08:03 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 54 kt | −43 kt | -50 °C | 163 kt | 4 h 41 min | 3:08 am CDT (08:08 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMA | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 210/38 | 230/29 14° | 240/29 7° | 220/27 -5° | 240/37 -18° | 240/66 -28° | 250/59 -37° | 260/47 -49° | |
| GAG | used from 50 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 220/40 19° | 230/28 14° | 240/23 8° | 230/21 -6° | 240/31 -19° | 250/66 -29° | 260/58 -38° | 260/47 -49° | |
| ICT | used from 198 nm out; 30 nm from the line | 200/48 | 230/39 19° | 240/24 14° | 240/20 8° | 240/22 -6° | 250/31 -18° | 250/61 -29° | 260/58 -38° | 270/54 -49° |
| MKC | used from 347 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/28 18° | 250/18 13° | 240/12 6° | 280/24 -6° | 240/34 -18° | 260/47 -30° | 260/51 -40° | 270/58 -50° |
| COU | used from 496 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 230/31 | 230/30 15° | 260/16 11° | 270/14 6° | 260/24 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 270/37 -32° | 280/49 -41° | 290/56 -51° |
| BRL | used from 545 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/29 15° | 290/16 10° | 280/15 4° | 260/23 -7° | 260/32 -19° | 260/36 -33° | 280/48 -41° | 280/59 -52° |
| JOT | used from 645 nm out; 70 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMA Amarillo, TX | departure | VFR | from the south (170°) at 21 knots, gusting to 27 | 10+ mi | none | 3,606 ft | 9:53 pm CDT (02:53 UTC) |
| PPA Pampa, TX | 40 nm out, 2 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 18 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 3,245 ft | 03:10 UTC |
| WWR Woodward, OK | 129 nm out, 0 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 17 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 2,189 ft | 03:10 UTC |
| ANY Anthony, KS | 208 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 13 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | none | 1,343 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| BEC Wichita, KS | 268 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,408 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| OWI Ottawa, KS | 367 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 966 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| OJC Olathe, KS | 397 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,096 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| IRK Kirksville, MO | 526 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line | reported, no category | from the south (190°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 966 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| EOK Keokuk, IA | 575 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | reported, no category | from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 671 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| PIA Peoria, IL | 655 nm out, 20 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 660 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| LOT Chicago/Romeoville, IL | 744 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 679 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| MDW Chicago, IL | destination | VFR | from the south (190°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 619 ft | 9:53 pm CDT (02:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,606 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, 3:03 am CDT (08:03 UTC)
Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 30,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MDW
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 30,000 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 south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
The forecast for AMA, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 17 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm CDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 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 AMA 7:15 pm CDT (00:15 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: Rick Husband Amarillo International, Chicago Midway International.