The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Mon 5:45 am CDT (10:45 UTC)

Appleton International to Blue Grass Airport ATW → LEX

413 nautical miles (475 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 153°, about 155° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 28 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 48-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:13 am EDT (13:13 UTC). Right now ATW is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots; LEX is low IFR, 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: 1 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The return flight

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 167 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 ATW.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

  • A21N at 31,000 ft, 40 nm southwest, 5:33 am CDT (10:33 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the climb. 226 nm along the route, 40 nm southwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    LAF UA /OV BVT/TM 1033/FL310/TP A21N/TB NEG/RM DURC
    Report
    a routine report filed through LAF
    Where
    over BVT
    Time
    10:33 UTC
    Height
    at 31,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A21N
    Turbulence
    none
    Remarks
    during the climb
  • CRJ2 at 5,500 ft, 48 nm northeast, 4:45 am CDT (09:45 UTC): mist. 246 nm along the route, 48 nm northeast of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    FWA UA /OV FWA/TM 0945/FL055/TP CRJ2/WX MIST
    Report
    a routine report filed through FWA
    Where
    over FWA
    Time
    09:45 UTC
    Height
    at 5,500 ft
    Aircraft
    CRJ2
    Weather
    shallow st
  • B737 at 100 ft, 20 nm east, 5:24 am CDT (10:24 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: runway 36R arrival, bases at clear-air turbulence 3 mins. 354 nm along the route, 20 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1024/FL001/TP B737/SK VV001/RM RWY 36R ARRIVAL, BASES AT CAT 3 MINS
    Report
    a routine report filed through CVG
    Where
    over CVG
    Time
    10:24 UTC
    Height
    at 100 ft
    Aircraft
    B737
    Sky
    sky obscured from 100 ft
    Remarks
    runway 36R arrival, bases at clear-air turbulence 3 mins
  • B739 climbing, 19 nm east, 5:19 am CDT (10:19 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 354 nm along the route, 19 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CVG UA /OV 1 W CVG/TM 1019/FLDURC/TP B739/SK TOPS 011
    Report
    a routine report filed through CVG
    Where
    1 west cvg
    Time
    10:19 UTC
    Height
    during the climb
    Aircraft
    B739
    Sky
    tops 1,100 ft
  • B763 at 100 ft, 19 nm east, 4:05 am CDT (09:05 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: during the climb. 354 nm along the route, 19 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CVG UA /OV CVG270001/TM 0905/FL001/TP B763/SK VV001/RM DURC
    Report
    a routine report filed through CVG
    Where
    1 nm west (270°) of CVG
    Time
    09:05 UTC
    Height
    at 100 ft
    Aircraft
    B763
    Sky
    sky obscured from 100 ft
    Remarks
    during the climb
  • B763 at 200 ft, 19 nm east, 3:05 am CDT (08:05 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: during the climb. 354 nm along the route, 19 nm east of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    CVG UA /OV CVG270001/TM 0805/FL002/TP B763/SK VV002/RM DURC
    Report
    a routine report filed through CVG
    Where
    1 nm west (270°) of CVG
    Time
    08:05 UTC
    Height
    at 200 ft
    Aircraft
    B763
    Sky
    sky obscured from 200 ft
    Remarks
    during the climb
  • E170 at 100 ft, 0 nm south, 5:11 am CDT (10:11 UTC): remarks: in the clouds on rotation. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 1011/FL001/TP E170/SK VV001-TOP013/RM IN THE CLOUDS ON ROTATION
    Report
    a routine report filed through LEX
    Where
    over LEX
    Time
    10:11 UTC
    Height
    at 100 ft
    Aircraft
    E170
    Sky
    sky obscured from 100 ft, tops 1,300 ft
    Remarks
    in the clouds on rotation
  • CRJ7 at 5,000 ft, 5 nm north, 4:37 am CDT (09:37 UTC): scattered clouds above 10,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. At the destination end, 5 nm north of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    LEX UA /OV HYK330010/TM 0937/FL050/TP CRJ7/SK SCT001/RM DURC
    Report
    a routine report filed through LEX
    Where
    10 nm northwest (330°) of HYK
    Time
    09:37 UTC
    Height
    at 5,000 ft
    Aircraft
    CRJ7
    Sky
    scattered clouds from 100 ft
    Remarks
    during the climb

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 (GRB, MKG, JOT, FWA, IND, CVG, LOU). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
3,500 ft270° at 22 kt−9 kt129 kt3 h 12 min9:57 am EDT (13:57 UTC)
5,500 ft280° at 19 kt−10 kt130 kt3 h 11 min9:56 am EDT (13:56 UTC)
7,500 ft270° at 17 kt−8 kt12 °C128 kt3 h 14 min9:59 am EDT (13:59 UTC)
9,500 ft270° at 16 kt−7 kt8 °C127 kt3 h 15 min10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC)
11,500 ft270° at 18 kt−9 kt5 °C129 kt3 h 12 min9:57 am EDT (13:57 UTC)
13,500 ft280° at 21 kt−12 kt1 °C132 kt3 h 08 min9:53 am EDT (13:53 UTC)
15,500 ft280° at 24 kt−15 kt-3 °C135 kt3 h 04 min9:49 am EDT (13:49 UTC)
17,500 ft290° at 28 kt−18 kt-7 °C138 kt3 h9:45 am EDT (13:45 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180290° at 29 kt−19 kt-8 °C139 kt2 h 58 min9:43 am EDT (13:43 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240280° at 34 kt−19 kt-20 °C139 kt2 h 58 min9:43 am EDT (13:43 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300280° at 37 kt−20 kt-35 °C140 kt2 h 57 min9:42 am EDT (13:42 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340290° at 48 kt−33 kt-43 °C153 kt2 h 42 min9:27 am EDT (13:27 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390300° at 61 kt−48 kt-51 °C168 kt2 h 28 min9:13 am EDT (13:13 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
GRBused from 0 nm out; 36 nm from the line250/32250/22 17°240/18 8°280/21 6°280/34 -11°280/35 -21°280/39 -37°270/52 -45°290/60 -49°
MKGused from 49 nm out; 67 nm from the line260/28260/18 15°250/16 9°260/22 4°280/31 -9°270/35 -21°270/44 -35°270/42 -45°290/61 -51°
JOTused from 148 nm out; 63 nm from the line250/25260/22 14°250/17 9°270/21 5°280/28 -8°280/36 -20°270/41 -35°280/57 -42°290/65 -50°
FWAused from 197 nm out; 52 nm from the line270/20300/16 15°290/14 10°280/17 3°290/25 -7°280/30 -19°280/34 -35°290/48 -44°300/64 -52°
INDused from 246 nm out; 35 nm from the line270/22290/19 15°270/19 8°270/18 4°290/28 -7°280/35 -20°270/37 -34°300/51 -42°300/61 -51°
CVGused from 344 nm out; 25 nm from the line300/19310/23 15°320/20 9°310/18 3°300/26 -6°290/36 -19°310/32 -34°310/53 -43°310/61 -51°
LOUused from 393 nm out; 46 nm from the line300/16310/19 15°310/17 9°300/15 4°300/26 -6°280/34 -19°290/30 -34°310/49 -42°310/58 -51°

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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
ATW Appleton, WI departure VFR from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots 10+ mi none 918 ft 5:30 am CDT (10:30 UTC)
FLD Fond du Lac, WI 30 nm out, 12 nm west of the line VFR from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots 10+ mi none 808 ft 09:53 UTC
MKE Milwaukee, WI 79 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower VFR Sky: a few clouds at 18,000 feet, overcast at 24,000 feet from the southwest (230°) at 10 knots 10+ mi 24,000 ft 728 ft 09:52 UTC
ENW Kenosha, WI 98 nm out, 21 nm southwest of the line, tower VFR from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots 10+ mi none 742 ft 09:53 UTC
SBN South Bend, IN 177 nm out, 20 nm east of the line, tower VFR calm 9 mi none 798 ft 09:54 UTC
GUS Peru, IN 236 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower VFR from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots 10+ mi none 810 ft 09:55 UTC
AID Anderson, IN 285 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line, tower VFR from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots 7 mi none 919 ft 10:35 UTC
BAK Columbus, IN 325 nm out, 25 nm west of the line, tower low IFR Sky: overcast at 100 feet Weather: fog calm 0.25 mi 100 ft 656 ft 10:45 UTC
CVG Covington, KY 354 nm out, 22 nm east of the line, tower low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots 0.06 mi 200 ft 896 ft 10:33 UTC
LEX Lexington, KY destination low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog from the south (190°) at 5 knots 0.25 mi 200 ft 979 ft 6:37 am EDT (10:37 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 979 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At LEX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:13 am EDT (13:13 UTC)

Wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility ½ mile, fog, clear skies low IFR

The whole forecast for LEX
  • From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility ½ mile, fog, clear skies
  • At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ¼ mile, fog, overcast at 100 feet
  • From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for ATW, the departure
  • From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
  • From Mon 5:00 am CDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
  • From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Mon 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 15,000 feet
  • 30% chance between Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC) and 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
  • From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

  • 6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 17 nm from the route, 354 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID

Daylight

Sunset at ATW 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC), at LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 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

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley
Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the central Great Lakes
Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: Appleton International, Blue Grass Airport.