Bradley International to Gerald R Ford International BDL → GRR
571 nautical miles (658 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 280°, about 294° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 55 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 4-knot headwind), arriving about 7:55 am EDT (11:55 UTC). Right now BDL is IFR, wind from the north (010°) at 8 knots; GRR is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) 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: 4 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 whole route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 227 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 10,000 ft. Over the first 0 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 1C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Near the route, 39 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 49 to 236 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 BDL.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- GA6C descending, 38 nm south, 12:32 am EDT (04:32 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft, remarks: bases OVC010. 59 nm along the route, 38 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
SWF UA /OV SWF 270005/TM 0432/FLDURD/TP GA6C/SK OVC010/RM BASES OVC010
- Report
- a routine report filed through SWF
- Where
- 5 nm west (270°) of SWF
- Time
- 04:32 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- GA6C
- Sky
- overcast from 1,000 ft
- Remarks
- bases OVC010
- A333 descending, 37 nm south, 1:44 am EDT (05:44 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 473 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0544/FLDURD/TP A333/SK TOPS 025
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- over DTW
- Time
- 05:44 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A333
- Sky
- tops 2,500 ft
- B739 descending, 37 nm south, 12:54 am EDT (04:54 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 473 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0454/FLDURD/TP B739/SK BASES 011
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- over DTW
- Time
- 04:54 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B739
- Sky
- bases 1,100 ft
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 (BDL, ALB, AVP, SYR, BUF, CLE, MKG). 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 | 330° at 8 kt | +4 kt | 116 kt | 4 h 55 min | 7:55 am EDT (11:55 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 340° at 12 kt | +5 kt | 11 °C | 115 kt | 4 h 58 min | 7:58 am EDT (11:58 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 11 kt | +6 kt | 8 °C | 114 kt | 5 h 01 min | 8:01 am EDT (12:01 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 320° at 11 kt | +8 kt | 5 °C | 112 kt | 5 h 06 min | 8:06 am EDT (12:06 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 310° at 13 kt | +10 kt | 1 °C | 110 kt | 5 h 11 min | 8:11 am EDT (12:11 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 16 kt | +13 kt | -3 °C | 107 kt | 5 h 20 min | 8:20 am EDT (12:20 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 300° at 20 kt | +17 kt | -7 °C | 103 kt | 5 h 33 min | 8:33 am EDT (12:33 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 22 kt | +19 kt | -10 °C | 101 kt | 5 h 39 min | 8:39 am EDT (12:39 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 26 kt | +24 kt | -22 °C | 96 kt | 5 h 57 min | 8:57 am EDT (12:57 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 34 kt | +30 kt | -36 °C | 90 kt | 6 h 21 min | 9:21 am EDT (13:21 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 40 kt | +38 kt | -43 °C | 82 kt | 6 h 58 min | 9:58 am EDT (13:58 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 43 kt | +41 kt | -50 °C | 79 kt | 7 h 14 min | 10:14 am EDT (14:14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BDL | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 120/24 | 290/23 12° | 280/21 8° | 250/36 3° | 250/41 -11° | 230/48 -21° | 230/78 -32° | 230/96 -41° | 230/86 -52° |
| ALB | used from 49 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 120/9 | 270/8 10° | L/V 5° | 260/9 1° | 260/34 -10° | 250/42 -22° | 240/57 -35° | 240/70 -42° | 240/65 -50° |
| AVP | used from 99 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 150/5 | 350/13 12° | 270/20 8° | 260/17 4° | 260/25 -11° | 240/31 -22° | 240/54 -35° | 230/61 -41° | 240/55 -49° |
| SYR | used from 148 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 280/13 | 350/18 10° | 340/10 6° | 300/15 1° | 280/17 -12° | 270/16 -23° | 280/25 -38° | 250/40 -42° | 240/53 -50° |
| BUF | used from 197 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 320/10 | 010/16 10° | 360/10 6° | 340/13 2° | 330/22 -11° | 300/25 -23° | 320/31 -38° | 300/29 -44° | 280/36 -50° |
| CLE | used from 345 nm out; 88 nm from the line | 340/7 | 010/16 13° | 350/18 8° | 350/20 3° | 340/31 -10° | 340/46 -21° | 340/54 -37° | 330/62 -44° | 340/65 -49° |
| MKG | used from 493 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 260/22 | 290/16 15° | 300/11 10° | 290/5 3° | 300/26 -9° | 300/32 -20° | 320/48 -36° | 320/61 -45° | 310/74 -53° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BDL Windsor Locks, CT | departure | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet | from the north (010°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 500 ft | 173 ft | 2:51 am EDT (06:51 UTC) |
| GBR Great Barrington, MA | 30 nm out, 10 nm north of the line | no report just now | 739 ft | ||||
| BGM Binghamton, NY | 148 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: a few clouds at 100 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet Weather: fog | from the north-northwest (330°) at 4 knots | 0.25 mi | 1,900 ft | 1,635 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| ELM Elmira/Corning, NY | 187 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: a few clouds at 100 feet, a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 2,700 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.5 mi | 1,000 ft | 955 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| BUF Buffalo, NY | 276 nm out, 23 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,400 feet, a broken layer at 14,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 14,000 ft | 726 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| DKK Dunkirk, NY | 296 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 8,500 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 692 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| CYQS St Thomas, | 374 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 776 ft | ||||
| PHN Port Huron, MI | 443 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 650 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| FNT Flint, MI | 493 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots | 8 mi | 400 ft | 782 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| LAN Lansing, MI | 532 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 5 knots | 9 mi | none | 860 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| GRR Grand Rapids, MI | destination | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots | 7 mi | none | 793 ft | 2:53 am EDT (06:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,635 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At GRR when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:55 am EDT (11:55 UTC)
Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for GRR
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC) and 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light thunderstorms with rain, mist, overcast at 3,500 feet (thunderheads)
The forecast for BDL, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 9 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm EDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Tue 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 15,000 feet
- From Tue 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 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 BDL 6:14 pm EDT (22:14 UTC), at GRR 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:33 pm EDT (23:33 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: Bradley International, Gerald R Ford International.