Bradley International to Chicago/Rockford International BDL → RFD
731 nautical miles (841 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 277°, about 291° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14W). At 120 knots that is 6 h 06 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, no wind along the track), arriving about 12:53 am CDT (05:53 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: 1,184 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 first 513 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 1C: moderate icing up to 24,000 ft. Over the first 217 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 326 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 267 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 59 to 267 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). Over the route from 118 to 227 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
- urgent PC12 at 11,000 ft, 32 nm southeast, 7:29 pm EDT (23:29 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: during the descent on wipor arrival. At the departure end, 32 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
IJD UUA /OV ORW340007/TM 2329/FL110/TP PC12/TB MOD 110-100 SEV 100-080/RM DURD ON WIPOR ARR
- Report
- an urgent report filed through IJD
- Where
- 7 nm north (340°) of ORW
- Time
- 23:29 UTC
- Height
- at 11,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Turbulence
- moderate from 11,000 ft to 10,000 ft severe from 10,000 ft to 8,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent on wipor arrival
- E75S at 16,000 ft, 37 nm east, 7:35 pm EDT (23:35 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence above 16,000 ft, remarks: moderate in +ra to light chop. At the departure end, 37 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
SFZ UA /OV PUT360003/TM 2335/FL160/TP E75S/TB MOD 160 CAT/RM MOD IN +RA TO LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through SFZ
- Where
- 3 nm north (360°) of PUT
- Time
- 23:35 UTC
- Height
- at 16,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75S
- Turbulence
- moderate at 16,000 ft clear-air turbulence
- Remarks
- moderate in +ra to light chop
- A388 at 34,000 ft, 16 nm north, 7:19 pm EDT (23:19 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 39 nm along the route, 16 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
POU UA /OV PWL010030/TM 2319/FL340/TP A388/TB MOD CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through POU
- Where
- 30 nm north (010°) of PWL
- Time
- 23:19 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A388
- Turbulence
- moderate chop
- PC12 at 8,000 ft, 3 nm northeast, 7:29 pm EDT (23:29 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence. 69 nm along the route, 3 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
POU UA /OV IGN340030/TM 2329/FL080/TP PC12/TB MOD CAT
- Report
- a routine report filed through POU
- Where
- 30 nm north (340°) of IGN
- Time
- 23:29 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Turbulence
- moderate clear-air turbulence
- UAL286 at 9,500 ft, 24 nm south, 5:23 pm EDT (21:23 UTC): moderate turbulence, wind 240° at 31 knots. 69 nm along the route, 24 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL286 4140N 07416W 2123 F095 240/031KT TB CONT MOD TURB IC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
- CRJ7 at 33,000 ft, 17 nm north, 6:31 pm EDT (22:31 UTC): moderate turbulence. 168 nm along the route, 17 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ITH UA /OV ITH/TM 2231/FL330/TP CRJ7/TB MOD
- Report
- a routine report filed through ITH
- Where
- over ITH
- Time
- 22:31 UTC
- Height
- at 33,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Turbulence
- moderate
- E75L at 31,000 ft, 17 nm north, 6:27 pm EDT (22:27 UTC): moderate turbulence. 168 nm along the route, 17 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ITH UA /OV ITH/TM 2227/FL310/TP E75L/TB CONS MOD
- Report
- a routine report filed through ITH
- Where
- over ITH
- Time
- 22:27 UTC
- Height
- at 31,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Turbulence
- continuous moderate
- E170 at 25,000 ft, 35 nm north, 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC): moderate turbulence above 25,000 ft, remarks: zob. 267 nm along the route, 35 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
BUF UA /OV BUF120010/TM 2237/FL250/TP E170/TB MOD 250/RM ZOB
- Report
- a routine report filed through BUF
- Where
- 10 nm southeast (120°) of BUF
- Time
- 22:37 UTC
- Height
- at 25,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- moderate at 25,000 ft
- Remarks
- zob
- C68 descending, 42 nm south, 7:28 pm EDT (23:28 UTC): a broken layer above 900 ft. At the departure end, 42 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
HVN UA /OV HVN/TM 2328/FLDURD/TP C68/SK BKN009
- Report
- a routine report filed through HVN
- Where
- over HVN
- Time
- 23:28 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- C68
- Sky
- a broken layer from 900 ft
- BCS3 descending, 42 nm south, 6:55 pm EDT (22:55 UTC): a broken layer above 1,100 ft. At the departure end, 42 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
HVN UA /OV HVN/TM 2255/FLDURD/TP BCS3/SK BKN011
- Report
- a routine report filed through HVN
- Where
- over HVN
- Time
- 22:55 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- BCS3
- Sky
- a broken layer from 1,100 ft
- B38M at 200 ft, 0 nm south, 6:52 pm EDT (22:52 UTC): light chop turbulence, a broken layer above 800 ft, remarks: during the descent RY6. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
BDL UA /OV BDL/TM 2252/FLSFC/TP B38M/SK BKN008/TB LGT CHOP/RM DURD RY6
- Report
- a routine report filed through BDL
- Where
- over BDL
- Time
- 22:52 UTC
- Height
- at the surface
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Sky
- a broken layer from 800 ft
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Remarks
- during the descent RY6
- E75L at 12,000 ft, 42 nm south, 6:30 pm EDT (22:30 UTC): light turbulence, heavy rain, remarks: during the descent from 24,000 ft to 12,000 ft. At the departure end, 42 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
HVN UA /OV HVN/TM 2230/FL120/TP E75L/WX +RA/TB CONS LGT INTMT MOD/RM DURD 240-120
- Report
- a routine report filed through HVN
- Where
- over HVN
- Time
- 22:30 UTC
- Height
- at 12,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Weather
- heavy rain
- Turbulence
- continuous light intermittent moderate
- Remarks
- during the descent from 24,000 ft to 12,000 ft
- A320 at 200 ft, 0 nm south, 6:22 pm EDT (22:22 UTC): a broken layer above 500 ft, remarks: during the descent RY6. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
BDL UA /OV BDL/TM 2222/FLSFC/TP A320/SK BKN005/RM DURD RY6
- Report
- a routine report filed through BDL
- Where
- over BDL
- Time
- 22:22 UTC
- Height
- at the surface
- Aircraft
- A320
- Sky
- a broken layer from 500 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent RY6
- B737 at 8,000 ft, 0 nm south, 6:16 pm EDT (22:16 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
BDL UA /OV KBDL/TM 2216/FL080/TP B737/TB LGT CHOP/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through BDL
- Where
- over KBDL
- Time
- 22:16 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Remarks
- during the climb
16 more routine reports are on the map.
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 9 forecast points nearest it (BDL, ALB, AVP, SYR, BUF, CLE, FWA, MKG, 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 | 190° at 5 kt | 0 | 120 kt | 6 h 06 min | 12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 260° at 6 kt | +5 kt | 12 °C | 115 kt | 6 h 21 min | 1:08 am CDT (06:08 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 280° at 8 kt | +7 kt | 9 °C | 113 kt | 6 h 28 min | 1:15 am CDT (06:15 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 290° at 10 kt | +9 kt | 5 °C | 111 kt | 6 h 35 min | 1:22 am CDT (06:22 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 290° at 11 kt | +10 kt | 2 °C | 110 kt | 6 h 39 min | 1:26 am CDT (06:26 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 280° at 12 kt | +11 kt | -2 °C | 109 kt | 6 h 42 min | 1:29 am CDT (06:29 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 280° at 14 kt | +13 kt | -7 °C | 107 kt | 6 h 50 min | 1:37 am CDT (06:37 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 15 kt | +15 kt | -10 °C | 105 kt | 6 h 58 min | 1:45 am CDT (06:45 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 19 kt | +17 kt | -21 °C | 103 kt | 7 h 06 min | 1:53 am CDT (06:53 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 32 kt | +30 kt | -35 °C | 90 kt | 8 h 07 min | 2:54 am CDT (07:54 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 45 kt | +41 kt | -42 °C | 79 kt | 9 h 15 min | 4:02 am CDT (09:02 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 50 kt | +47 kt | -50 °C | 73 kt | 10 h 01 min | 4:48 am CDT (09:48 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BDL | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 140/28 | 180/29 10° | 220/38 8° | 250/30 3° | 250/40 -8° | 240/46 -18° | 240/58 -32° | 240/80 -41° | 240/89 -55° |
| ALB | used from 49 nm out; 47 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° |
| AVP | used from 99 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 110/36 | 190/34 13° | 230/11 8° | 230/16 4° | 230/26 -8° | 220/40 -19° | 230/73 -33° | 230/98 -41° | 230/87 -51° |
| SYR | used from 148 nm out; 57 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 197 nm out; 63 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 346 nm out; 69 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° |
| FWA | used from 494 nm out; 92 nm from the line | 350/9 | 350/24 15° | 360/25 9° | 360/29 4° | 350/31 -10° | 340/39 -22° | 330/40 -37° | 320/38 -43° | 320/48 -48° |
| MKG | used from 543 nm out; 61 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 642 nm out; 51 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° |
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 | no report just now | 173 ft | ||||
| POU Poughkeepsie, NY | 49 nm out, 25 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 163 ft | ||||
| MSV Monticello, NY | 89 nm out, 24 nm south of the line | no report just now | 1,403 ft | ||||
| BGM Binghamton, NY | 148 nm out, 2 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,635 ft | ||||
| OLE Olean, NY | 257 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 2,135 ft | ||||
| ERI Erie, PA | 336 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 732 ft | ||||
| CYQS St Thomas, | 375 nm out, 24 nm north of the line | no report just now | 776 ft | ||||
| DET Detroit, MI | 464 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 624 ft | ||||
| BTL Battle Creek, MI | 563 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 951 ft | ||||
| LWA South Haven, MI | 602 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 665 ft | ||||
| PWK Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling, IL | 681 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 644 ft | ||||
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | destination | no report just now | 742 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,135 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RFD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC)
RFD 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 BDL 6:14 pm EDT (22:14 UTC), at RFD 6:21 pm CDT (23:21 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RFD is before sunrise there (7:05 am CDT (12:05 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, Chicago/Rockford International.
