Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International to The Eastern Iowa Airport BHM → CID
552 nautical miles (635 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 336°, about 339° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 53 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 7-knot headwind), arriving about 3:26 am CDT (08:26 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now BHM is VFR, wind calm; CID is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 6 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 SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 69 nm along 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 BHM.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- UAL2499 at 28,000 ft, 5 nm northwest, 9:15 pm CDT (02:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the destination end, 5 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL2499 4138N 09137W 0215 F280 TB INTMT LGT CHOP IC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
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 8 forecast points nearest it (BHM, HSV, BNA, CGI, STL, SPI, BRL, 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 | 270° at 17 kt | +7 kt | 113 kt | 4 h 53 min | 3:26 am CDT (08:26 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 280° at 17 kt | +10 kt | 15 °C | 110 kt | 5 h 01 min | 3:34 am CDT (08:34 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 290° at 18 kt | +13 kt | 11 °C | 107 kt | 5 h 10 min | 3:43 am CDT (08:43 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 300° at 17 kt | +14 kt | 8 °C | 106 kt | 5 h 12 min | 3:45 am CDT (08:45 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 310° at 15 kt | +13 kt | 4 °C | 107 kt | 5 h 10 min | 3:43 am CDT (08:43 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 300° at 17 kt | +14 kt | 0 °C | 106 kt | 5 h 12 min | 3:45 am CDT (08:45 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 290° at 19 kt | +14 kt | -3 °C | 106 kt | 5 h 12 min | 3:45 am CDT (08:45 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 20 kt | +14 kt | -6 °C | 106 kt | 5 h 12 min | 3:45 am CDT (08:45 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 24 kt | +18 kt | -18 °C | 102 kt | 5 h 25 min | 3:58 am CDT (08:58 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 36 kt | +30 kt | -33 °C | 90 kt | 6 h 08 min | 4:41 am CDT (09:41 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 49 kt | +43 kt | -41 °C | 77 kt | 7 h 10 min | 5:43 am CDT (10:43 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 46 kt | +41 kt | -51 °C | 79 kt | 6 h 59 min | 5:32 am CDT (10:32 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHM | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 310/19 | 330/20 17° | 320/28 11° | 340/21 6° | 310/22 -7° | 330/33 -17° | 330/50 -32° | 330/57 -41° | 330/41 -50° |
| HSV | used from 49 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 310/20 | 330/20 16° | 320/27 11° | 340/23 5° | 320/23 -7° | 340/30 -17° | 320/50 -33° | 330/61 -41° | 340/41 -50° |
| BNA | used from 99 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 310/20 | 340/20 17° | 330/24 10° | 340/22 5° | 330/26 -6° | 340/29 -18° | 330/52 -33° | 320/62 -41° | 340/45 -50° |
| CGI | used from 197 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 240/20 | 270/15 15° | 280/15 11° | 300/13 6° | 290/20 -6° | 280/24 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/47 -41° | 310/49 -51° |
| STL | used from 296 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 250/24 | 250/24 16° | 260/23 9° | 270/16 6° | 260/25 -6° | 270/29 -19° | 290/34 -33° | 290/48 -41° | 290/54 -51° |
| SPI | used from 394 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 220/21 | 250/23 16° | 260/27 9° | 270/14 6° | 270/23 -7° | 270/31 -19° | 270/28 -33° | 290/48 -42° | 300/55 -52° |
| BRL | used from 444 nm out; 14 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° |
| DBQ | used from 542 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 230/33 | 250/30 16° | 280/15 9° | 260/15 5° | 260/21 -7° | 260/24 -20° | 250/37 -33° | 270/42 -43° | 280/63 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHM Birmingham, AL | departure | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 650 ft | 9:53 pm CDT (02:53 UTC) |
| CMD Cullman, AL | 39 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 969 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| HSV Huntsville, AL | 59 nm out, 25 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 628 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| PVE Lexington-Parsons, TN | 148 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line | VFR | calm | 8 mi | none | 487 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| PHT Paris, TN | 187 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 580 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| MWA Marion, IL | 276 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 471 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| PJY Pinckneyville, IL | 296 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 400 ft | ||||
| BLV Belleville, IL | 335 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 459 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| IJX Jacksonville, IL | 404 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 623 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| BRL Burlington, IA | 483 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 698 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| IOW Iowa City, IA | 532 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 683 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| CID Cedar Rapids, IA | destination | VFR | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 869 ft | 9:52 pm CDT (02:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 969 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, 3:26 am CDT (08:26 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 BHM, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 BHM 6:17 pm CDT (23:17 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: Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International, The Eastern Iowa Airport.