Patrick Leahy Burlington International to Chicago O'Hare International BTV → ORD
662 nautical miles (761 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 262°, about 277° magnetic at the departure end (variation 15W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 7-knot headwind), arriving about 11:38 am CDT (16:38 UTC). Right now BTV is marginal VFR, wind calm; ORD is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 8 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: 2,455 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 514 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 20 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the first 89 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 BTV.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B738 climbing, 49 nm south, 6:20 am EDT (10:20 UTC): overcast from 2,500 ft to 4,200 ft; scattered clouds above 700 ft. 257 nm along the route, 49 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
BUF UA /OV BUF/TM 1020/FLDURC/TP B738/SK SCT007 OVC025 TOPS042
- Report
- a routine report filed through BUF
- Where
- over BUF
- Time
- 10:20 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- SCT007 OVC025 TOPS042
- B739 at 9,000 ft, 25 nm south, 6:33 am EDT (10:33 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 9,000 ft to 60,000 ft, wind 295° at 13 knots, remarks: during the descent. 444 nm along the route, 25 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DTW UA /OV DXO033026/TM 1033/FL090/TP B739/SK SKC/WV 29513KTS/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through DTW
- Where
- 26 nm northeast (033°) of DXO
- Time
- 10:33 UTC
- Height
- at 9,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Sky
- clear
- Wind
- from 295° at 13 knots
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the descent
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 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 6 forecast points nearest it (ALB, SYR, BUF, CLE, 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 | 300° at 14 kt | +11 kt | 109 kt | 6 h 04 min | 11:50 am CDT (16:50 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 310° at 14 kt | +8 kt | 11 °C | 112 kt | 5 h 55 min | 11:41 am CDT (16:41 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 320° at 14 kt | +7 kt | 9 °C | 113 kt | 5 h 52 min | 11:38 am CDT (16:38 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 320° at 17 kt | +9 kt | 5 °C | 111 kt | 5 h 58 min | 11:44 am CDT (16:44 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 310° at 20 kt | +11 kt | 2 °C | 109 kt | 6 h 04 min | 11:50 am CDT (16:50 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 22 kt | +12 kt | -2 °C | 108 kt | 6 h 08 min | 11:54 am CDT (16:54 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 320° at 24 kt | +13 kt | -7 °C | 107 kt | 6 h 11 min | 11:57 am CDT (16:57 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 26 kt | +14 kt | -10 °C | 106 kt | 6 h 15 min | 12:01 pm CDT (17:01 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 27 kt | +13 kt | -21 °C | 107 kt | 6 h 11 min | 11:57 am CDT (16:57 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 37 kt | +18 kt | -37 °C | 102 kt | 6 h 29 min | 12:15 pm CDT (17:15 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 44 kt | +25 kt | -45 °C | 95 kt | 6 h 58 min | 12:44 pm CDT (17:44 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 53 kt | +28 kt | -52 °C | 92 kt | 7 h 12 min | 12:58 pm CDT (17:58 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
| Point | From | 3,000 | 6,000 | 9,000 | 12,000 | 18,000 | 24,000 | 30,000 | 34,000 | 39,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALB | used from 0 nm out; 100 nm from the line | 340/22 | 340/19 9° | 320/16 7° | 330/16 2° | 330/19 -11° | 320/21 -23° | 320/25 -39° | 280/30 -44° | 270/41 -51° |
| SYR | used from 49 nm out; 89 nm from the line | 330/17 | 320/14 9° | 350/18 8° | 350/26 2° | 340/25 -11° | 360/34 -22° | 350/43 -39° | 330/50 -46° | 350/50 -54° |
| BUF | used from 198 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 300/11 | 330/15 11° | 340/26 8° | 330/28 2° | 340/31 -10° | 340/32 -21° | 340/52 -37° | 340/59 -46° | 330/66 -53° |
| CLE | used from 346 nm out; 115 nm from the line | 310/7 | 350/20 14° | 340/16 9° | 320/21 2° | 320/32 -8° | 330/34 -20° | 330/45 -36° | 320/60 -45° | 320/64 -51° |
| MKG | used from 444 nm out; 111 nm from the line | 260/28 | 260/18 15° | 250/16 9° | 260/22 4° | 280/31 -9° | 270/35 -21° | 270/44 -35° | 270/42 -45° | 290/61 -51° |
| JOT | used from 642 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 250/25 | 260/22 14° | 250/17 9° | 270/21 5° | 280/28 -8° | 280/36 -20° | 270/41 -35° | 280/57 -42° | 290/65 -50° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BTV Burlington, VT | departure | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 2,100 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 2,100 ft | 334 ft | 6:25 am EDT (10:25 UTC) |
| SLK Saranac Lake, NY | 49 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | variable at 3 knots | 3 mi | 300 ft | 1,662 ft | 10:31 UTC |
| ART Watertown, NY | 128 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 330 ft | 09:56 UTC |
| CYOO Oshawa, | 247 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,000 feet | calm | 9 mi | 2,000 ft | 459 ft | 10:00 UTC |
| CYTZ Toronto, | 277 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,700 feet | from the west (280°) at 7 knots | 9 mi | 1,700 ft | 251 ft | 10:00 UTC |
| PTK Pontiac, MI | 454 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, a broken layer at 1,000 feet Weather: mist | from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots | 7 mi | 500 ft | 980 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| LAN Lansing, MI | 504 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 860 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| BTL Battle Creek, MI | 543 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Weather: mist | from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots | 6 mi | none | 951 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| ORD Chicago, IL | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 680 ft | 4:51 am CDT (09:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,662 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ORD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:38 am CDT (16:38 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ORD
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 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 southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
The forecast for BTV, the departure
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 1,400 feet
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 3 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 300 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,100 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the north at 6 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 1,900 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 BTV 6:13 pm EDT (22:13 UTC), at ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:43 pm CDT (23:43 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: Patrick Leahy Burlington International, Chicago O'Hare International.